Jane Coaston on Democrats, Republicans, and Freedom
Jane Coaston is a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times who describes herself as having “libertarian tendencies.” Coaston appeared on Reason‘s Just Asking Questions podcast during the 2024 Democratic National Convention to discuss the Democrats’ rebranding as the party of freedom while the Republicans are being pulled more and more to the right. In September, Coaston joined Crooked Media as host of the daily news podcast What A Day.
Q: What do you think of Democrats talking the language of freedom?
A: I think it’s rhetorically intelligent. It is very smart to be the people who are like, “We are normal moms and dads who love football, freedom, and faith, and we want to keep your freedoms intact. And these other strange people over here don’t want to do that.” That does not mean it is accurate.
I think that they’re going to continue using this messaging. I also think that the Norman Rockwell-esque version of freedom—from want, from fear—what that looks like is so appealing to people.
Q: Do you think Democrats will be able to pull off this rebrand successfully? People have proven that they have weirdly short memories with regard to COVID-19 when Democrats were the party of meddlesome people telling you how to live your life. Have we just totally forgotten all of this?
A: Yes, we have. If you go back to after the Spanish flu epidemic in the United States, what you see is 1919, 1920—gone. People didn’t want to talk about it. People didn’t want to think about it.
I think something else that’s coming up here is that a lot of Republicans responded to COVID by being like,
Article from Latest
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
