Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin criticized Democrats for being overly cautious in political discourse during an interview on PBS’s ‘Firing Line with Margaret Hoover.’ She highlighted that the party’s fear of social media backlash is causing self-censorship and preventing them from taking strong positions, especially in the face of Donald Trump’s presidency. According to Slotkin, the Democratic Party needs to become more unified and assertive to effectively counter the challenges they face.
During the discussion, Hoover asked Slot, if she and Obama are ‘saying the same thing.’ Slotkin replied that while they may not be saying exactly the same thing, the underlying message is similar. She emphasized that the party needs to play as a team, call out those who are not helping the team, and celebrate when someone does something great.
Slotkin also addressed the concern that Democrats fear each other’s factions and that some ‘fear’ backlash on X, which is still referred to as its former name Twitter. She provided an example of how her peers, who are relatively new to the Senate, have expressed reluctance to take a strong stance due to potential online backlash. Slotkin admitted that there will be a ‘bad online response’ if they do so.
Obama’s ‘toughen up’ comments referenced by Hoover were made at a fundraiser in July where he said Democrats should complain less. According to excerpts obtained by CNN, Obama suggested that the party needs to reduce navel-gazing and whining and adopt a more resilient approach. Slotkin’s comments appear to align with this sentiment, highlighting a growing frustration within the party about its cautious stance and the need for a stronger, more unified voice in political discourse.