James Carville Unloads on Democratic Socialists: ‘Don’t Use Our Goddamn Name’

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville is escalating his attacks on the Democratic Party’s socialist wing, telling members of the Democratic Socialists of America to stop associating themselves with Democrats if they dislike the party so much.

Carville delivered the blunt message Thursday during a video press conference promoting “Promise To America,” a new initiative backed by moderate Democratic lawmakers seeking to emphasize capitalism, public safety, fiscal responsibility, effective government, patriotism and common purpose.

“We get subjugated by some of the more outspoken people who, by the way, [are] not even Democrats,” Carville said. He argued that the loudest voices on the left are increasingly defining the public image of a party that does not necessarily share their ideology.

Carville then directly targeted the Democratic Socialists of America, questioning why the organization continues using the word “Democratic” in its name while frequently attacking the Democratic Party and its establishment. “If you hate the Democratic Party so much, well, then don’t use our goddamn name,” he said.

The longtime strategist, who rose to national prominence helping Bill Clinton win the presidency in 1992, has become increasingly vocal about what he sees as the growing influence of socialists and other far-left activists within Democratic politics.

Earlier this week, Carville described socialists as a “pack of fools” while responding to DSA-backed Florida congressional candidate Oliver Larkin. Larkin had suggested that establishment figures such as Carville should step aside and allow a younger generation with different political ideas to lead the party.

Larkin ultimately lost his Democratic primary challenge against Rep. Jared Moskowitz in Florida’s newly redrawn 25th Congressional District. The result provided moderate Democrats with a high-profile victory in their ongoing battle against DSA-backed candidates.

Carville maintains that the overwhelming majority of Democratic voters are closer to the principles promoted by Promise To America than to democratic socialism. He estimated that roughly 80% of Democrats support the initiative’s emphasis on capitalism, lower crime, responsible government and patriotism.

Despite that claim, the initiative has attracted relatively limited support from elected Democrats in Washington. Only 10 House Democrats have signed the pledge so far, while just five Democratic House candidates have joined them. Senior Democratic congressional leaders have not signed on.

Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York and Adam Gray of California, who helped create the initiative, pushed back against suggestions that the limited number of congressional supporters demonstrates weakness. Suozzi said organizers intentionally want the movement to extend beyond Washington and attract state and local officials.

The ideological struggle has taken on additional importance ahead of the November midterm elections. Republicans have increasingly attempted to portray the Democratic Party as being controlled by its socialist wing, while moderates such as Carville are pushing Democrats to more clearly distance themselves from those positions.

Carville’s latest comments leave little ambiguity about where he stands in that fight. Rather than trying to accommodate the DSA inside a broader Democratic coalition, the veteran strategist is openly challenging socialists to separate themselves from the party entirely and, as he put it, “go think of your own name.”