NOW PLAYING
Democratic strategist James Carville on Sunday said Democrats must treat Republicans like they are the “adversary” instead of viewing them as a political “partner.”
Carville quoted historian Joseph Ellis, who appeared with Carville and co-host Al Hunt on the “Politics War Room” podcast, as the three discussed the Founding Fathers and the opening words of the Declaration of Independence.
“‘Democrats must finally treat the Republican Party as Republicans treat the Democratic Party, not as a partner in bipartisanship, but as an adversary,” Carville read. “‘An adversary in the case of the GOP that will not respect the rules of democracy unless it is forced to by political defeat.'”
Carville added, “That’s where we are, goddamn it. We’re not self-evident, we’re not celebrating s–––. This country is about to blow a gasket.”
“The only thing you can do with these people is defeat them because they don’t give a s–––, I really believe that,” a visibly frustrated Carville said. “It sounds, like, terrible to say this, but if you think I’m wrong, tell me.”
Ellis replied back that the “republic is on the ballot” before referring to Carville’s infamous 1992 catchphrase from his days working on former President Clinton’s campaign.
“Now, your most famous phrase, which is, justifiably so, is ‘it’s the economy, stupid,’ and people are liable to vote this time on the cost of gas or something like that,” Ellis said. “But really, something much larger is at stake. And we’re going to go forward or backward here.”
Ellis said that despite the upcoming fall elections being midterms, and therefore a likelier chance for a smaller turnout, people must “recognize this might be the most important election they ever vote in.”
Longstanding political divisions are nothing new in the U.S., but years of polling show these divisions to be worsening in a hyperpartisan political climate. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released earlier this month found that 47 percent of Americans believe the U.S. has moved away from the country’s ideals, with 32 percent saying they worried about the country going into its 250th birthday.
The poll found that Democrats, at 53 percent, were more likely than Republicans, at 42 percent, to say that the country has moved away from its ideals established by the founders.
Democratic lawmakers are also ramping up efforts to safeguard the fall midterms, warning that Trump could attempt to influence the elections. Trump has been a vocal supporter of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, legislation that Democrats are dead set against.
Trump has argued that it will secure U.S. elections, but Democrats believe it will disenfranchise Black, women and college-age voters. Outside observers consider it a warning sign that the fighting shows how politicized U.S. elections have become.
Add as preferred source on Google Tags Clinton Donald Trump James Carville James Carville The Declaration of Independence The Democratic Party The Founding Fathers The Republican PartyCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments: Link copiedMore In The Know News
See All
In The Know Pratt knocks ‘vile, commie’ Mamdani by Ryan Mancini 2 hours ago In The Know / 2 hours ago 
