Andrew Yang's failure is America's loss
His greatest strengths as a person were also his greatest weaknesses as a candidate
Andrew Yang surprised no one by dropping out early Tuesday evening when it had became clear that he would not place higher than sixth in the New Hampshire primary. His immediate response was to quip to journalists, "I can’t believe I lost to these people."
This is, simply put, not what you are supposed to say in these situations. But it was typical of the candor Yang exhibited throughout his ill-fated attempt to secure the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and it is as good an epitaph as any for one of the most memorable and interesting political campaigns in recent American history.
Last March, I called Yang "Ross Perot for millennials." This was meant as a compliment. Like Perot before him, Yang is a technocrat in the old-fashioned sense: someone who believes that democratic politics is not a millenarian contest of wills but a simple means of deciding the most prudential solutions to ordinary problems like securing employment and the provision of health care.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This is why Yang is probably the only candidate in American history whose campaign website has been worth visiting. Instead of the usual ambiguous platitudes under a handful of equally vague headings (Education, The Economy) its policy section detailed his views on an extraordinarily wide range of issues, from health care and infrastructure (which he wanted to hand over to a new federal department called the "Legion of Builders and Destroyers") to his so-called "Freedom Dividend," tort reform, postal banking, and the scourge of robo-calls. So far as I am aware, he is the only Democrat in the race who spoke at any length about the problem of smartphone addiction among young children or the importance of public funding for the arts, to name only two among dozens of issues. This stubborn practicality also explains why his campaign slogan consisted of a single word: "Math."
If his varied and occasionally quixotic platform had been the only thing that distinguished Yang from the rest of the Democratic field, he would probably not be worth remembering. But another thing that has been unfailingly clear to anyone who followed or interacted with Yang is the simple fact that in addition to being unusually clever for a politician he is a good and decent man. He also, perhaps fatally, has a sense of humor: when he began a response to a debate question about health care by observing "I'm Asian, so I know a lot of doctors," every horrified tweet from a journalist was met by a hundred thousand normal, socially well-adjusted Americans laughing.
These strengths — his no-nonsense interest in solutions and his fundamental humanity — were probably Yang's biggest weaknesses as a candidate. So much the worse for America.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Matthew Walther is a national correspondent at The Week. His work has also appeared in First Things, The Spectator of London, The Catholic Herald, National Review, and other publications. He is currently writing a biography of the Rev. Montague Summers. He is also a Robert Novak Journalism Fellow.
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What's next for electric vehicles under Trump?
Today's Big Question And what does that mean for Tesla's Elon Musk?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published