r/politics • u/FarTomatillo621 • 5h ago
No Paywall James Carville says he prefers GOP win midterms because Dems would be 'hostage' to DSA
https://cbs4local.com/news/nation-world/james-carville-says-he-prefers-gop-win-midterms-because-dems-would-be-hostage-to-dsa-democratic-socialists-of-america•
u/monkeywithgun 5h ago
I am so sick of James Carville. Everything this man has said turned out to be horse shit. He helped destroy the Dem party.
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u/PapaTua Washington 5h ago
I hate to say it, but you're right. He's been dead wrong for the entire Trump era.
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u/m0nkyman Canada 5h ago
And the Bush Era. And the Obama era. And the Clinton era. And the Biden era.
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u/GatorNator83 5h ago
Why do you hate to say it? There’s plenty of bad people in Dems. Not quite as much as there are in GOP, but plenty nevertheless.
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u/honjuden 5h ago
Carville says what Third Way is thinking. These people should have no power in the Democratic party.
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u/Weak-Comfortable3765 4h ago
In a way im happy he said it. The left has been called conspiracy theorists or accused of infighting for saying that neoliberals act like this. and now carville just admitted it openly. This is what they truly are. Republicans who are afraid of the social consequences of being republicans.
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u/SomeGalNamedAshley 5h ago
I'm pretty sure Alan Colmes was a better pundit for the Dems, and his job was to be the most milquetoast strawman possible.
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u/Cma1234 5h ago edited 5h ago
Another reason why these old ass idiots need to relinquish power
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u/temporarycreature Oklahoma 5h ago
He's not a boomer. He was born in 1944, he's from the Silent Generation.
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u/Theotherdeadmeme92 Canada 5h ago
We really need to set age limits for political office of any capacity worldwide once these guys finally fall out of power.
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u/ElSlabraton 5h ago
Carville has never held office.
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u/Theotherdeadmeme92 Canada 5h ago
Apologies, I've had to learn about the existence of a lot of people against my will in the last 2 years and I'm not always familiar with who does what. I think my statement applies regardless though.
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u/honjuden 5h ago
He is a longstanding member of the consultant class that has been steering Democrats into the rocks for decades.
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u/HeartsOfDarkness Connecticut 5h ago
I mean, Carville doesn't have any real power. He's an old man yelling at clouds on cable news at this point in his career.
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u/ADhomin_em 5h ago
Unfortunately, anyone who is able to make headlines by saying something has far more power than most people.
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u/Weak-Comfortable3765 2h ago
True. but if he's saying this now. he's thought this for decades. This is who was held up as the dominant mind of the democratic consultant class this entire century. Someone who despises the left so much he'd rather give the country to republicans.
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u/HaubergeonPlus1 5h ago
He prefers the GOP wins because he is literally employed by Palantir and doesn't want to get investigated...lol...
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u/SlowRunner2026 5h ago
Carville is a trojan horse. Literally he is saying he prefers MAGA to real liberals. He can just fuck right off.
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u/Weak-Comfortable3765 4h ago
Its important we draw the line now and use the accurate language. Carville IS a liberal. this is neoliberalism. He isn't a progressive, or democratic socialist, or socialist, etc. He is a neoliberal and this is what neoliberal believes.
This is what the left has accused neoliberals of the whole time, that they would rather lose to republicans than allow progressives or anyone further to the left any chance at power. Carville outright said it. to invoke the comparison 'he just tweeted it out'.
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u/SlowRunner2026 4h ago
Neoliberalism is a misnomer for middle conservative.
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u/Weak-Comfortable3765 4h ago
Neoliberalism has been the dominant philosophy of government since Reagan including democrats. Yes its conservative. but american media's obsession with calling democrats liberals in opposition to conservatives has done a lot of damage to the public understanding on politics. If you frame policy as a choice between two conservative ideologies, you get to ignore the left altogether.
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u/AngelaMotorman Ohio 5h ago
Please let this be the last straw for news orgs that persist in platforming this ghoul.
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u/ParliamenttFnkadelic 5h ago
This is an article written by the Sinclair Propaganda Group's home office. They will never stop platforming James Carville. They love James Carville.
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u/AngelaMotorman Ohio 5h ago
True, but other news orgs may have principles.
