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Caught in a Web of Their Own Making [1]

['Greg Dworkin', 'Thom Hartmann', 'Tippy', 'Ice Blue', 'Momma O']

Date: 2026-09-16  

When you watch the Republican Party execute its logic, it feels as though you are in a dark vacuum. Up is down; left is—literally—right, and only the left is guilty of sexual misconduct, bigotry, and anti-Semitic darkness. One of my favorite examples of this is the CNN Newsnight show hosted by Abby Phillip. Jesse Arm, the Vice President and pollster from the Manhattan Institute, demonstrated GOP hypocrisy at its glorious best last night. When the subject turned to an actual GOP candidate, Brandon Herrera, who put out a video of himself goose-stepping to a Nazi theme, Arm made the case that Herrera now disavows those actions. Yet when the host pointed out to him that Graham Platner, whom the Democratic Party jettisoned over a Nazi tattoo and accusations of sexual assault, the former Senatorial candidate from Maine, also disavowed his actions, Arm avoided claims of hypocrisy while flailing like a fly in a web of his own dissonance.

Mr. Arm, who touts himself as an expert pollster and GOP surrogate, took offense at liberal panelist Adam Mockler for asking him questions on a panel discussion show. Arm was either stunned that someone dared to question him, or his obfuscation tactic was as opaque as muddy water. It almost appears painful for Republicans to admit wrongdoing from their brethren. Another panelist, the ubiquitous Dr. Cornel West, asked Arm if he was equally as appalled at innocent Palestinian babies dying as he was at innocent Jewish babies dying. You could see Arm weighing his answer against the political calculation of simply taking the decent, moral stance of saying yes right away or risking saying something against GOP hierarchy. Finally, and with the sound of a demure child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Arm said yes.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson used the Graham Platner scandal, the now-disgraced former Democratic candidate from Maine, to defend two Republican candidates, Max Miller (sitting Congressman from Ohio) and Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL). Speaker Johnson argued that the two men faced only allegations, which they have denied. The problem with Johnson’s logic is that Platner also denied the allegation of sexual misconduct. Still, Democrats decided—even his great chance to unseat Susan Collins—was not worth the moral failure of the party. Republican Texas candidate for Congress, Brandon Herrera, called Nazi machine guns the “original ghetto blaster” and released a video of himself goose-stepping to a Nazi march song. Yesterday, Johnson said of Herrera, “That’s detestable language,” Johnson replied. “But I also know Brandon Herrera has been out running a very effective campaign and explaining to people that he has apologized for all that. He was a podcaster and a provocateur and tried to get attention.” Johnson went on to say, “I’m telling you, this is a contrast election between common sense and crazy,” said Johnson. “Brandon Herrera will join the common-sense team of Republicans making life better for Americans.”

Johnson’s lack of self-awareness strains credulity. The array of racist, sexist, anti-Semitic, and, as Tim Walz coined, just “weird” GOP candidates this election season is breathtaking. Republicans for decades have used an “- ist” to scare voters about new ideas from Democrats, from Social Security and Medicare to the Affordable Care Act to the Green New Deal. The problem with their criticisms is that they do not offer alternatives, just opposition. Donald Trump promised a new health care plan in 2015, two weeks after he took office; eleven years later, there are “concepts of a plan.” The Trump sons’ usage of the White House as an ATM makes the persistent GOP allegation against Hunter Biden look like shaking extra nickels from his piggy bank. Throughout it all, Republicans look for reasons to cover for Mr. Trump’s obvious incompetence, instead of doing their jobs.

Your Vote is Still Your Voice (So Scream)

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/9/16/800098860/community/caught-in-a-web-of-their-own-making/

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