Tim Walz, the demolition beacon for Trump and his cronies
Kamala Harris' New Running Mate is a Powerhouse in Communication. Here are the seven key factors German politicians can learn from him.
Let's be blunt: Kamala Harris didn't charm me. She's little more than a breath of fresh air replacing the elder statesman that Joe Biden has become. She seems aloof, shrill, excitable, intellectual, and vain. But her running mate is a different story: Tim Walz could be a wrecking ball for American right-wing populists. That's why we should take a closer look at him here in Germany.
Who is Walz? He's the Governor of Minnesota, a former teacher, football coach, and soldier - his Wikipedia entries are currently being polished and repaired by campaign teams. But facts are one thing. The more important question is: What is Walz like?
This man has a cheerful gravitas that reminds me of the SPD's heartthrob candidate for chancellor, Boris "Munitionskiste" Pistorius. He's down-to-earth but not dull, mature but far from doddery, skilled but not flashy - a sturdy grandpa who'd give you candies as a kid and whom you'd trust to teach your kids chin-ups as a parent.
And Walz is one thing above all: not woke.
Factor 1: Walz is a Civic Woke War Resister
Walz is not woke, but civic. He's married and wears suits that fit well without trying too hard. He speaks freely without ever sounding false, over-the-top, or robotic.
Walz also has a fantastic Jiu-Jitsu move: Instead of joining the culture war, from which no one emerges as a winner, he preaches civic virtues like tolerance and decency ("grace"). This is lightly seasoned with Christian values, but not in a fascist way - and yet his positions have a clear left vector. In his words: "Mind your own damn business!" In essence: Live and let live - a culture war avoidance.
This is simply brilliant: Walz advocates for woke issues, like putting menstrual products in men's restrooms, but makes this kind of politics palatable for Republicans who might have a transgender child at their kitchen table. Even staunch conservatives are complex. Tolerance as a civic virtue builds a bridge for them to cross - unlike loud left-wing ideologies.
Factor 2: Walz Has a Strategy
Behind Walz's tolerance lies a strategy. In the excellent podcast of New York Times columnist Ezra Klein, Walz explicitly talks about how highly he values decency. He doesn't just wing it, unlike many German political leaders.
Moreover, Walz has managed to snatch the "freedom" banner from the Republicans and give them a good spanking in the process. In campaigns, it can be smart to attack not the weaknesses, but the strengths of your opponent. Freedom from the state - that's supposed to be part of the Republicans' political silverware.
Germany is also seeing a transformation of the freedom concept. The CDU should take note: Banning people from using the word "they" has nothing to do with freedom, no matter how silly you might find it.
Factor 3: Walz Can Wear a T-Shirt Without Being Awkward
The governor of Minnesota can run around in flannel and a camouflage cap without it looking incongruous. People make viral, but mostly good-natured jokes about it. Politico even has a fashion guru write an entire essay on the topic. That's what sets Walz apart from Scholz, who looks like he was randomly encountered at a hardware store, but you know: You wouldn't actually encounter him there.
Walz was described as "sleeves-roll-up" in an early German assessment of the little-known Walz even in the USA. That always sounds a bit like mental simplicity. Similarly, many underestimate the approachability of a Donald Trump. He has a golden toilet, but that's what makes him approachable: He lives a flashy life with defiance, which "those up there" sniff at. Naturally, that's attractive to many people.
This reflexive contempt for approachability in the media could explain why the political center in Germany opted for stiff communication failures like Olaf Scholz and Armin Laschet.
Impact Factor 4: Walz Gives Democrats Aggression
Walz may look like the nice grandpa from the caramel candy commercials. He may occasionally use soft formulations, but he is clearly more aggressive than the Democrats in the United States have been so far.
In a single TV appearance, Walz established the insult "weird" for the Republicans. That's an expression that can be translated as "strange", but it doesn't quite capture its full meaning. Therefore, many Germans also like to use the English original to ridicule people who are "weird".
Walz perfects a balancing act: He doesn't insult the voters of the Republicans, like Hillary Clinton did. He insults the political leadership - but with remarkable energy. He would like to debate J.D. Vance, said Walz, if Vance "feels like getting off the couch". The coach came through. [And a meme with which internet users make fun of Vance, Ed.]
Impact Factor 5: Walz Knows What "Show, Don't Tell" Means
There are a few tricks with which political messages gain impact. One is: Be specific. The show business knows the saying "show, don't tell!". That means not describing what happens with adjectives, but showing it. You don't say "a huge man comes through the door". You say: "The man had to bend down under the door beam so he wouldn't hit his head."
Walz can do that very well. He doesn't talk about subsidizing school meals, but says: "Children eat and have full bellies so they can learn." His words have texture and create images in the minds of the audience.
In German politics, hardly anyone mastered and used this technique - apart from Robert Habeck, unlike the chancellor, who reliably gets entangled in abstract bureaucratic German. Children's book authors and teachers can do that, lawyers can't.
Impact Factor 6: Walz Is Credible
The Republicans are currently panicking to put Tim Walz in a bad light. Donald Trump is spraying insults like he's a lawn sprinkler filled with hate and bile. Understandable: When a previously unknown politician steps onto the stage, the opponent has a short window of opportunity to shoot him down.
Every mistake here can be fatal. That's why Armin Laschet's blunder instantly cost him the chancellorship. J.D. Vance is now under significant pressure because Democrats are bringing up his past bizarre remarks, such as the alleged increased risk of childless people becoming sociopaths. Republicans are now accusing Walz of dodging military service in Iraq, being even more left than Harris, and exaggerating his military rank (which is true).
Walz doesn't have much to worry about. He's a hunter, served 24 years in the National Guard, and has dedicated his career to serving others as a teacher, coach, and soldier. He grew up among "hillbillies," the rural population, making him an ideal opponent for J.D. Vance, who positioned himself as a spokesperson for the American rural population with his book "Hillbilly Elegy."
Impact Factor 7: Walz understands the Zeitgeist
Empathy also involves being aware of the Zeitgeist, or the present, culture, trends, and internet memes. In Germany, Markus Söder does this quite well, but he often takes it too far, making him seem unserious. Boris Pistorius also has this skill, casually using the "Star Wars" melody as his ringtone.
Walz's mastery of the Zeitgeist is evident in his exchange with J.D. Vance: Trump's running mate had mocked childless women as "cat ladies" who should have less say in a democracy. Walz's response? He shifted to an ironic tone: "My God, they're going after cat fans! Turn on the internet and see what cat fans do when someone goes after them."
And that's where the fun stops!
Despite Donald Trump's controversial political career, his approachability and ability to connect with a large audience cannot be denied. Walz, with his down-to-earth charm and sturdy grandpa persona, shares a similar trait. Just as many found Donald Trump's golden toilet and flashy lifestyle attractive, there's an element of admiration for Walz's rugged style and refusal to fit into political norms, as shown by the viral memes about his flannel and camouflage cap.
