Opinion
By Karl Rove
The rise of the Democratic Socialists of America is a political gift for Republicans. If GOP House candidates want to take advantage of it, here’s a version of a simple speech to consider. I’ve written it for a candidate in Florida, where state Rep. Angie Nixon, a DSA member, is the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee. It forces Democrats into an uncomfortable choice: Side with DSA’s extreme views or break with the group and upset its energized and increasingly influential supporters. The speech would go something like this:
Florida voters face a big question in the midterm election: How do you feel about a statewide ticket led by a member of the Democratic Socialists of America? It should scare the hell out of you. Because the DSA’s agenda is more radically leftist than any we’ve seen in our lifetime. And the DSA is increasing its influence in the Democratic Party.
How bad could it be? Let’s start with this: The DSA platform wants an America where “you don’t pay a mortgage or have a landlord.” Sounds nice, until you get to the details. In DSA world, government will “build new, publicly-owned social housing.”
Some will remember those big, ugly apartment blocks in the Soviet Union. That’s DSA leaders’ vision, whether they admit it or not. Unless they say otherwise, you should assume Angie Nixon and my Democratic opponent support it.
The DSA agenda says government must treat “food, education, energy, medicine and transportation” as “common goods and utilities” and that democracy requires “public ownership of the largest corporations and essential industries.” Again, you should assume Ms. Nixon and my Democrat opponent are on board with the DSA unless they deny it.
Here are some questions: Since food would be a “common good,” would farmers work for the government? What about large Florida companies? Will government take over your local Publix store? The home builder Lennar? How about Ryder Trucks and CSX railroad? Miami is headquarters for the Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean cruise lines. Does Ms. Nixon want government to take them over? Does my opponent? If they won’t say no, assume they do. Let me get really serious: Do we want federal bureaucrats to be in charge of Mickey Mouse and Disney World?
The DSA blames America’s problems on “private ownership and profit.” It claims our free-enterprise system is “making us desperate and miserable.” Unless they say otherwise, you should assume Ms. Nixon and my Democratic opponent agree with those sentiments. I promise you I don’t.
The free-enterprise system has shortcomings. That’s why I’m a reform conservative. But our free-enterprise system made America the most prosperous, creative, open and compassionate country in the world. It’s why people want to come here.
There are many more things the DSA demands that Floridians should be concerned about. A 32-hour workweek but with a 40-hour paycheck. What small business could cope with that? “Phase out the use of fossil fuels.” “Fully abolishing the police and prison system.” “Abolish ICE” and “legalize migration”—that is, open borders. The DSA would “defund the Department of War” and “close overseas military bases.”
The DSA was silent at best following Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack and obsessively accuses Israel of “genocide.” The DSA platform calls for letting immigrants vote before they naturalize, making the District of Columbia a state, abolishing the Senate and Electoral College, having taxpayer dollars fund campaigns, and having congressmen elect the president and the Supreme Court.
I’ll ask again: Do Angie Nixon and my opponent in this House race agree with the DSA program? If not, say so—emphatically and forcefully, loud enough so DSA supporters hear. But if Ms. Nixon and my opponent refuse to disavow DSA’s agenda or remain silent, then we Republicans should attack and attack again. Make them squirm as voters turn against them.
The column by Mr. Rove, courtesy of KarlRove.com, was first published in The Wall Street Journal.
Karl Rove served as Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush from 2000–2007 and Deputy Chief of Staff from 2004–2007. At the White House he oversaw the Offices of Strategic Initiatives, Political Affairs, Public Liaison, and Intergovernmental Affairs and was Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, coordinating the White House policy-making process. Notably, Mr. Rove was known as “The Architect” of President Bush’s 2000 and 2004 winning campaigns.