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u/kunderthunt 5h ago
Which ones? Just bc Trump still bitches about traditionally left wing outlets to give his base a boogeyman doesn’t mean they haven’t been captured by right wing conglomerates to pump out garbage and never hold anyone accountable
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u/AngelaMotorman Ohio 5h ago
MSNOW, NYT, even WaPo and USAToday have been doing great work lately. NYT still lets him pontificate as a guest, but maybe the blowback to this deranged comment will shorten that tenure. Meanwhile, there's this.
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u/Significant_Cup_238 5h ago
Why would they be bothered? It's generated engagement. They're going to keep giving him megaphones, hoping he says more inflammatory things. Media companies don't give a shit about civic responsibility or journalistic integrity.
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u/naththegrath10 5h ago
Fun fact: if you would rather republicans win then democrats you are in fact a republican
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u/No-Cranberry6148 5h ago
Yeah... still a hostage to the "communist behind every bush" propaganda. This is why the geriatrics need to step aside; they keep old irrelevant issues alive forever.
Socialism is a threat to the present day system (but not to democracy) in the longer term, incrementally, if people happen to prefer it.
Fascism is a very real threat to the system right now, and they were a hair away from fully implementing it.
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u/Nythoren 5h ago
Ah yes, all 3 of the DSA people would clearly hold the 300+ Democrats in Congress hostage.
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u/Comfortable-Toe-3814 5h ago
James Carville is an out-of-touch idiot and has been for a long time. Why Dems listen to this loser is beyond me.
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u/BurnedWitch88 4h ago
I'm not sure any Dems actually do listen to him. He's just a C-list pundit at this point, no?
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u/pattydickens 5h ago
People like him made a career out of politics. They are literally responsible for the corruption that created this administration. Their opinions don't matter to me.
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u/PhilDGlass California 5h ago
He and his wife, Republican strategist Mary Matalin, made a killing working both sides of the isle, and their mouth.
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u/AtlanticCrescendo 5h ago
I'd prefer it if the Dems won. Otherwise freedom, democracy and decency in America will become things of the past.
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u/ddoyen 5h ago
We know youd rather Rs win than the left, James. We've known for a long time.
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u/teetering_bulb_dnd 5h ago
What an asshole. These people were never Democrats on any morals or principles.. just opportunistic Democrats..
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u/HaiKarate 5h ago
Fuck that guy.
I can't believe I'm getting fundraising texts from him. Like, even if I was considering donating to you, you just lost my support with a James Carville text.
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u/Shionkron 5h ago
So He would rather have us hostage to Trump who opposes Democracy as opposed to the DSA who is pro Democracy but may have some internal party squabbles. Got it. What a clown show.
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u/30yearoldhondaaccord 5h ago
His wife is a Republican strategist. He has no skin in the game. He needs to be ignored and forgotten
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u/ohilco8421 5h ago
Why do media outlets still platform this crypt keeper? He’s a worthless windbag.
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u/Evil_phd 5h ago
If he thinks Dems avoid spiting the left due to fear of losing elections then I have no idea where he's been.
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u/drjohngeorgepeppers 5h ago
James Carville presented himself as a genius because he was a campaign advisor for the most charismatic presidential candidate in a generation. A drunk orangutan could have replaced Carville and Clinton would have still won.
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u/prettyokcake 5h ago
I mean, that kinda tells you all you need to know about the people in power in the two parties being bedfellows and hate any form of positive change for people. They’re okay with living inside the margins regardless of who is in power as long as it’s not people rocking the boat too much.
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u/Blitzking11 Illinois 5h ago
Yeah well James Carville can get his ass into his bed 6 feet below.
Good riddance to the Do Nothing Dinosaurs that used to inhabit the Democratic party.
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u/F-Cloud 5h ago
It's long past time to put James Carville out to pasture. What gramps is saying here, is that he prefers an anti-democracy authoritarian regime instead of those who want progress. To him that's a better option.
Drive this guy out to a ranch somewhere and leave him in a field with the cows. He's irrelevant to today's politics.
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u/jarizzle151 5h ago
James carville has offered nothing of substance to society. Same with most political commentators.
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u/Fiveofthem 5h ago
Carville hasn’t been right since Clinton. I don’t know why anyone prints what he says
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u/PopBulky7023 5h ago
The headline is not misleading. He said exactly what it sounds like and couple more fluff words won't change that. He wants a dem party unresponsive to it's voters that continues the old status quo that got us here.
Fuck this guy in particular.
