The Democratic Boogeyman

The Republican Party has spent years warning Americans about a Democrat it made up. This Democrat is a socialist with a secret soft spot for Sharia law, a fixation on everybody’s pronouns and, somehow, enough time left over to give away your job. You’d think a person that busy would need decent health insurance.

The scare campaign helped Trump and his allies win elections. But once you’re in office, the audience gets to ask what you’ve done for them lately. A video about school bathrooms might rack up a million views. It won’t explain why a family with insurance is putting off a trip to the doctor or why a bag of groceries costs more than it used to.

People can disagree about gender and immigration and still want a president who treats their neighbors with decency. They can disagree about foreign policy and still expect an answer before we enter another war. What are we trying to accomplish? Who has to fight it? How does it end?

Democrats have an opening here. Tell people how you’ll make it easier to afford a prescription, keep the air and water clean, and give families some breathing room at the checkout counter. And for God’s sake, say plainly that losing an election is part of democracy. The people who count the votes shouldn’t have to fear for their safety because a candidate can’t stand the result.

The imaginary Democrat made for a good villain. The real one ought to make a good case for governing.