Fact check: The Hartmann report - The GOP Is Winning by Rigging the System—Shouldn’t Democrats Do the Same?

1. Summary of the results

The Hartmann Report article presents a provocative argument about whether Democrats should adopt the same system-rigging tactics that Republicans have allegedly used to gain political advantage. The analyses reveal that this discussion centers around gerrymandering, voter suppression, and other partisan political tactics that the GOP has employed ^[1].

The sources confirm that Democrats are indeed considering meeting Republican partisan tactics with more partisan tactics of their own, particularly in response to redistricting efforts, with key Democratic figures such as Eric Holder and various state governors involved in this strategic shift ^[2]. This represents a significant departure from traditional Democratic approaches to electoral politics.

The analyses also highlight specific examples of Democratic resistance, including the Texas Democrats' walkout to block GOP redistricting maps ^[3], demonstrating that some Democrats are already implementing confrontational tactics rather than relying solely on traditional legislative processes.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks several crucial pieces of context that emerge from the analyses:

• Historical precedent and effectiveness: The analyses reveal that lawmaker walkouts and similar tactics have had mixed results in the past, with potential consequences for the lawmakers involved ^[3]. This suggests the strategy being proposed may not be as effective as implied.
• Risk of backfire: The concept of "dummymandering" is introduced, where attempts to maximize seats through gerrymandering can actually backfire on the party attempting it ^[4]. This presents a significant counterargument to the "fight fire with fire" approach.
• Broader authoritarian concerns: The analyses connect this tactical discussion to larger warnings about authoritarianism in the US, citing examples of Russia and Hungary and arguing that Trump is following a similar playbook of using manufactured crises and emergency powers ^[5].
• Media control strategy: The sources reveal a deeper historical context involving Lewis Powell's 1971 memo that launched a strategy to control media, courts, and public opinion, suggesting that Republicans have been implementing a comprehensive, decades-long strategy rather than just engaging in opportunistic tactics ^[6].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement presents a false equivalency by framing the issue as simply whether Democrats should "do the same" as Republicans. The analyses reveal several biases:

• Oversimplification: The statement reduces complex democratic processes to a simple tit-for-tat strategy, ignoring the potential risks and consequences of gerrymandering for both parties ^[4].
• Partisan framing: The title assumes as fact that "the GOP is winning by rigging the system" without acknowledging that Republicans argue nothing has changed in their approach to redistricting and that Democratic complaints are politically motivated ^[2].
• Missing institutional perspective: The statement fails to consider that adopting the same tactics could contribute to the undermining of democratic institutions that the analyses warn against, particularly in the context of broader authoritarian trends ^[5].
• Strategic myopia: By focusing on immediate tactical responses, the statement ignores the analyses' suggestion that Democrats need to build a comprehensive media machine to compete with Republicans rather than simply copying specific electoral tactics ^[6].

The statement benefits those who prefer reactive, short-term political strategies over comprehensive institutional reforms, potentially serving partisan interests rather than democratic principles.