In a surprising move, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd recently criticized the Democratic Party’s actions leading to Vice President Kamala Harris’s sudden elevation to the top of the presidential ticket. Dowd’s column, titled “The Dems Are Delighted. But a Coup Is Still a Coup,” described the events as a “jaw-dropping putsch,” accusing powerful Democrats like Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Hakeem Jeffries of orchestrating Biden’s ouster.
Dowd’s blunt assessment stirred significant backlash on social media platform X, where many liberal readers expressed outrage. Some labeled the opinion piece “unforgivable,” especially so close to the 2024 election. Critics argued that Dowd’s characterization of the transition as a “coup” was misleading, noting that a peaceful handover of power is far from a violent overthrow, the typical meaning of a coup.
Despite the controversy, Dowd’s column highlighted the tensions within the Democratic Party and raised questions about the motivations behind such a high-profile critique. The backlash against Dowd underscores the sensitivity surrounding the Democratic ticket and the broader political landscape as the 2024 election approaches.