Anti-Trump Conservatives Go to War Over ‘Fluffing’ Kamala Harris As a Way to Save the Republican Party
AP Photo/Darron Cummings; AP Photo/Alex Brandon
The publisher of the anti-Trump publication The Bulwark, Sarah Longwell, battled Stephen Hayes over the weekend – the CEO and editor of rival anti-Trump outlet The Dispatch.
Hayes kicked off the debate on Friday by writing, “Grim moment in our politics. Some conservatives embracing a nutty conspiracy theorist like RFK Jr. and others fluffing a statist progressive Kiel Kamala Harris. What a mess the modern conservative movement is.”
Longwell, who also conducts focus groups and is a political strategist, replied to Hayes, “Honestly, what are you talking about Steve? The sad state of the conservative movement has nothing to do with some conservatives voting for a Democrat to keep Trump away from power. The widespread capitulation to and ultimate embrace of Trump destroyed the conservative movement.”
The battle between Hayes and Longwell highlighted the divide within the anti-Trump right over just how much to embrace Vice President Kamala Harris in her effort to keep Trump from a second term.
Hayes hit back at Longwell, “There is a big difference between “some conservatives voting for a Democrat to keep Trump away from power” and longtime conservatives who abandon conservative principles and policies to boost that Democrat. It’s possible to oppose Trump without lionizing Kamala, right?”
Longwell replied, “I’m sorry but I think you’re stuck in tribal muck. Harris’s speech last night was, both in substance and style, very good. She made a better case for America than any politician in almost a decade. There was a lot in it for people like us. It’s not “fluffing”. All your analysis simply ignores how dangerous Trump is. Beating him requires making an affirmative case for the alternative. There’s no betrayal in that. We are clear where we disagree on policy.”
“Nah, my position is anti-tribal, actually. Trump is a dangerous demagogue, uniquely unfit to serve another term as president. Harris is a far-left senator now trying to run away from her rhetoric and record. Opposing Trump doesn’t require pretending Harris is something she’s not,” Hayes replied.
The Atlantic’s Tom Nichols jumped in to defend Longwell, writing, “Steve’s position seems to be that conservatives, if they feel they [heavy sigh] must vote for Harris, should go to the polls as if they’re on a death march. @SarahLongwell25 is right: This is basic right and wrong and conservatives need not wear sackcloth to do the right thing.”
Hey Tom – You don’t need to speculate about what my position “seems to be,” you can just read it. My original tweet objected to conservatives embracing RFK Jr or “fluffing” Kamala Harris. Which part do you object to? https://t.co/4qeq40fMzX
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) August 24, 2024
Longwell jumped back in after Hayes replied to Nichols and added, “No! Your original tweet said that some conservatives “fluffing” Harris were responsible for the sad state of the conservative movement. Which is nuts! The sad state of the conservative movement is entirely due to Trump and the conservatives who’ve capitulated to him. But you’re more interested in taking shots at people who are willing to say Kamala is better than Trump and should win. That’s why I felt compelled to speak up.”
No! Your original tweet said that some conservatives “fluffing” Harris were responsible for the sad state of the conservative movement. Which is nuts! The sad state of the conservative movement is entirely due to Trump and the conservatives who’ve capitulated to him. But you’re… https://t.co/bPgXQQUq8c
— Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) August 25, 2024
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