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u/IM_KYLE_AMA 5h ago
I don't know why we even share what this dude says. He hasn't been relevant in decades. But just to be clear, he is not saying he wants the GOP to win. He wants the Dems to win and hopes it is by more than a handful of seats because he doesn't want the DSA coalition to have a seat a the table or the ability to tie up Jeffries. What legislation he thinks is going to be passed in the next two years is anyones guess.
It's also important to note that I literally got a text message on his behalf begging for donations to the Dem congressional PAC last night. So like always, Carville says a lot of shit, but it doesn't mean I have to take any of it seriously.
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u/Nabbicus Arizona 5h ago
If a mayor, a senator and a couple of representatives is all it takes to take control of the party, then the old guard deserves to be shoved aside.
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u/spdorris 5h ago
This deflated balloon can suck me from the back. His opinions are fucking stupid and he hasn't been relevant in 35 years.
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u/WhatsRatingsPrecious 5h ago
I used to like James Carville, but he can fuck off. Desiccated old Republican-fucker.
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u/justhavingfunMT 5h ago
Yeah, keep interviewing the dinosaur. He's just a tag along influencer that needs to retire. The media could sure help with that.
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u/PastorNTraining 5h ago
Well James feel free to F right off. We don’t have time for your southern fried BS rn.
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u/RiddleMeThis42069 Missouri 5h ago
Not that it really matters all that much but he said "by 5" on those, he'd certainly prefer a big Democrat majority over a Republican majority. He just thinks a slim Dem majority would be hamstrung by the DSA people.
Still a stupid opinion, and I know nuance doesn't matter anymore, so whatever
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u/Gamerxx13 5h ago
i saw him talk about this and has nothing to do with what he was saying. he has a youtube podcast on it if you want to listen, but i wouldnt listen to the headline unless you already have your mind made up with him. I enjoy listening to him but hes not right about everything. hes always been saying the dems are gonna win big and thats the biggest thing is putting dems in power
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u/JA_MD_311 5h ago
It’s not really what he said. He said he’d rather have the Republicans in charge than a small majority.
It’s still an insane thing to say but let’s be honest when we’re rightly shitting on him.
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u/ProcedureWhole2403 5h ago
Oh shit I thought that dude was dead
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u/betheusernameyouwant 4h ago
My friend once described him a long time ago as "what it looks like when you open the ark of the covenant" and I've never forgotten that.
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u/Obidoobie 5h ago
Yea dont care what this old wrinkly ball sack looking mother fucker has to say. Him and his ilk are the reason nothing gets fucking done ever. The sooner these fuckers are out of the way we can actually try to make strides in making our lives better.
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u/Xullister 5h ago
In case you were wondering why Republicans control every branch of government, this is the main guy advising leaders of the Democratic Party since the 90s.
Edit -- well, this guy and a family of imaginary Republicans living in Chuck Schumer's head. I'm not joking, you can't make this shit up.
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u/OberynDantes 5h ago
All I know of this man is that he guest starred on an episode of 30 Rock. Didn’t even play a character; just himself. Why should I care what he has to say?
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u/ObsoleteMallard 5h ago
James Carville saw a charismatic candidate in Reagan and said “I can do this but with a liberal twist” and thus was born Clinton and modern Neo-Liberalism with its tack to the center ethos.
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u/ThoughtGuy79 5h ago
I'm not particularly a fan of the DSA (some affiliated candidates are fine but the org itself has gone a bit overboard) but Carville is stuck in a reality that no longer exists.
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u/OffGridTwister 4h ago
As soon as he appears on a television screen I turn the TV off, leave the room, or throw a lamp at the screen. The man is an idiot.
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u/Prudent_Fisherman320 2h ago
The voters chose their representatives. Some are DSA, while others are not. What is the problem with accepting that? Don't the people deserve to choose their representatives?
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u/RootBeardGuy 2h ago
Gonna point to this every time some shithead moderate tries to tell me that leftists would rather lose than see moderates win. Projection, just like Republicans.
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u/Cultbird 1h ago
THIS is what a right wing Democrat looks like. There's always some brain dead troll who believes there are no right wing Democrats. This is one of them, along with Schumer, Clinton, Jeffreys, Pelosi, and other bad faith actors in the party.
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u/Cultural_Willow9484 5h ago
He said he would rather the dems win big than win by a small margin, so that dsa couldn’t hold the democrats hostage. Left wing loves knee-jerk acrimony.
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u/PickleInDaButt 5h ago
Did this dude just emerge from the swamps again? I thought this dork’s career was wrapped decades ago and why the fuck would we care of this man’s opinion now? Some idiot that MAGA is like “See we’re not crazy - this moron is agreeing too with us!”
