Against "Authenticity"

There was a moment, a few weeks ago, when I thought the Dems might win the Senate in 2026. They still might—anything is possible—but the mood has changed in two of the more juicy races, in Maine and Texas. Both feature vulnerable Republicans, dowdy Susan Collins in Maine and the phenomenally dreadful—morally and politically—Ken Paxton in Texas. They might be easy pickings if the Democratic Party were a sentient political entity, but no—the candidates Dems offer are defective and downright weird.

In Maine, we have the boy with the Nazi tattoo, a preppy pretending to be a proletarian, Graham Platner, who has taken a series of silly positions—against Israel and billionaires—and now seems to have embroiled himself in an extramarital sexting scandal. Soaking the rich is not a bad idea—capital gains should be taxed at the same rate as labor; stock derivative transactions should be taxed, too—but smacking billionaires as reprobates is dumb. Americans like billionaires. They want to be billionaires. According to a recent Pew poll, only 16% think getting rich is a morally bad thing. As for Israel, the Netanyahu government has behaved disgracefully—but, as with billionaires, the idea of a homeland for the Jews, especially their own historic homeland, is a worthy one. Platner’s former opponent Janet Mills is still on the ballot. She stood up to Trump early and often. I’d vote for her.

In Texas, it is a sadder case. Here’s Andrew Sullivan on James Talarico:

Dems actually think that if someone is a white male and goes to church, he must have a chance in Texas. But if the church is, in fact, the church of extreme woke, not so much. And Talarico is a true believer. Some recent remarks: “God is nonbinary.” “There are many more than two biological sexes. In fact, there are six.” “The American flag is such a complicated symbol for most of us.” “I love the trans children.” “Our campaign has become a non-meat campaign.” Many of these quotes are currently being deployed by Ken Paxton, the corrupt Trump clone.

Then there is Talarico’s demonization of white people on critical-race-theory lines:

“White skin gives me and every white American immunity from the virus [of racism]. But we spread it wherever we go — through our words, our actions, and our systems. We don’t have to be showing symptoms — like a white hood or a Confederate flag — to be contagious.”

“White skin,” for Talarico, is akin to a contagious disease. Blacks can never be racist. He knows his woke theology well.

A non-meat, anti-white campaign? In Texas? If the Democrats are ever to regain Lone Star traction they need a red-meat campaigner, someone who doesn’t favor boys playing in girls sports, someone who believes in racial equality not racialist favoritism, someone who doesn’t want to understand criminals, but incarcerate them. I agree with Talarico about a non-binary Collective Consciousness (he calls it God), but I wouldn’t go around talking about it in mixed company if I were running for office.

But Talarico is a Christian, a divinity student. This, to Democrats, is exotic to the point of being…authentic. Ah, the Holy Grail! Authenticity! Donald Trump didn’t use the same old words, pureed by political consultants—so he was authentic to the point of sociopathy. A fake oysterman with a Nazi tattoo acquired in the Marines is certainly unique, but one should remember Dan Crenshaw’s warning: “Just because you’re a veteran, it doesn’t mean you’re right.” (Pete Hegseth is a veteran. Jake Auchincloss is a Marine who managed to emerge from service without a Nazi tattoo. He has said he will not vote for Platner.)

Authenticity has slipped into affect, at least for Democrats—who have been hemmed in rhetorically since political correctness overwhelmed the party. Authenticity has become a matter of style, not content. Tim Waltz was said to be “authentic” because he coached football, but he was filleted by J.D. Vance in the 2024 vice presidential debate. Zohran Mamdani is “authentic” in a way that only the credulous child of wealthy academics can be. He is a throwback to the self-regarding infantilism of the Baby Boom. Jasmine Crockett is authentic but obnoxious. Stephen A. Smith, pathetic buffoon that he is, dreams of running for president because of his televised authenticity act. Tucker Carlson is an authentic putz.

I plead guilty to being an early adopter and promoter of authenticity. Back in the 1980s, I started hooting at the perfectly groomed and manufactured candidates in both parties, those who married their high school sweethearts, had picturesque children and had absolutely no bad habits. I am still very much in favor of bad habits among politicians. I like the rough humanity of people like Sherrod Brown and Marjorie Taylor Green, even when I disagree with them. Biden at least had bad pets. People like Mike Johnson are the precise opposite: he could be imagined by AI.

Authenticity should involve a couple of qualities that have nothing to do with aesthetics. Two should be mandatory: courage and honesty. An authentic politician tells us something true that we don’t want to hear. Graham Platner and James Talerico are carnival acts at a moment when, I believe—I hope--Americans are looking for the novelty of a politician who has substance.

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