'Very layered': Midwestern voters explain why Tim Walz’s 'weird' attack is so effective

28 August 2024

Democrats have used a wide range of attacks against former President Donald Trump and other MAGA Republicans, from arguing that they don't respect the rule of law to noting Trump's admiration for authoritarian figures like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But one line of attack that has proved especially effective is describing MAGA Republicans as "weird."

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, since being chosen as Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris' running mate, hasn't been shy about slamming Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), as "weird." National Public Radio's Dana Ferguson, in an article published on August 28, explains why "weird" has so much bite in Walz's state.

"In this year's presidential campaign, 'weird' is inescapable," Ferguson observes. "It's been used in speeches, printed onto t-shirts and shared in memes across the internet. Both Republicans and Democrats have claimed the word. And in Minnesota, the term can be.… loaded."

NPR interviewed some Minnesota State Fair attendees, asking their thoughts on Democrats attacking MAGA Republicans as "weird."

Sarah Black, who teaches geography in a Minnesota middle school, told NPR, "It's very layered language. I took it as like, this is (Walz's) polite, midwestern way of saying, like, 'This is bonkers,' right? Like, this is crazy, without coming right out and saying that."

At the fair, Minnesota resident Jill Carey told NPR, "When you're growing up and you're on a playground and a kid's like, 'You're weird,' it really makes you feel terrible inside…. I guess the Minnesota nice in me doesn't want anyone to feel terrible inside…. (But it's important to ask yourself), 'Is my behavior conforming to the standards of respect and dignity toward others?'"

Another fair attendee, Megan Yoshida, said of Trump and his allies, "They're weird, they're different, they're, I don't know, other to us. We're all kind of like just regular people trying to make a living here in Minnesota. And I think a lot of times in politics, you don't see that."

Read the full NPR article at this link.

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