GOP Senator Josh Hawley, and the Right’s Embrace of Populism.
By: Lauren Elizabeth
Tags: Politics, Government, Elections, Republican Party, Democrats

GOP Senator Josh Hawley, and the Right’s Embrace of Populism.

While democrats run on platitudes, more among the GOP have begun to embrace growing populist sentiments.

Sen. Josh Hawley. | Al Drago/Getty Images

When considering all the ways the American government has arguably intentionally failed its people over the course of this unprecedented year, the fact that we were sent a one time stimulus check of $1200 dollars to last through the duration of this crisis while millions have lost their jobs would be perhaps the most consequential and reprehensible. Arguably even more infuriating has been watching them fumble their way through negotiations for the next stimulus bill, holding livelihoods, stability, and the ability to afford to eat let alone pay rent for millions of people. If ever there was an indication of how little our lawmakers actually care about the people they are in the position to represent, it would be the fact that not only are Republicans refusing to budge on giving corporations immunity for death or illness in relation to covid at their workplace, but no covid relief bill that has made headway in the halls of congress in recent months includes more money for the American people.

In regards to securing another round of stimulus payments of $1200 for the American people, an unlikely player has come to the table to work with Senator Bernie Sanders: Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who defeated corporate Democrat Claire McCaskill for her Missouri Senate seat.

Philip Eliot with Time Magazine wrote:

“…An unlikely pair of caucus crashers have done their best to fight their own parties’ leadership teams to demand another round of direct payments to Americans. Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Bernie Sanders of Vermont share very, very little of their political DNA, but they each came to the conclusion that those stimulus checks are both politically popular and financially necessary. So the young-man-in-a-hurry conservative and the self-described democratic socialist have joined forces on perhaps their lone spot of agreement, becoming 2020’s oddest Washington couple.”

Recently, Senator Hawley’s twitter account posted a video of him speaking about the direct payments, during which he says:

“For those of us who say it’s not an emergency, I urge you to open your eyes and to look around at the people who are hurting, who are struggling, who are desperate for help. I’ve heard that — it’s said that ‘well, it’s not stimulative’. What a word. Direct assistance isn’t stimulative, as if the American people are knobs and dials to be twisted and turned around to get a desired outcome, as if the economy is something to be micromanaged from Washington D.C. I’m not interested in stimulus. I’m interested in helping working people survive. I’m not interested in micromanaging this economy. I’m interested in getting working people back up on their feet so they can manage their own lives. That’s what this is about. That’s why the need is so great. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Those are the words of a man who could run for President — and probably already has every intention of doing so at some point in the near future — and win. Easily. Those are the words of a man who — whether he genuinely believes anything he is saying or not — knows exactly how to appeal to the meat and potato, material condition issues that the American people care about the most, and sees the obvious political advantages in doing it.

Why wasn’t it Chuck Schumer making that speech, fighting to include those stimulus checks? Why aren’t Joe Biden or Kamala Harris out making speeches like this in Georgia ahead of the runoff Senate election, pressuring Mitch McConnell to the table?

It only becomes clearer with time that Democrats and Republicans have taken away two fundamentally different lessons from the last few elections. Republicans, through the unexpected rise of Donald Trump, have come to the understanding that populism is something that can be used to their advantage. Meanwhile, Democrats have convinced themselves that candidates like Bernie Sanders wouldn’t have a chance despite all evidence proving otherwise, do everything they can to spread that narrative through the media and lock it in to the minds of their loyal voters, then actively stifle any populist movements that might be growing the moment they decide they’re no longer of use to them.

If Josh Hawley were to run against someone like Kamala Harris or Andrew Cuomo, he would have an excellent chance at winning. Why not, if all he has in opposition to speeches like the one above is someone who runs on meaningless messages like “build back better”?

Whether loyal liberal voters want to admit it or not, Joe Biden was not elected because his message was particularly appealing. He was elected because coronavirus happened, the left that Democrats continue to stifle organized on his behalf, and Donald Trump proved in undeniable ways that he was unqualified and uniquely incapable of leading the country. While Democrats continue to convince themselves that their platitudes and identity politics with no actual change to go along with it will suffice, Republicans like Hawley are already beginning to recalibrate, adapt, and harness the growing populous sentiments in this country in a more effective way. The signs are all there, but we can likely count on the Democratic party to continue to ignore them.