The cover-ups will continue, more in this article. But if you want to save time.
Comprehensive List of Takeaways
- Strategic Focus Shift: The author strongly advises Democrats to prioritize the Epstein coverup scandal over traditional “kitchen-table” issues like affordability, criticizing the conventional political wisdom that suggests otherwise.
- Epstein as a Wedge Issue: The scandal is presented as a highly effective issue for dividing Republicans, more so than economic policies like tax hikes or the Affordable Care Act, which tend to unify the GOP.
- Skepticism of Policy Appeals: The piece expresses skepticism regarding the effectiveness of economic policy appeals, arguing that policy “almost never gets people talking,” while explosive, lurid matters (like the Epstein files) are crucial for capturing public attention and determining election outcomes.
- Moral Intuitions Trump Economics: It is argued that voters, even those who might favor a Republican on economic grounds, are likely to vote against a candidate involved in a pedophilia scandal, citing the victory of Democrat Doug Jones over Roy Moore in Alabama as proof.
- Achievable Victory through Oversight: Pursuing the Epstein files is framed as a more achievable political goal than forcing a Republican administration to sign favorable economic legislation. Congressional majorities can use oversight and subpoena power to end the coverup without needing presidential approval.
- GOP Desperation Revealed: Actions taken by Republicans, such as intense focus on gerrymandering and efforts to stonewall Congressional inquiries, are interpreted as signs of desperation and vulnerability stemming from the fear of the Epstein files being released.
- The Referendum Proposal: Democrats should clearly establish a public consensus before the election that the midterms will serve as a referendum on whether Donald Trump’s pedophilia coverup should be allowed to succeed.
Resounding Summary Highlighting the Facts
The central thesis of the article is that Democrats should force a political referendum on the Epstein coverup, asserting that it is the most potent path to electoral success and securing leverage over the opposition.
The author, Brian Beutler, dismisses the strategic advice to “get back to affordability,” contending that this approach is weak and often fails to win elections. Instead, he highlights the political fact that a scandal involving a “child predator” and an alleged coverup can decisively turn elections by appealing to fundamental moral values, as demonstrated by the case of Doug Jones in Alabama.
The piece underscores that the Republican side’s intense efforts to conceal the files, including political maneuvers like gerrymandering, betray a profound fear of the evidence’s contents. Crucially, the author points out that Democrats possess the institutional power through oversight to pry the files loose without requiring the President’s cooperation on legislation. By framing the election around the Epstein issue, Democrats can create a clear mandate, ensuring the election determines the fate of the files and giving them the upper hand in a future divided government.