The DNC is comically bad at its job

It seems it can’t do anything right these days, and we’re not just talking about the fact that it’s broke and having a difficult time raising cash. We’re not even talking about all the infighting between the DNC’s various factions.

We’re talking about the fact that the DNC can’t even figure out how to use a GOP friendly fire to its advantage.

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona announced Tuesday that he would not seek re-election. The poorly polling GOP lawmaker told reporters he is stepping down after his first term in Congress’ upper chamber because he is unwilling to embrace “Trumpism.”

“Here’s the bottom line: The path that I would have to travel to get the Republican nomination is a path I’m not willing to take, and that I can’t in good conscience take,” the senator told the Arizona Republic. “It would require me to believe in positions I don’t hold on such issues as trade and immigration and it would require me to condone behavior that I cannot condone.”

Flake claimed later during a speech on the floor of the Senate that the modern GOP is no longer home to high-minded conservatives like himself. He also suggested in so many words that the Republican base has become resistant to good governance.

“Reckless, outrageous, and undignified behavior has been excused as telling it like it is when it is actually reckless, outrageous, and undignified,” the senator said. “When such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else. It is dangerous to a democracy.”

“Such behavior does not project strength because our strength comes from our values. It, instead, projects a corruption of the spirit and weakness. It is often said children are watching. Well, they are. And what are we going to do about that? When the next generation asks us, why didn’t you do something? Why didn’t you speak up? What are we going to say?” he added.

Flake is basically doing pro bono ad work for the Democratic Party! If you’re DNC chief Tom Perez, this is a gift. You use these red-on-red attacks to your advantage. You say something to the effect of, “Even GOP senator X believes Trump etc.” or “We agree with GOP senator when he says …”

What you don’t do is disparage and discredit the senator on his way out, especially when he’s saying something that supports your position. Unfortunately for the people who keep giving the DNC money, this is exactly what Perez did Tuesday.

“Senator Flake voted with Donald Trump 91 percent of the time,” the DNC chief said in a statement. “His retirement is a symbol of a Republican Party whose leaders allow Donald Trump’s divisive politics to flourish as long as it serves their political interests, and who fail to criticize this dangerous president until it’s too late.”

He added, “Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress remain in lockstep with the Trump agenda and silent in the face of the president’s disgraceful behavior.”

Here, move over, Perez. Let Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., show you how it’s done:

“[Jeff Flake] is one of the finest human beings I’ve met in politics. He is moral, upright, strong & will be missed in the Senate,” the Senate Minority leader said Tuesday on social media.

Bingo. Well played. You build up the Trump critic, establish the critic’s bona fides and then you use his attacks on a mutual enemy to your own benefit. When a GOP senator attacks a GOP president, you don’t respond by tearing down the senator, who won’t even be on the ballot in 2018 anyway. You respond by by building up his attack.

Why is the DNC so bad at its job?