Democrat Senator Mark Warner of Virginia struggled to respond to questions about his party's embrace of radical socialist ideologies during an appearance on CNBC this week.
Warner was pressed by the host about the implications of DSA radicals and their beliefs for the country, but he fell back on the familiar "big tent" talking points that have become a hallmark of Democratic responses to criticism.
The senator's struggles to articulate a clear position on the issue left many observers wondering if the Democrats have any answer at all to the growing popularity of socialism.
Warner argued that Democrats have failed to adequately deliver on certain issues and that socialism has become more popular because of the party's shortcomings.
In an attempt to deflect criticism, he claimed that at least there was an ideological debate happening in the Democratic Party, unlike on the Republican side.
However, when asked directly if he supported far-left Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Warner dodged the question and claimed to be focused on his own re-election in Virginia.
Despite his claims of supporting a free enterprise system, Warner seemed to suggest that there were ways to "actually make our capitalism work for more people" – a vague and ambiguous statement that left many questions unanswered.
When asked to address the issue of defunding police and socialism, Warner changed the subject and invoked his own privileged background, stating that he was the first in his family to graduate from college.
The senator's inability to provide clear answers to tough questions has become a hallmark of Democratic responses to criticism, leaving many to wonder if the party is truly out of touch with the rest of the country.
