How to Defeat Extremists

This is abhorrent, vile, despicable behavior. But our community must know: These political movements can be stopped, slowed down… and ultimately moved to irrelevancy. Here’s how.

Political movements need leadership.

These groups may appear strong and powerful, but in fact, most are issuing these “bold” statements from a dorm room computer or a Manhattan coffee shop. They don’t have well-known leaders in front of their cause. Despite their desire to be compared to the civil rights movement, they don’t have a Martin Luther King Jr. or a Gandhi endorsing them. (Of course, why would we expect such nonviolent heroes to associate with causes that advocate hate and division?)

Some would argue that these movements have elected officials associating with their causes, but can we really compare a handful of junior legislators to the number one politician in the world, who is speaking directly against their deadly rhetoric? William F. Buckley Jr. once referred to office of president as the “First Politician.” When the First Politician, Joe Biden, calls Hamas “pure, unadulterated evil” and says the American people “stand with Israel,” we have a prominent leader who contrasts with their vacuum. We need to point this out again and again and again.

Political movements are only as strong as their membership.

After the DSA protest, Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI) renounced his membership in the movement. Rashida Tlaib holds the neighboring seat in Congress and despite this, Thanedar renounced the DSA. This weakens their movement. After the Harvard students association put out an inflammatory letter, the law firm Winston and Strawn rescinded their job offer to a law student who had signed it. Which member of Congress or student would want to be associated with such movements?