The Democratic Party Civil War Will Be Gloriously Entertaining

If you like the idea of watching a cage match in which Democrats beat the hell out of each other, you will be pleased to know that it won’t cost you the outrageous price of a pay-per-view purchase or a ticket to watch ringside. 

The Democrats are going to provide you with all the entertainment you want for free! Good deal. 

Yesterday I wrote about Democrat Congressman Seth Moulton’s sudden conversion on alphabet issues. Moulton was a leader of the alphabet ideology crowd in the last Congress, but this time around he has staked out a position on the opposite side. 

Perhaps, he says, girls shouldn’t be forced to compete with boys or have to shower with them. 

It hasn’t gone over well with his side of the aisle. 

In the wake of their historic loss, the Democrats are reforming their party by…canceling each other over unpopular culture war issues. Here’s what’s happening to Seth Moulton (D-MA), a veteran who’s been in Congress since 2015:

—Salem city Councilor Kyle Davis called for his…

— Jake 🇺🇸 (@omni_american) November 13, 2024

The pile-on has been amusing to watch as Democrats around the country have descended like wolves going after a wounded lamb, ravenously hungry to tear him limb from limb. 

He literally said that trans girls were boys. This was not “reasonable concerns” or an invitation to dialogue – it was transphobia and laying this election loss at the feet of little girls who just want to play sports with their friends puts them in danger. You all are disgusting https://t.co/zgQ9jgsvQj

— Mark Martinez (@yo_era_mark) November 12, 2024

Academics, nonprofit leaders, nonprofit leaders, and fellow politicians have attacked Moulton for asserting that boys are boys and girls are girls.The leader of the Democratic Party in Massachusetts won’t take his calls and the Governor of Massachusetts has blasted Moulton for his supposed cruelty,. 

Massachusetts Gov. Healy joins the criticism of Seth Moulton over his trans rights comments: “What I saw in that comment is playing politics with people, and we shouldn’t do that.” https://t.co/rnmQocuA61

— David Weigel (@daveweigel) November 12, 2024

Governor Healy is right that Moulton is playing politics, just as he was when he cosponsored bills promoting alphabet ideology. Moulton’s finger sensed a shift in how the wind blows and wants to capitalize on becoming a temporary ideological outcast. He was seeking a “Sister Soulja” moment and smartly chose this issue. 

From Liz Bradt: “As Chair of the Salem Democratic City Committee I lead a group of people who advocate for those who need housing, those who need jobs, those who are LGBTQIA and those who want to work for a fair wage. If our Representative in Congress wants to accuse us of…

— Carine Hajjar (@carinemhajjar) November 13, 2024

Moulton is looking to become famous for being a “reasonable” Democrat by championing an issue position that is almost universally popular and by inviting the ravenous pack of wolves to attack him while he stands behind the electric fence of public opinion, he benefits from looking artificially brave. 

What’s controversial about this quote from Seth Moulton isn’t that he says he opposes boys in girls sports—2/3 of the public opposes that as well—it’s that Moulton championed the Equality Act, which would have mandated allowing boys in girls sports. He should have to explain the… https://t.co/sbEkNyIIiw pic.twitter.com/9qA62qpJ3a

— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) November 10, 2024

This is a smart move for an ambitious politician who needs to rise from obscurity. When he championed alphabet ideology only a year ago, he probably thought that he would have to triangulate on a different issue. Alphabet ideology was universally accepted among Democrats, and bucking it seemed like a death sentence for a political career. 

Voted AGAINST protecting women and girls in sports.https://t.co/Gu5DUGrDA2

Voted AGAINST deporting illegals who commit sex crimes.https://t.co/xkoZKFuh9K

Seth Moulton is a total fraud. He wants to protect his daughters. Yours not so much. https://t.co/ZDhGwTryCA

— Gerry Callahan (@GerryCallahan) November 12, 2024

As I said, this is good for Moulton. But what makes it glorious for Republicans is how it forces leftist Democrats to go to war over an issue that harms them greatly. Moulton and a few brave souls will position themselves as the new version of The Democrat Leadership Council, dragging the party back to the center. 

Very calculated stand by an ambitious Moulton who, until very recently, supported the full slate of nonsense. He’s likely made a calculation that a national Democratic role hinges on being seen as a moderate – a hard label to garner coming out of Massachusetts. https://t.co/pxXldzXdGD

— Codfish Johnny (@CodfishJohnny) November 13, 2024

That centrism is a pose, of course. Moulton is neither a leftist nor a centrist but an opportunist. But he sees his road to success paved through the ruins of a progressive movement that is far from destroyed. 

Wow with this interview. Wow. https://t.co/m6KrZRpeC2 Rep. Moulton says Dems need to speak about trans girls and sports. Host says she “The thing I haven’t heard you say in the last several days of response on this is, I know I hurt someone, and if I did, I’m sorry about…

— Mike Pesca (@pescami) November 12, 2024

In fact, Moulton is very much in the minority of his party on progressivism. While AOC and the much-diminished Squad will be a waning force, the monied Democrats are progressives, at least as extreme as they are. They have plenty of ammunition to fight the civil war, and what we will soon be seeing is the growth of truly nasty factionalism. 

Some establishment donors will back the centrists and keep them alive as a political force, and in the long run, the progressives likely face a bleak future. 

But the new donor class is filled with crazies, and they will fund attacks not just on Republicans but also on heretics challenging the new orthodoxy. 

It will be as much the clash of the donor class as the class of the politicians, NGOs, ideological zealots, and the armed wing we call Antifa. If Democrats don’t do well in 2026, the war will get even more vicious. 

Needless to say, this will be fun to watch. Pop your popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show.