We genuinely expected the Wisconsin political left to use a plethora of Handmaid’s Tale references as an ever-ready shorthand attack towards conservative candidate, Justice Daniel Kelly and his political allies in the 2023 race for Wisconsin Supreme Court.
In fact, many who favored conservative Judge Jennifer Dorow in the judicial primary, did so in part to avoid the political uphill battle of a male conservative running against a female liberal Judge Janet Protasiewicz in a General Election where abortion - and women’s rights more broadly - were expected to be top tier issues.
The political left thrives when painting conservatives as corrupt, behind-the-times fascists who revere social constructs that diminish women.
Conservatives struggle when they too easily fit the mold.
The Handmaid’s Tale is basically a story where the left’s nightmare dystopian future with regards to women’s rights comes to fruition.
In the book and corresponding popular Hulu show, women must fight to overcome horrific systemic abuses and disenfranchisement.
A true fight to establish a new world order where those on the side of justice need to overcome the controlling evil engrained in societal behavior and codified in law.
A fictional account that matches the hyperbole used by some on the far left on a daily basis (not to say there isn’t similarly delusional hyperbole used by the right but that’s a different article for a different day).
The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade making an 1849 abortion ban the law of the land in Wisconsin seemed to perfectly set the table for the left to paint a staunch conservative male justice as a leading member of the Republic of Gilead.
Life imitating art.
A true gift for liberal political consultants and diehards.
And yet…
Handmaid’s Tale references seem to be few and far between. Nearly nonexistent.
Not even discernibly present at the protestor level.
Not even getting winks and nods from the multitudes of soft money, dark money, or campaign ads level or even lit pieces.
If you have a TV, internet, or mailbox you’ve certainly been exposed to your share campaign messages as both campaigns and third party groups have shattered State Supreme Court race spending records.
Perhaps most surprising, is the Wisconsin left has resisted Handmaid’s Tale references while having a large influence from Hollywood.
Judge Janet Protasiewicz California supporters:
Left Hook, a Santa Monica, California-based liberal media firm.
Loads of California campaign contributions.
Numerous endorsements from Hollywood stars… including an endorsement from one of the stars of the Handmaid’s Tale, Wisconsin-native @bradleywhitford.
However, for the preferred political party of the Hollywood elite…
…that thrives on generating strong visual connections…
…that loves the political identity of fighting the man…
…that just had their number one women’s rights issue gift
…We were half expecting to see Ofglenns, Ofreds, and Ofdaniels protesting on every street corner.
Maybe we just need to go to actual rallies if we want to spot that level of theatrical protest.
Perhaps the Wisconsin Left and their coastal political allies are simply more mature than those of us here at the Wisconsin Argus.
Surely no stretches made there.
Modern politics remains full of surprises.
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