"Well, then, you're a Republican"

The dumbest rhetorical cudgel ever

Over the past decade, I’ve seen some version of the following exchange happen more times than I can count. Someone on the far left argues for a position that is far out of the mainstream. Someone who is more moderate (but still on the left, all things considered) responds by criticizing the radical idea and suggesting something much more moderate and sensible. To which the person on the left replies “If you think that, you’re a Republican.”

This exchange is repeated so often because it frequently seems to have its desired effect. Lots of people are self-consciously “on the left.” Whatever it means to be on the left, that’s where they are, and they take any accusation that they’re not on the left as a grave insult. “No, I’m not a Republican, I’d never support the Republicans!” “Well, then, get on side.” Checkmate.

This exchange has always annoyed me because of the way it appeals to people who have their identity tied up with being on a specific political team. I’m not a Republican - I have never voted for the Republicans and don’t anticipate doing so any time soon - but if someone were to call me a Republican, I wouldn’t get indignant. I’d be amused. What a silly thing to say! I can’t imagine a world where the “Well then you’re a Republican” gambit works on me. I’m always vaguely incredulous that it works on anyone, and a little embarrassed for the people it does work on). Don’t you have any self-respect?

In the wake of Harris’s loss to Trump, however, I’m seeing a second and perhaps more important way that this is an incredibly dumb line. Ronald Reagan said that if you agree with him 60% of the time, you’re a Republican. I don’t know if that’s so, but that’s a good marketing line. “If you support what I support, then you’re on my team and you should vote for me.” Makes sense!

So consider some popular, moderate policy. “If you support that policy, then you’re a Republican” is Reagan’s line. It’s a thing you’d expect Republicans to say to encourage people to vote Republican, because it’s a sensible and persuasive marketing message for the Republicans. Yet for years, that’s exactly what Democrats have been saying to people on the center-left. They’ve been saying it because it works on spineless partisans who can’t think about political issues in any other terms than being on the right team.

But for people who have a bit of self-respect and capacity for independent thought, “People who think like you do are Republicans” is the kind of thing that might convince them to actually support Republicans. I’m not saying that’s why Harris lost. But it’s something for Democrats to consider as they look for a way out of the wilderness.