Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville blasted the Democratic National Committee (DNC) this week for opening its summer meeting with a land acknowledgment, saying the gesture was political self-sabotage.
On the Politics War Room podcast Thursday, Carville reacted to remarks by Lindy Sowmick, treasurer of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, who began the meeting by lamenting the treatment of Native Americans.
“Lady you’re right, what we did to the Native Americans has really been well documented. It is a sad part of our nation’s history,” Carville said. “Why are you bringing this up in an election? This is an election, and the DNC is not the place to discuss this. Understand this, the DNC does not exist to right wrongs. It doesn’t exist to acknowledge the more unpleasant parts of history. It doesn’t exist to make people feel good. It exists… to win elections.”
Carville, known for his blunt style, argued that such symbolic gestures only provide ammunition to political opponents. “Do you think that is going to help us win elections, say, like we did in Iowa, which I think is close to Minnesota, by talking about land theft from the Dakotas? We’re not,” he said, urging Democrats to stay focused on electoral victories.
He also called out Ken Martin, chair of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, for allowing the land acknowledgment to take place. “You don’t have but one job, kid. It’s to win,” Carville said.
Carville acknowledged that Sowmick was likely “a perfectly nice person” but emphasized that personal qualities were not the issue. “You’re supposed to try to win elections,” he said, warning that media outlets like Fox News would seize on such symbolic politics to attack Democrats.
His comments reflect growing frustration within some Democratic circles that cultural signaling and progressive rituals are costing the party votes in battleground states, where working-class and independent voters often see such gestures as out of touch.
