Why the “weird” attack is working
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Published 2024-08-02
In this week’s video for Mother Jones, Kat Abughazaleh@katmabu breaks down the Democrats' latest attack line: calling out Republicans as "weird." The recent embrace of the word “weird” started with potential VP candidate Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, who used it on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" to describe JD Vance, President Trump, and the out-of-touch policies of MAGA types: “These guys are just weird!"
It's getting under the skin of Trump and his allies. While they argue this insult is on par with Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables,” let’s be real: This isn’t about name-calling for its own sake. Who in their right mind wants to eliminate the Department of Education or inspect kids before they play sports? That's just weird. Defunding libraries and banning no-fault divorce? Also weird.
"Constantly talking about genitals, having an opinion about skull size, and burning books in the 21st century?" Kat says. "All of that is indisputably weird."
Ultimately, "weird" is about framing the debate in a way that cuts through the noise and speaks directly to what most people already feel: That Trump's agenda for the Republican party and the country is all a bit… weird.
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All Comments (21)
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When they go low, we go "ew."
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Also because "weird" is way more cutting to narcissists. They don't mind being called dangerous or scary (even though they are) because those terms make them sound powerful. Calling them "weird" eliminates their delusions of being badass rebels and places them where they belong, as total nutjobs
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Well…there’s weird (Portland is weird, Austin is weird)…then there’s “Wtf’s wrong with you?” weird.
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Ever notice how the "f--- your feelings" crowd seems to have the biggest feelings of all, and that those who delight in dishing out denigrating insults, apparently can't stand it when anyone dares to respond in kind? Weird.
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Not supporting the child tax credit is weird.
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"They are dangerous." is empowering. "They are weird (and creepy)." is a light shade of green.
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I really wish that they would stop using the word "weird." It makes the rest of us weirdos look bad.
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Start throwing in "strange" and "bizarre" every now and then. "Weird" as a word will wear itself out.
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"Why the “weird” attack is working" Well, to start with, THEY ARE WEIRD!!!!!
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Narcissists don't mind being called scary, but they lose their minds being called weird.
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They want to make us mad. We're not mad anymore. We're not taking them as seriously as they want. That makes them mad.
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Didn't know "weird" was a synonym for "psychopathic"
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Trump would prefer that you either hate him or love him. But Calling him weird, that gets to him the most— he even said as much today in an interview… you laugh at a bully, and you diminish his power
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Not supporting school lunch for ALL children is weird.
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Speaking of weird, ain’t it weird how the same people who loved to bring up age and the president suddenly have gotten silent despite there still being an old presidential candidate that confuses names and stuff
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WEIRD is such a great word because it’s DISMISSIVE. It diminishes the target.
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They have an issue about being called weird over being called a fascist. That's just weird.
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Who is giving them the orders for them to all say "weird" in unison?
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The Canadian level insult "Weird" is considered offensive to these snowflakes...
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It's not quirky weird, it's booger eating weird.
