"Beat Trump and His Minions:" A Manifesto

Mark Graber

I am a member of the “Beat Trump and his Minions” faction of the Democratic Party.

The “Beat Trump and his Minions” faction is opposed to making non-negotiable demands of candidates who are running against MAGA Republicans, which in this election means any Republican (that Susan Collins is “concerned” does not count).  To the extent we might have non-negotiable demands, they concern matters on which we suspect all Democrats (and Independents) agree.  We think the United States should be governed consistently with some notion of the public good and not for the financial benefit of governing officials and billionaires, that democratic government is better than autocratic rule, that Americans ought not to operate institutions that bear too close a resemblance to concentration camps, that policy should respect the findings of a united scientific community, etc.  We are also certain that every candidate running against MAGA Republicans endorses these positions, so need exist to demand a pledge of allegiance.

"Beat Trump and his Minions" is also opposed to using a campaign to settle scores or score points against other persons who might be induced to cast ballots against MAGA Republicans.  Democratic unity events are good things.  Candidates with grudges against other Democrats should attempt to take the last piece of chocolate cake at such events, but should otherwise make welcome all who oppose the corruption, the bigotry, the autocratic tendencies, and anti-science commitments of Trump and his minions.

Many persons who identify with the “Beat Trump and his Minions” have strong opinions on such matters as Democratic Socialism, the rights of transgendered persons, Israel, the Ukraine, gun control, and other matters.  Sometimes we acknowledge that persons who disagree with us have a reasonable basis for their opinions.  Sometimes we do not.  We nevertheless think 2026 is not the time to hash out these differences.  The goal in 2026 is to neuter to the extent feasible a regime that operates solely for the financial benefit of a few governing officials and billionaires, is rapidly moving towards a competitive autocracy, fashions barbaric institutions when implementing unjust policies, and threatens lives in the singular and in the millions by an utter disregard for science when science clashes with perceived political interest. We think that every time we issue a non-negotiable based on our strongly held and reasoned opinions, say, in my case, that the candidate must oppose capital punishment, we license someone else to declare they will leave their ballot blank or vote for the Republican unless the candidate in question acts on what they believe (perhaps erroneously) to be their strongly held and reasoned opinions, say, that certain murderers deserve to be executed.

“Beat Trump and his Minions” takes seriously the political science adage that political parties and movements are often coalition of enemies.  We unite with Stalin to defeat Hitler, because in the circumstances of the times, Hitler is a greater threat to all we hold dear than Stalin.  There will be time after victory to hash out our differences on a great many important matters.  Now is not that time.