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u/kneeco28 Canada 5h ago
What he said was incredibly stupid and offensive, but the headline is still off.
“I would be disappointed if it comes in at 225 House seats,” he said on the podcast. “That would almost be – I would rather the Republicans keep the House by five than the Democrats to win by five because if that happens, they’re hostage to the DSA.”
He's still pulling for a Dem win. He prefers a GOP win to a very narrow Dem win wherein a Squad-type faction could outnumber the swing votes and have a lot of power.
Which, again, terribly stupid thing to say, but he's not saying outright that "he would prefer Republicans have a midterm victory". Framing it incorrectly only does him a favour: if confronted with it he gets to say the report is bullshit (which it is) and need not face the (incredible, dangerous) stupidity of what he actually said.
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u/FallenVampireLord America 5h ago
Well there is no scenario where I'd want the republicans to win. That isn't even hard for me to say. Kind of odd a dem insider can't say the same.
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u/Sir_Clarence_III_Esq 5h ago
It's a longer term vision and not without merit. If Dems with within Fetterman-Sinema margins then nothing will happen for two years. Trump will further enrich the wealthy, let the inflation grow, and then in 2028 point to how theyve destroyed the nation. America will forget and vote red again.
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u/FallenVampireLord America 5h ago
Weird because he didn't say that in the interview. I listened to the entire thing.
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u/cdsmith 5h ago
Well, he should say what he actually thinks, of course. I think he's mistaken if he thinks a small Democratic majority would be worse than a small Republican majority. But I don't want him to lie about it.
I also don't want to read lies about it, and this headline is clearly a lie. It makes a straightforward claim that he said he wants Republicans to win in midterms, and he didn't say that. End of story.
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u/PopBulky7023 5h ago
In other words he would rather Republicans win than democrats win in a position where they have to coalition build with anyone left of themselves. The headline is accurate.
He's pulling for a win where the democrats are able to do nothing but corporatist, Neoliberal garbage that only makes things worse.
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u/Gullible_Elephant_38 5h ago
Seems like splitting hairs to me. The sentiment is the same regardless of which interpretation you go with: He’s more afraid of the Dems becoming even slightly more progressive than he is of fascism actively destroying our democracy.
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u/kneeco28 Canada 5h ago
There is no interpretation of it.
And yes, what he actually said is verily terribly stupid and irresponsible.
Which is why this article's failure to report it accurately, and implication that he needed to go further to warrant it being report, is itself so terribly stupid and irresponsible.
It's not at all splitting hairs.
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u/Exciting_Clock7283 5h ago
The article includes his direct quote, and there’s little to no daylight between his quote and the headline/article you’re criticizing.
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u/kneeco28 Canada 5h ago
And all the things written before the quote are wrong.
"little to no daylight between" in this context is like saying the article is "wrong to right".
No, it isn't. It's wrong.
Offensively so.
Because if Carville were presented with this article, he could correctly call it bullshit, dodge answering for his own bullshit, and laugh his ass off.
And if the person who presented him with the article says "there’s little to no daylight!!!!" he'd only laugh harder.
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u/Any_Will_86 5h ago
He sounds like the folks on the far left who thought Trump winning was preferrable to Hillary... Or Kamala.
I wonder if he is in mental decline. Wasn't he into his forties back in the early 90s? You can say you worry about the Dems being productive because of divisions without being antagonistic. A really tight majority also means the MGPs and other centrist Dems would hold the same power.
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u/Valahiru Illinois 5h ago
Thats not what he said and when you listen to the conversation it's clear he hadnt really thought more than surface deep on the statement. But he was sayingbthe DSA will cause problems in a slim majority similarly to how the feeedom caucus does now. The host pushed back on it and he just kinda let it drop. Headline making it out like he wrote an op ed or something
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u/PopBulky7023 5h ago
"I'd rather Republicans win than coalition with a dsa member or two" is exactly what it sounds like.
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u/alastor0x 5h ago
Good. Fuck the DSA. Every bit as damaging to liberalism as MAGA as an ideology and a platform. They just don't have power.
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u/ddoyen 5h ago edited 5h ago
Wow what happened to vote blue no matter who?
Seems to me willfully giving up your house majority to literal fascists because you dont like some DSA policy paper or whatever might be pretty fucking damaging to liberalism but hey what do I know. Just been holding my nose and voting for shit libs my whole life to get your attitude in return.
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