Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., has publicly dismissed a New York Times report that compared Democrats to ‘slow’ and ‘passive’ animals like sloths and tortoises. In an interview with CNN, she emphasized her focus on constituents facing significant health care cuts, rather than the animal metaphors used in the report.
The report, published by the New York Times, included research comparing the Democratic Party to animals like ‘tortoises, slugs, or sloths’ and noted that some voters described the party as ‘deer in headlights.’ The findings, attributed to Democratic researcher Anat Shenker-Osorio, highlighted ongoing challenges in the Democratic Party’s image after former Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss in the presidential election.
Wasserman Schultz criticized the comparisons, calling them ridiculous and trivial. ‘I’m not focused on the animals that some New York Times reporter compares the political parties to. My constituents are human beings,’ she said. The report also noted the party’s low favorability rating after President Donald Trump’s victory, with a recent Fox News poll showing only 41% of respondents had a favorable view of the Democratic Party.
While the report highlighted the party’s struggles with its image, it also underscored the broader context of political divisions in the United States. Wasserman Schultz reiterated her commitment to her constituents, emphasizing that her focus was on real issues such as healthcare and economic policies rather than the metaphorical comparisons used in the report.
The New York Times article also referenced a focus group where a Democratic man from Georgia described the party as ‘deer in headlights,’ suggesting a lack of preparedness or clarity in its messaging. However, the tone of the report was not entirely negative, as it acknowledged the Democratic Party’s ongoing efforts to adapt and improve its image in a rapidly changing political landscape.