Democrats Need To 'stop Trying To Be Cool,' Warns Columnist

Daily Beast elder columnist and writer Matt K. Lewis called retired nan Democratic Party for its efforts to rebrand, arguing it needs to triumph backmost nan American group pinch authenticity.

In a Los Angeles Times sentiment portion headlined, "Democrats, please extremity trying to beryllium cool," Lewis wrote astir nan party's efforts to refresh its image successful nan aftermath of its conclusion to President Donald Trump successful November. He warned, "manufactured cool is cringe — and gimmicks won’t prevention a statement that’s forgotten really to beryllium real."

Lewis called out 2 Democratic leaders who look to beryllium pulling nan ailing party’s marque successful other directions.

"Rebranding proposal is plentiful, if conflicting. James Carville thinks Democrats should conscionable get retired of nan measurement and fto Trump self-destruct (a strategy that mightiness activity for nan midterms, but yet a statement has to guidelines for something)," nan Daily Beast writer noted. "Meanwhile, David Hogg, nan caller vice chair of nan Democratic National Committee, wants to walk millions purging nan party’s incumbent geriatrics — a bold move that could sabotage a promising predetermination night."

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Daily Beast elder columnist and writer Matt K. Lewis called connected nan Democratic Party to "stop trying to beryllium cool" and alternatively attraction connected authenticity successful an sentiment portion for nan Los Angeles Times. (Leigh Vogel/WireImage)

While Lewis credited Hogg’s efforts to switch nan party’s older members for astatine slightest tapping into nan zeitgeist, he based on it was a superficial alteration during a clip of desperation, for illustration erstwhile "divorced dads bargain convertibles." The Daily Beast newsman based on that so-called "dark woke," a "fancy word for progressive authorities dressed up successful an edgy, confrontational style," is simply a likewise doomed effort.

"Because yes, nan Democratic marque is cooked. Worse: It’s lame," Lewis added.

But things were not ever this way, he said, recalling nan Democratic brand’s glory days pinch erstwhile President Barack Obama, movie prima George Clooney, and nan party’s wide "monopoly connected taste capital" successful past years.

"Democrats, amazingly, person go nan hallway monitors of American politics. And what do they person to show for taking connected this responsibility?" Lewis asked, marveling astatine really times person changed. "Meanwhile, nan GOP — formerly nan domain of Dockers dads, knowledgeable prudes and Young Republicans — pulled disconnected nan unthinkable. They became nan chaos agents. The punk rockers. The statement of mediate fingers. The reversal has been astonishing."

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David Hogg, weapon power advocator and subsister of nan Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy, astatine nan 2024 Democratic National Convention successful Chicago, IL, Thursday, August 22, 2024.  (Photo by DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Some Democrats, he argued, are making nan changes nan statement needs, and it goes beyond skin-deep.

"Talk for illustration you mean it. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) does that. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) does too. Not because they’re trying to beryllium cool — but because they aren’t. They show up, opportunity what they believe, and don’t clone it," Lewis said. "Do worldly that matters. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) conscionable provided an illustration of that. Not precisely nan hippest feline successful nan room — but he precocious flew to El Salvador to meet pinch Kilmar Abrego Garcia, nan man wrongfully deported nether Trump and detained successful a Salvadoran prison."

He added, "Van Hollen didn’t conscionable show up for nan cameras. He showed up because it mattered (for Garcia and for anyone who cares astir owed process and nan norm of law). And honestly? That’s benignant of cool."

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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) participate successful a extremity connected nan ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ circuit astatine nan Dignity Health Arena, Theater successful Bakersfield, California, U.S. connected April 15, 2025. (REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci)

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Having "authenticity, passion and substance," Lewis argued, are nan keys to making nan Democratic Party’s marque cool again.

"And if not? At slightest you’re not nan feline rapping astir ambiance alteration done a TikTok select while populist collapses down you," he concluded.