Circle

So, Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) isn't afraid of pro-Trump protestors, but he is afraid of anti-Fascist and Black Lives Matter protestors. Color me surprised. While the Senator's comments have created yet another teapot tempest, I wonder how much of this, if not exactly intended, is working in the senator's favor. The Republican Senator was speaking to a Republican audience, and one of the ways that politicians keep themselves in office is by leaning into the current environment of negative partisanship. And that means backing them up in their fear and loathing of people they perceive as being opposed to their values.

In this sort of environment, caution with one's words isn't always a benefit. After all, it's likely that the people who voted for Senator Johnson are going to perceive the fact that he's coming under attack for his words as proof that he's on the right side of things. And that creates an incentive for the Senator to place himself in the line of fire. And other politicians have learned this same lesson.

While a lot of people feel that certain things just can't be allowed to go without comment or challenge, and that's understandable, it's worth keeping in mind whether those comments and challenges will be worthwhile. For elected officials, people who are outside of the bounds of the jurisdiction in question just don't matter. The people whose opinions Senator Johnson cares about are his constituents. And if they perceive the attacks on him to be attacks on them or their interests, they are likely to reinforce, rather then change, his behavior.