Republican consultant: Fascination with Taylor Swift conspiracy theories signals a larger problem in GOP | Opinion
Joe Biden has been a disaster. His economic plan, Bidenomics, fails to resonate with many Americans, migrants flood our open borders, and tensions are rising in the Middle East after a drone attack by Iran-backed militants killed three U.S. soldiers.
It’s no wonder that a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows only 38% of Americans approve of his performance. To win reelection, Biden will need the support of Taylor Swift to drag him across the finish line.
Perhaps, that is why we have been treated to a fevered pitched litany of shadowy conspiracy theories about Swift. They all seem to center around her being part of a deep-state complex that is using the NFL as a vehicle to spread Democrat propaganda and prop up Biden. One cable TV host took it a step further and suggested Swift is nothing more than a Defense Department asset engaging in psychological warfare.
Former President Donald Trump even got in on the action, stating that he is more popular than Swift and has more committed fans than she does. One Trump ally warned Swift to stay out of politics and not get involved. A Rolling Stone headline said it all: “Trump Allies Pledge ‘Holy War’ Against Taylor Swift.”
Without question, an endorsement from Swift will help Biden. However you measure it — whether it’s her Eras Tour, which sold 4.35 million tickets, or her Instagram post that helped Vote.org register more than 35,000 new voters — Swift has enormous influence. She is wildly successful, a self-made American success story.
Conspiracy theories make great clickbait. Culture wars drive ratings. Neither one wins elections.
The latest Quinnipiac poll shows Biden leading Trump 50% to 44% — largely driven by the support of women voters. These numbers should not come as a surprise to anyone. In both 2020 and 2022, Republicans lost elections in swing states like Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin because we lost the support of suburban women.
To win the presidency, Trump (assuming he is the GOP nominee) needs to win back the suburban women who voted for him in 2016 but switched to Biden in 2020. Promoting wild Taylor Swift conspiracy theories does little to help persuade suburban women to vote Republican.
My advice: Don’t be afraid of Swift. Instead of a “Holy War” against her, let’s talk about ideas and debate issues.
Let’s talk about unlocking America’s energy resources and cutting gas prices. Let’s talk about getting government out of the way so we can unleash America’s economic potential and get people back to work. That will win over suburban women.
Let’s talk about securing our borders and stopping the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. Let’s make “America first” mean protecting American interests at home and abroad so that we remain the beacon of hope for freedom loving people across the world. That will inspire people to vote for us again.
At the heart of conservatism is the fundamental understanding that the greatness of our country rests in the unlimited potential of each and every one of us. We believe in the endless opportunities that are built upon a foundation of our rights, individual liberties, and personal freedoms. We know that good government is smaller government.
In this election, we have a chance to position conservatism against Biden’s failed policies. We have been given an opportunity to clearly show how different we are from the socialist policies coming from the left. We have a chance to bring conservative solutions to the problems facing America.
If Taylor Swift is the difference-maker in this election, maybe she is not the problem. Maybe we, Republicans, are not talking about the right things. Maybe the problem is our message, our tactics, or the vision we are presenting to America.