Stephen A. Smith, a prominent figure at ESPN, has recently dismissed the possibility of pursuing a presidential bid as a Democrat in 2028.
During his appearance on CNN's "State of the Union With Jake Tapper and Dana Bash," Smith expressed his discontent with the current trajectory of the Democratic Party. Despite his open-mindedness towards a potential political career, he made it clear that he would not consider running under the Democratic banner unless the party undergoes significant changes.
Smith, a self-proclaimed independent, stated, "Im an independent. Im a registered independent. I would lean, who leans left. Im fiscally conservative when it comes to my money. Im socially liberal. Im liberal when it comes to social issues pretty much across the board. I believe in living and let living." However, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party, stating that it would need a complete overhaul for him to consider associating with it.
According to the Daily Caller, Smith's disillusionment with the Democratic Party stems from its handling of various issues. He stated, "So the Democratic Party is presently constructed. It would pretty much need to be purged in order for me to assume that I would want to be associated with them and I would garner their support because I dont like the way theyve gone about doing a lot of things for a very, very long period of time."
Smith further elaborated on his grievances, pointing out the party's stance on open borders and excessive spending. He stated, "We know how they go about operating. We know what we lean towards when it came to open borders. We know that the spending was excessive, even though its excessive on the Republican side as well."
In addition to these issues, Smith criticized the Democratic Party's focus on identity politics and the psychological impact of cancel culture and "woke" ideology. He stated, "But certainly with identity politics, woke culture, cancer culture, I thought that that was something that ravaged our nation psychologically. Because you had people literally scared they were going to lose their jobs if they pronounce the wrong pronoun for crying out loud."
Smith's criticism of the Democratic Party extends beyond its policies. He has repeatedly criticized the party's divisive rhetoric and its failure to connect with average voters since the 2024 election. He also expressed skepticism about the potential candidacy of Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2028, citing a lack of leadership in the state he governs.
The Democratic Party's struggles are not lost on the American public. A recent CNN/SSRS poll revealed that over 30% of Americans couldn't name a Democrat who embodies the party's core values.
This lack of a unifying figure or message since their 2024 loss has left voters uncertain about the party's future. As Smith's comments suggest, the party may need to reassess its direction and values to regain the support of voters like him.
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