Madison Cawthorne's Star keeps on a-risin'

By DON ROLLINS

Unsolicited piece of advice: if you thought a Biden/Harris victory wouldn’t rain down a once-in-a-generation red state money glut, you might wanna have your head examined.

COVID, racism, immigration, abortion, poverty, voter suppression, environmental justice — name a pre-election point of contention, and prepare to be amazed at the depth and breadth of the Republican money machine.

In normal times — meaning before Trump’s status as an exiled ruler destined to return — conservative legislators (state as well as federal) would be lining up for a share of this burgeoning war chest, starting with those up for election in contested districts. It’s a formula tried and true.

But while there’ll soon be Republican funding aplenty, Trump’s unparalleled capacity to suck the energy and dollars out of his party (even from the front nine of a pristine golf course) could divert funds traditionally funneled down ticket.

Yet, even if that change in allotting monies comes to pass, there’s at least one sitting Trumpist supporter sure to rake in a bundle.

If the 117th Congress ever decides to create a Gold Gavel Award for first-timers most enamored with Trumpism, my money’s on 25-year-old Madison Cawthorne. If the name rings a bell, its probably because the ex-president’s fierce devotee was among the Republican leaders egging on the Jan. 6 insurrectionists.

Cawthorne’s behavior, just days into his term, surprised few of us here in his western North Carolina district. His November win over a strong Democratic challenger came after a scorched campaign in a scorched earth election cycle, earning Cawthorne instant cred among congressional Republican brass looking for bruisers.

Cawthorne’s worth to the GOP is enormous, extending far beyond holding the red line in a purple state. His most important contribution to date is a spectacular indifference to rudimentary political and social conventions — at times a junkyard dog presence, taking hits for some equally conservative but less venturesome Republican colleagues.

This is, of course, tolerated if not groomed behavior for the House newbie. No first-termer would be so brash without party scripting. But Cawthorne’s script may be in flux.

If there’s existed to date any significant daylight between Cawthorne and his political idol, its Cawthorne’s occasional break from type when caught on the record being the full self. For Trump it was a simple shrug of the ego. Send a Tweet attacking the source, then reply to any inconvenient press conference questions with kneejerk effrontery. Winners don’t apologize.

As noted in a Jan. 27 interview with Time reporter Abby Vesoulis, Cawthorne has clearly benefited by a similar no-fault philosophy; but he has of late taken to making contradictory statements that likewise must’ve been vetted by GOP image makers: “One day, he’s preaching about respecting the office of the Presidency and vowing to work across the aisle with Democratic colleagues. The next, he’s trumpeting dangerous conspiracies to right-wing crowds and commentators.”

This sleight-of-hand approach is likely an experiment for young Cawthorne and his seasoned advisors. How open minded can he appear before Trump’s base takes umbridge? Alternately, can he continue as a one dimensional screen for veteran congressional Republicans, yet distinguish himself as a force for the long haul?

For the time being, Cawthorne needs only balance his mentors’ new strategy with the political dynamics here in his district. His star is a-risin’, despite the despicable events he helped put in motion, so there’s room to find ways to hasten the trajectory.

And even if the two faces of Madison Cawthorne strategy don’t pan out, he will still be the bridge to a demographic the GOP desperately needs to win over. That alone should land him all the money he’ll need come 2022.

Don Rollins is a Unitarian Universalist minister living in Hendersonville, N.C. Email donaldlrollins@gmail.com.

From The Progressive Populist, April 15, 2021

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