I don’t think integrity and principle were ever even part of it.
Somebody here posted a flyer that Cochran’s people had distributed in black areas. It was appalling and I really think black people should be offended by the approach: Cochran will give you more food stamps, he’ll build a museum or something for MLK, he’ll give you more welfare benefits...meanwhile, it claimed that McDaniel had been affiliated with racist organizations, etc. (not true, of course).
So I don’t think it’s really the “big tent.” It was an utterly cynical, contemptuous pitch to gullible, greedy people whose vote can be bought with the offer of more food stamps and a little stirring up of racial animosity. Once upon a time, Dem politicians in Boston used to roam the streets at election time with bottles of booze, cigarettes, and dollar bills to hand out to voters, combined with dire warnings that the opponent was anti-Irish. It worked.
I guess the only difference now is that this new batch of pols expect DC to hand out the bribes and don’t even have to come up with their own dollars.
There are different ways to build that big tent. Out pandering the Democrats was actually pretty slick. Shameless, but slick.
One thing I saw HAS disappointed me a little. I know that for whatever reason, Cruz pledged to not get involved. But, as the despicable tactics have come to light, I am hoping that he might speak up.