As Democrats Sag in Polls, New York Times Whines GOP ‘Weaponizing’ the ‘Culture Wars’

It’s a pattern of bias: Whenever Democrats find themselves on the defensive politically over a divisive issue (transgender rights, mask mandates, school shutdowns, even inflation),The New York Times can be relied upon to ride to the party’s defense by flipping the issue, making the Republican Party seem like the unfair aggressor for pointing out and criticizing the controversial Democratic stance.

Political reporter Jonathan Weisman complained about the GOP “weaponizing” in an analysis of campaign issues and Democratic prospects for the November elections Friday: “Vulnerable Democrats, Seeking Distance From the Left, Offer a Midterm Agenda.”

At least he applied the word “divisive” to the left:

A cluster of House Democrats from conservative-leaning districts is circulating a reworked legislative agenda for the coming election season that would embrace some of President Biden’s most popular initiatives and tackle rising prices while distancing lawmakers from the left’s most divisive ideas.

But he knew which party was really to blame for the Democrats’ unpopular ideas.

This plan was obtained from The New York TimesThe goal is to immunize the most vulnerable Democrats From the culture wars waged by Republicans to regain the congressional majority. Its existence underscores how successful Republicans have been at weaponizing issues like pandemic-related school closures and “defund the police” efforts against Democrats in politically competitive districts.

This is not a game that reporters play with chicken-and the-egg. What party was most aggressive in pushing for school closings and the defunding of police officers? If you read only the newspaper, Democrats will not start “culture wars” and “weaponize anything.” Times.

Weisman continued his whining against conservatives who criticize controversial Democratic plans the next day. This time, conservatives were “stoking” fear.

In South Texas, another test is developing over the power of identity politics and whether liberals can answer the fears that conservatives are stoking about “open borders,” “critical race theory” and rising crime. ….

As though crime doesn’t rise and borders don’t remain open. Texas CRT is not something that anyone supports.

Next, consider these Times coverage of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando hit the same themes. Reid Epstein and Astead Herndon’s Monday piece made the pattern clear right from the headline: “CPAC Focuses on Culture Grievances and Trump.”

…Cultural grievances were the main focusFormer President Donald J. Trump, and the general sense of victimization that has replaced traditional conservative issues

“Traditional conservative issues,” which the TimesMoreover, they loathe. Democrats are not known for spreading victimization. Oder are they just mad that they feel the Republicans have stolen their methods? 

Placement of cultural aggrievementAt the heart of their midterm campaigns is the split in the Republicans on a range of issues that has historically united them.

….

An alternative to a common policy is Republicans want a bag full of grievances will motivate voters who are dissatisfied with Mr. Biden’s administration. At CPAC, Republicans argued that they were the real victims of Mr. Biden’s America, citing rising inflation, undocumented immigration at the Mexican border and liberal institutions pushing racial diversity in hiring and education.

So inflation and immigration are just Republican “grievances”? Are they serious and persistent problems?