Mike Rowe Responds to Backlash
Television personality Mike Rowe is urging Democrats to distance themselves from the Democratic Socialists of America, arguing that embracing candidates who identify with the movement could cost the party support among independents and moderate voters.
Rowe shared his thoughts Sunday in a Facebook post that linked to a segment from HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. In the monologue, Maher discussed the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America within Democratic politics, providing the backdrop for Rowe's own commentary.
"We have an opportunity — Democrats, in particular — to speak out loudly and clearly against an ideology that has been proven, demonstrably, to be a really bad idea," Rowe wrote.
"It's alarming to see how quickly communism has been embraced by so many, but it's even more alarming to see how many have yet to condemn it, in favor of sheltering under a 'big tent.'"
Rowe pointed to comments by California Gov. Gavin Newsom about supporting candidates across the Democratic coalition and argued that some DSA-backed candidates have been open about their policy goals.
"They have clearly articulated precisely what they want, and exactly what they will try to accomplish if they gain power. No borders. No police. No prisons. No Senate," Rowe wrote.
He went on to argue that some candidates have cited the writings of Karl Marx and advocated replacing core American institutions with a different political system.
"If the DSA continues to grow in popularity, and the Democrats actually campaign on their behalf, I think it'll be the largest political blunder in my lifetime," he added.
Rowe contended that Democrats are overlooking an opportunity to broaden their appeal.
"Seems to me, that this is best opportunity Democrats will ever have to make some kind of reasonable appeal to Independents, and those not on board with this administration."
The discussion did not end there. After receiving hundreds of responses, Rowe published another lengthy Facebook post Monday addressing several critics directly.
One commenter argued that he was confusing democratic socialism with communism.
"Shelley Armour writes… 'Mike! You know there is a difference between democratic socialism and communism, right'?"
Rowe responded that he understood the distinction but said his criticism was based on statements made by specific candidates rather than the party's name alone.
"Yes, I know there's a difference, and I understand what the difference is," he wrote. "The larger point... is that you seem to believe the candidates within the Democratic Socialist Party are both 'democratic and socialist' simply because that's the name of their club."
He continued by arguing that some candidates have publicly advocated dismantling capitalism, free markets, representative government, property rights, borders, policing, prisons, and elements of the Constitution.
Another commenter compared Democratic socialists to President Donald Trump, asking what separated them from someone the commenter described as a fascist.
Rowe replied that the relevant distinction, in his view, was that candidates identifying with democratic socialism openly embrace that label.
"The president, on the other hand, has never claimed to be a Nazi or a fascist," Rowe wrote. "That doesn't mean he isn't, but it is worth noting he has rejected the accusation outright."
Rowe also responded to criticism that he was reviving Cold War-era rhetoric by repeatedly using the word "communism."
"To say it again, I am not the one 'spouting' communism or conflating socialists and communists," he wrote. "The word is being 'spouted' by members of the DSA who are using it to describe themselves. I am not accusing them; I am quoting them."
Toward the end of his response, Rowe emphasized that he was not issuing a blanket endorsement of Republicans. He described himself as an independent who often favors conservative policies but said he has never publicly endorsed a political candidate or urged people to vote for one.
"I think there's a lot of room for improvement in our country, and I believe the best way to realize those improvements is for Democrats and Republicans to have continuous, robust and public debate about all the issues," he wrote.
Rowe concluded by arguing that debates over policy are fundamentally different from debates over the country's governing system.
"But if one of those parties is affirmatively determined to transform our democratic republic into a communist state, then we're no longer debating the various ways to make our country better; we're debating the merits of destroying it. And really, what's the point of tolerating that?"