I am begging you guys to recognize that leveraging the flag is basically the closest thing to One Weird Trick in American politics because regular people don't hate America like you do - ThreadSky

cooperlund.online • 15 days ago

I am begging you guys to recognize that leveraging the flag is basically the closest thing to One Weird Trick in American politics because regular people don't hate America like you do

Reposted from Politico

Democrats’ newest approach to win back voters: Reclaim the American flag.

Comments

erikdavisheim.bsky.social•15 days ago

I got an American flag to bring to my local No Kings protest tomorrow. I wanted to buy it locally, and ended up finding a family owned flag retailer that’s been around 80+ years. I drove to their store which turned out to be run out of their house.

erikdavisheim.bsky.social•15 days ago

The owner was the granddaughter of the guy who started the business. She talked up the high quality of the flags, pointing out the stitching and embroidery. She was stoked I’m young enough to know how to write an online review, and gave me a mini bottle of Fiji Water on my way out. 10/10 experience.

whimsicalsquirrel.bsky.social•15 days ago

I thought one of the smarter things the Harris campaign tried was reclaiming the "USA!" chants, as annoying as they are, though the comments on that article respectfully disagree and I'm sure the smarter strategy is yelling at people until they agree to become communists.

mds77.bsky.social•15 days ago

computer, what is swiftboating?

jerrybrennan.bsky.social•15 days ago

benjicardoso.bsky.social•15 days ago

Trump and the GOP hate America! That must be the message (which also has the virtue of being true)!

failedstatemind.bsky.social•15 days ago

OK but the guy in front of it sucks

internetguy.bsky.social•15 days ago

Is there any solid data to back up flag hugging as an effective strategy for left of center politicians getting elected, or is this more your intuition? Not a criticism either way, just curious what you're basing the opinion on.

theradiostar.bsky.social•15 days ago

performative patriotism is fine or whatever, but i'm pretty sure Dems have been doing this already? they all wear the stupid little lapel pins during the debates, too

andrewagill.bsky.social•15 days ago

A conversation I recently had

julietskeets.bsky.social•15 days ago

Thing is, this won't work. Aside from the fact it's stupid, it just looks like virtue signaling to Dem voters (because it is).
You know what the big secret to winning back voters? Stop making policy for the donor class and start making policy for the working class. Medicare for All is a good start.

sikolnam.bsky.social•14 days ago

Good policy starts with and requires good messaging. It’s not an either/or.

julietskeets.bsky.social•14 days ago

What? So wait, you think this call for embracing the flag is about policy? You sure about that?

brosemitesam.bsky.social•15 days ago

Ain't that America

foreverambre.bsky.social•15 days ago

Ain’t that America somethin’ to see, baby

cooperlund.online•15 days ago

You're going against a GOP that has basically rejected every American value that exists to become a cult of personality for a weird guy, use this as a chance to reclaim patriotism, the thing the GOP used to beat us with all the time.

marvinbutters.bsky.social•15 days ago

Remember when Trump was first elected and everyone would read normal slice-of-apple-pie americana as a straightforward rebuke of him? That was good to own!

marvinbutters.bsky.social•15 days ago

John Cena: you know I love America, and Americans
Everyone: oh damn he must hate Trump

albemuth.bsky.social•15 days ago

I understand the arguments against, but imo symbols like the flag are political weapons. People use those symbols because they work and are effective.

cassius1213.bsky.social•15 days ago

Moreover, malign them as much as you may, "classic American values" are a great way to introduce people to class consciousness.

"Real Americans love underdogs" can lead to "and this is why we need to collectivize our labor to first level the playing field against capital, and then defeat it!"

cassius1213.bsky.social•15 days ago

"Real Americans welcome people from all over the world because we're ultimately all equal" can become "because borders are all ultimately artificial constructs devised to divide and conquer the working class."

cooperlund.online•15 days ago

*I wrote about this voice* I wrote about this back in February

https://medium.com/@cooperlund/on-patriotism-b8f89acd0356

superba.bsky.social•15 days ago

I thought the idea of dressing up like revolutionary war guy at protests is really good

cooperlund.online•15 days ago

Yeah that’s reclaiming the tea party shit too

boys-n-berry.bsky.social•15 days ago

Unironically I just want one person to show up at one of the big protests with a Captain America shield. If they block a hit from one of those horse cops with the wooden swords and someone gets it on camera that’s the shot of the decade right there

beneprism.rip•15 days ago

My main objection to this is the idea that this is a "new approach" when Dems have been running the "proud American troop" playbook in purple states and districts since 9/11. The Democratic Party has been overtly patriotic and soaking in Americana as long as I've been able to vote!

sikolnam.bsky.social•14 days ago

I guess my counter would be that this time they should actually mean it. Historically, Democratic flag waving has often come across as insincere and performative, while GOP flag waving jingoism somehow has not. In this moment, Dems need to believe in the righteousness of their own flag waving.

foreverambre.bsky.social•15 days ago

This is 1776 vibes tho. The *people* re-establish, WE are the country. The patriotism is our commitment to each other. It’s a distinct departure from what we’ve seen the last 20 yrs. 2026 is looking to the future as opposed to a return to the past. I think we need to make that count.

beneprism.rip•15 days ago

Like, they use this image in the article. It's from the 2024 convention, which was absolutely overflowing with "we love America and the troops" messaging. And yet the media acts like the median Dem is a flag-burning pacifist, year after year

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