#WokeJoeWalsh

Joe Walsh--no, not the rocker, announced he is running for president in the primary against Trump. This was met with more media and Twitter attention than the far more reasonable choice of Bill Weld who also is running against Trump. The difference between Weld and Walsh, however is broad and important: Walsh was (a) a pre-Election Trumpist, (b) a fire-breathing Tea Party GOP representative in the House, (c) has run a conservative radio show since losing a re-election bid, and (d) is now tweeting . . . well . . . 'woke' stuff.

Joe Walsh 1.0

Lest anyone forget Joe Walsh's pre-woke politics, let's look at some of the greatest hits.

And so on--he was Trumpy, racist, xenophobic, transphobic, etc. This is just some of what he tweeted and said--this is who he was--and, quite possibly, who he is.

2.0 #WokeJoeWalsh

The reason he's getting an Omnivore article about him though, is not because of who he was--which, alas, in today's GOP is sadly not notable (indeed, it's completely standard). No, the reason he's getting the write up is because of what he's saying now. A sample.

Hey Jr, you're a dumb ass. And possibly a traitor. You took a meeting with Russians in order to get dirt on an opposing candidate.
You're probably in trouble. You should just keep quiet. https://t.co/hR08WnAnLl

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) February 2, 2018

In America, you're free to take a knee during the Anthem. You're free to protest.

It's called freedom.

That's what makes us America.

That's what makes us different.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) May 24, 2018

.@AOC and I probably don’t agree on a single policy issue. But I don’t believe she “hates” America. I believe she & I believe in different America’s. And I will defend her right to say whatever she wants to say. And I will never demand she leaves this country because we disagree.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 16, 2019

The Trump supporters complaining about Kamala Harris pledging to take executive action to go after guns are the very same people who cheered when President Trump took executive action to build a wall.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) April 23, 2019

By the way, we are still under attack from Russia, and the President of the United States just made clear he's on Russia's side.

Republicans, speak out. Now. This can't be tolerated.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 16, 2018

Russia screwed with our 2016 election in order to help get Trump elected.

EVERYONE acknowledges this, including everyone who works for Trump.

The only two people on the planet who deny this truth are Trump and Putin.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2018

And so on. There are a bunch--including an  apology for having said racist things and having created Trump.

Does This Exonerate Him?

It turns out that's up to you, reader. If you believe in epiphanies, redemption, and, most of all, believe Walsh 2.0 is honest? Sure. If you don't--if you think this is a ploy? Nope. If you think he hasn't done enough--or nearly enough? That's totally fair.

The Omnivore reserves judgement (although The Omnivore notes that Walsh 2.0 probably hurts Joe's GOP career prospects in a way that, for example, Bill Weld's run at Trump does not). However, this isn't the point.

The Downsides to a Joe Walsh Primary

People on Twitter have made the case that (a) Walsh can't win the primary (almost certainly true) and (b) he might take all his raised money (however much that is) and go after a Democrat for a House seat. If Walsh raises millions and millions of dollars? That might be a problem--but The Omnivore doesn't think so.

If Joe Walsh prosecutes his case against Trump that the Democrats were basically right about Trump (and the GOP) all along then he'll be toxic to enough GOP voters that a billion dollars wouldn't give him a seat.

If he wins the nomination (for example, because Trump can't be on the ballot in California because he won't release his taxes) then he'd be potentially a stronger challenger in the general than Trump--unless you count that the hard-core Trump base will have been told they're all racist assholes . . . which, again, makes it unlikely they'll vote for him.

The Upside

The #WokeJoeWalsh upside though, is pretty interesting: Walsh knows how to handle the media--he has extensive radio experience. He was a Tea Party guy--he knows that world and the language. When he punches at Trump? It may hurt--and as Trump thinks himself (with reason) a great "counter puncher" (especially at people less powerful than him)--he will be unable to stop himself from hitting back--being in a media battle with Trump is everything Joe Walsh could ask for--and it's exactly the right message that the Trumpists need to hear:

• You're hypocrites (if Obama had done 1/10th of what Trump has done there would have been a Tea Party march on Washington).
• You're racist (Trump's innate contextual racism, called out by a guy who once defended the n-word is going to be a gordian knot for these guys to try to untie)
• You're following a fool (Walsh will know how to contextualize Trump's lying and exaggerating and stupidity in a way that should sting).

In other words, if Walsh can get the platform, Walsh presents a far more damning message than a more conventional primary opponent ever could. Walsh isn't really trying to win the election by appealing to the Trumpian base--he's just trying to call out Trump (at this point).

The Omnivore certainly supports that and thinks it's unclear why anyone who is NeverTrump wouldn't. That's not saying you should donate. Just that this is a popcorn level event and you should throw your moral support behind Walsh and, possibly, if you can, a primary vote.