STEVE SCHMIDT, ET AL, AND THE LINCOLN PROJECT

The Lincoln Project is an American political action committee (a Super PAC) founded in December 2019 by Steve Schmidt, Rick Wilson, George Conway, Jennifer Horn, John Weaver, Ron Steslow, Reed Galen and Mike Madrid.

These politicos have 200 years of experience between them…getting Republicans elected.

But now, turning rogue, they have catalyzed a nationwide movement promoting a singular and most pressing mission:

TO DEFEAT DONALD TRUMP, TRUMPISM AND HIS SUPPORTERS IN THE US SENATE.

“We do not undertake this task lightly nor from ideological preference. Our many policy differences with Democrats remain. However, the priority for all patriotic Americans must be a shared fidelity to the Constitution and a commitment to defeat those candidates who have abandoned their constitutional oaths, regardless of party. Electing Democrats who support the Constitution, over Republicans who do not, is a worthy effort.”

— -Lincoln Project Mission Statement

The inspiration of those involved is sown in the leadership demonstrated by President Abraham Lincoln during the bloodiest, most divisive and decisive period in our nation’s history.

Lincoln didn’t want to fight, he felt he had to fight through armed conflict in order to achieve the dual objectives of preserving the Union and ending slavery.

When it became clear to him that the Union would emerge victorious, he tasked himself with putting Humpty Dumpty back together again, determined to “bind up its [the country’s] wounds” so as to move forward.

Moving forward as one.

We, collectively we.

Together.

Today we are again terribly divided, seemingly irreparably — sectionalism in the country and factionalism in government.

The system is broken and a clear and present danger to the Constitution and our Republic exists.

Hence the Lincoln Project.

“This fall’s elections will be about much more than just who controls one house of Congress or the White House. This November, the American people will decide the path for America’s future. All of the prosperity and freedom we’ve come to take for granted depends on our public servants serving the Constitution first, last and always. Today, one party has abdicated that responsibility and instead pledged their loyalty to one person.

— -The Lincoln Project

Schmidt and his seven co-founders, including Conway — Trump critic and husband of former White House Counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway — aren’t fooling around.

Numerous bare-knuckle attack ads, released daily on social media, go right for the jugular.

They also go viral.

To wit:

Trump is a draft dodger.

He disrespects veterans.

He has failed miserably in his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Critics charge that the negative ads are right out of Trump’s playbook.

That’s politics.

And that’s the plan, says Republican media consultant and author Williams, who spearheads the advertising.

“There’s always a reflexive sort of, do-gooder instinct to say, ‘Oh, I hate negative ads.’ People do hate negative ads, but negative ads work,” he says matter-of-factly.

The idea here is to persuade life-long Republicans like themselves, to do the unthinkable.

Break ranks.

So far the Lincoln Project has raised $60 million and the belief is, if just 4% of Republicans can be convinced to vote for Biden, it will be sayonara to Trump.

And try not to let the door hit you in the behind on your way out.

Wilson observes, “So those independent-leaning men, those college-educated Republicans, those suburban Republican women…We understand where those voters are, we understand who they are and how they think. It’s a game of small numbers. I mean, Donald Trump won this election by 77,000 votes in three states.”

He is firm in his belief — adamant in fact — that the Lincoln Project is bigger than partisan politics.

“In all politics, you can look back on things with honor or regret or what have you. I think I’ll look back on this, I think all of us will look back on this, as something we did in the cause of the country.”

Schmidt wholeheartedly embraces all of that and can be even more outspoken.

Trump-like, almost.

See his Twitter feed, but more on that later.

He is an American communications and public affairs strategist, a specialist in “message development,” etc. who has worked on several Republican political campaigns, including those of President George W. Bush, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Arizona Senator John McCain.

In spite of pushing McCain to select Sarah Palin as his running mate — a move the late McCain came to regret — he is a seasoned veteran, held in high regard.

On October 7th Schmidt took aim at Trump on Twitter and came out firing, with both guns blazing.

“We heard you loved Evita.[“COVITA”]. You saw it so many times. Where will you live out your years in disgrace? Will you buy Epstein’s island? One last extra special deal from him? Or will you be drooling on yourself in a suite at Walter Reed? Maybe you will be in prison…I bet you fear that.”

Or how about this one?

“Almost $500 million in personally guaranteed loans to? It’s all coming down…You are lucky Chris Wallace interrupted you after @JoeBiden said you @realDonaldTrump weren’t smart. You started to melt down. That’s the place that hurts the most. Right? Fred SR knew it. You’ve spent your whole life proving it. You aren’t very smart. You couldn’t take the SAT’s on your own. What was the real score? 970? We both know you know…”

When Schmidt ridiculed Tennessee junior Senator Marsha Blackburn-R after viewing a video on Twitter of her extolling Trump, his incendiary remarks were concise and to the point.

“Howard Baker [late Senate Minority and then Senate Majority Leader] was once a United States Senator from Tennessee. This woman is a five star fool. What an embarrassment.”

This raised the ire of Greta Van Susteren who tweeted in response:

“Why are you so rude? It is one thing to disagree w/ someone but you get so personal w/ name calling and you seem to have a particular willingness to insult women.”

Sound familiar?

He’s fighting fire with fire and giving Trump a taste of his own medicine.

Playing by Trump rules.

And predictably Trump, whose fingers and thumbs never rest, saw an opportunity to take a shot at Schmidt:

“Because I’ve beaten him and his very few remaining clients so much, and so badly, that he has become a blathering idiot. He failed with John McCain and will fail again with all others. He is a total loser. @MarshaBlackburn is a Tennessee Star, a highly respected WINNER!”

Naturally Schmidt was dying for the last word and lobbed this grenade:

“You’ve never beaten me at anything. This is our first dance. We are so much better at this than your team of crooks, wife beaters, degenerates, weirdos and losers. You are losing @realDonaldTrump. We will have some nice surprises for you. Everyone is laughing at you. You are a joke. A splendid moron turned deadly clown.”

The social media schoolyard taunting infused with condescension, sarcasm and fury can be a bit much after a while.

Maybe in shorter order.

But as Wilson noted, “negative” sells.

The “Lords of Outrage” are the squeaky wheels disdaining grease.

They don’t want it.

But they must say something of value.

Not shock value, value.

Legitimate value based on truth.

As between Trump on the one hand and Schmidt and his cohorts on the other, the smart money’s on Schmidt and the Lincoln Project.

Rogues with decency versus a scoundrel with none.

[Editor’s Note: This piece was written by Mr. Kaplan in October 2020.]