Embrace the Lincoln Project Instead of Shunning Them

Monica Jackson
Published Oct 13, 2024


The Lincoln Project has produced some of the most compelling media during the current presidential election. Led by Kellyanne Conway's husband, the Lincoln Project has dominated headlines and gotten nearly as much air time as Joe Biden himself. However, some elements on the Left have been expressing skepticism about their motives and have not embraced the Reupublicans that are allies to the cause. Regardless of who the Lincoln Project members are, they are serving a valuable purpose. Even if Democrats do not want to openly embrace the Lincoln Project, they should embrace them from a distance because they are serving a valuable purpose.

For Democrats, it does not matter where the help comes from so long as it arrives. Oftentimes, the Lincoln Project gets even more leeway in the media than the Democrats would which further amplifies their message. Moreover, advertisements from Democrats and their supporting PACs are often taken with a grain of salt. However, the Lincoln Project's videos get even more play precisely because they are run by Republicans.

The Lincoln Project Is on the Front Lines of the Effort to Get Rid of Trump


This is simply a case of the "enemy of my enemy is my friend." Given the supreme importance of getting Donald Trump out of the Oval Office, the only words out of Democrats' mouths to and about the Lincoln Project should be "thank you very much." Any help given to elect Joe Biden should be gratefully welcomed from practically every source.

Where the Lincoln Project has proven especially valuable is in their ability to get under Donald Trump's skin in terms that he can understand. A case in point was their ad calling attention to the fact that out wannabe dictator cannot drink a cup of water or walk down a ramp. What resulted was a 15-minute riff from Trump at a rally about the incident and a nonstop focus on the results of his cognitive tests. This knocks him off his game and makes him look even weaker, making it even less believable when he attacks Biden's mental acuity.

Many of Trump's most deranged tweets come in the wake of devastating Lincoln Project ads. This is an effect that almost no Democrat could credibly have on Trump. Another example was the hysterical temper tantrum that Trump threw after the successful "Mourning in America" ad that put the Lincoln Project on the map. Trump would simply not respond to a Biden ad. However, he feels compelled to respond to the Lincoln Project's ads because he despises the wing of the Republican Party that is behind them. In Trump's mind, he associates them with John McCain and Mitt Romney, and he simply cannot leave it alone. The end result is that Trump is provoked to make even more unforced errors. Further, he is distracted to the point where he cannot even attack Joe Biden.

The Lincoln Project Is Even Going Aftr Senate Republicans


Further proof of the value of the Lincoln Project is that they are not limiting themselves to just going after Trump. They are attacking vulnerable Senate Republicans who show cowardly fealty to Trump. This includes incumbents such as Susan Collins, Steve Daines and Joni Ernst. In other words, they are doing much of the Democrats' heavy lifting so the candidates can focus on a positive message.

Finally, the Lincoln Project will have further value in a post-Trump world. Assuming that Trump loses in November, there will be a major GOP civil war on the way as every wing of the party will fight for supremacy. This will likely take up most of the following four years. The Lincoln Project may make one final bid to take back control of the Republican Party. Considering the amount of noise that they have made this election cycle, it is not unreasonable to expect that they will not go down quietly. Instead of Trump, they will target and weaken those who try to act as his heirs. If the Lincoln Party loses that battle, it is possible that they become the conservative wing of the Democratic Party.

Therefore, it is vital that Democrats see the Lincoln Project as current allies and future possible party members. It is better to try to bring them into the fold than to keep them at arm's length. Regardless of their prior affiliation, they are doing valuable work during the most consequential election perhaps in America's history.

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