There has been a lot of chatter about the Lincoln Project ads. Some are admiring of the impact of the ads and wish Democrats could do as well. Some cheer them on in a spirit of schadenfreude. Others look upon them and the whole group of Never Trumpers as temporary allies who will shift into opposition as soon as the present crisis is past. All of these views are valid, and yet each could use a bit more nuance.
The easiest and most obvious is the power the ads have. They are cleverly framed and presented, but the most important quality they have is that they pick up on some action Trump has taken, or some aspect of his character that have been in the news. Their effectiveness lies almost wholly in the direct reflection of Trump’s behavior and action. In a sense, Trump writes the ads himself. Wanting the Democrats to do a better job of messaging, as it is supposed that the Lincoln Project ads do, elides the point that effectiveness depends on content. One cannot depend on an opponent being so obliging as Trump is in providing the fodder for the messaging mill. Nor should an ad just make stuff up, but that’s an issue for another article.
I have very mixed emotions about the glee being expressed in response to the ads. On the one hand, it is delightful to see those who have been in opposition to Democratic policy so successfully attacking their own party. On the other hand, it is sobering to think that these folks are taking a stand on principle, and it will cost them. I cannot imagine they will ever be accepted in any fashion by the Trump base. Which leads me to my last point.
Most who decry the Never Trumpers as suspect temporary allies seem to expect they will become instant implacable enemies the instant Trump goes down in defeat (one hopes and prays!) This strikes me as the mirror image of the right wing hate machine, and is equally detestable. If you think about it, the work the Lincoln Project and other Never Trumper activities reveal an implicit recognition the Republican Party has crossed a line. This line crossing includes their indifference to his bad behavior and lying, their enabling of his breaking of norms, their winking at his corruption and, not least, their attitude that anything supported by the Democrats must have originated in the depths of hell. Playing tit for tat with a group like that has no winners; indeed the biggest losers are the American people. So, while it is certainly clear the Never Trumpers will have policy views and goals that differ from, and probably to a large extent are opposed to those of the Democrats, they will at least recognize the legitimacy of our existence. From there it is only a short step to being able to debate issues on their merits and work toward acceptable compromises
I,for one, will cheer them on and welcome them to the table (as long as they mind their manners.)