Democrats are STILL Blaming Others for Failures – This Time, It’s the Media

Over five months after the election, Democrats are still blaming everyone but themselves for their losses. The latest example of this ongoing “Blame Game” mindset comes from Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), who appeared on MSNBC to claim that the real problem isn’t the Democratic message—it’s the media.

Spoiler alert: It’s definitely the message.

Clyburn Is Wrong: Democrats Have a Messaging Crisis

As we’ve detailed extensively here, Democrats have been in disarray since losing control of all branches of the federal government. Since then, they’ve adopted a tone-deaf posture, exemplified by their cringey “resistance reform” proposal—tackling government waste and corruption by creating even more outside agency offices.

Bureaucracy to fight bureaucracy. Genius.

Meanwhile, party leaders are doubling down on failed messaging by defending the indefensible—like Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s bizarre attempt at international virtue signaling which might have violated the law. He publicly demanded that El Salvador hand over a reputed MS-13 member—not as a serious policy measure, but for what amounted to a photo op in “resistance” to the Bad Orange Man. That’s not exactly a political winner.

And let’s not forget what we covered last week: a clear leadership vacuum that’s empowered fringe voices to dominate the Democratic brand, steering it off course and out of touch.

Yet in the face of all this, Rep. James Clyburn—one of the most powerful Democrats in the nation—went on MSNBC and said, with a straight face, that the party’s messaging is just fine. The real problem? The media hasn’t done a good enough job delivering that message.

That’s a special kind of denial that merits further study.

Extreme denial like this is a byproduct of the political narcissism Gene Berardelli explores in Schnooks, Crooks, Liars & Scoundrels. When political Buffoons like Clyburn start believing their own talking points, they lose touch with reality and come off as wildly out of sync with voters.

But even more telling? Clyburn’s lament is proof that Democrats still rely too heavily on mainstream media to reach the public. That’s political malpractice in today’s world. Every politician has direct access to voters via social platforms—so what’s stopping them?

A lack of clear, resonant ideas.

You know who doesn’t have that kind of messaging problem?

Donald Trump.

Blame-Shifting and Finger-Pointing Is Not a Message

Rather than taking responsibility for poor outreach, Clyburn and Democratic leaders continue pointing fingers at convenient scapegoats—mainstream media, “disinformation,” and even voters themselves. That approach failed in 2024 and seems poised to flop again.

Contrast that with the Trump campaign’s communication strategy. Love him or hate him, Trump knows how to deliver a message. His team defined a message, set clear goals, stuck to them, and bypassed traditional media platforms to connect directly with voters. And it worked.

But maybe the most significant difference is that, by clearly communicating his message and goals, Trump forces Democrats into taking the short end of the wedge issue stick.

Remember the 2024 campaign? Trump’s most effective ad wasn’t a grand policy speech—it was a blunt takedown of Kamala Harris’s support for federal funding of sex change surgeries for inmates. That single issue turned off a ton of voters and overshadowed the rest of her platform.

Today, the wedge issue is violent illegal immigration. And once again, Democrats are taking the bait. Instead of showing alignment with the majority of Americans who support deporting violent criminals, they’re choosing to stand in opposition. That puts them squarely on the wrong side of what our own Ross Galloway calls “80/20 issues”—those no-brainer positions with overwhelming public support.

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What Messaging Democrats Do Have Is Fanciful

Even while blaming the media for failing to carry the Democratic message, Clyburn himself was vague and unclear about what that message actually is. He previewed an “alarming” new theme for town halls—but failed to articulate what that theme even entails. Are we supposed to just take his word for it? Or should we expect more of the usual fear-mongering instead of substantive policy alternatives?

If recent history is any indication, it’s probably the latter.

Consider the recent media push around supposed “Trump regret.” The narrative? Voters are having second thoughts about Trump’s blunt and volatile style. But the data doesn’t back that up. Even CNN’s Harry Enten noted that regret levels among Trump voters are minuscule. Once again, Democrats are peddling narrative over reality.

Admitting You Have a Problem Is the First Step to Recovery

Blaming the messenger won’t fix a broken message. Until Democrats start looking inward and clarify what they actually stand for, they’ll keep looking as rudderless as they’ve been lately. The time for self-reflection is long overdue.

If Clyburn and Democratic leadership don’t course-correct—and fast—Republicans are going to cakewalk into future victories.

What’s your opinion of the Democratic Party? Do you have confidence in their current direction?
Let us know in the comments, and share this post with your friends to keep the conversation going!