Former CNN Contributor Sounds Alarm on Politicization of Everyday Life

In a recent Substack post, former CNN contributor Chris Cillizza shared a personal anecdote about his Tesla being defaced with a sign reading "Musk is a Nazi" during his son's soccer tournament. The incident has sparked Cillizza to reflect on the growing trend of politicizing everyday products and its impact on American society.

Cillizza, who purchased his Tesla approximately five years ago, noted that owning an electric vehicle was once seen as a symbol of being an "enviro-liberal-wacko-communist," but now, it is perceived by some leftist lunatics as a symbol of the right. This shift in perception has led him to question the validity of ascribing political meaning to products in the first place.

"I think we're getting to a point where politicization of everything is just getting out of hand," Cillizza said. "We're talking about things that have nothing to do with politics, like a Tesla being defaced with a sign saying 'Musk is a Nazi.' It's making us crazy and deepening the political divide in this country."

The Politicization of Everyday Products

Cillizza's experience highlights the growing trend of politicizing everyday products. What was once seen as a neutral or even positive aspect of life, such as owning an electric vehicle or eating at a particular restaurant, is now being used to make political statements.

"If your bar is that you never interact with or buy anything from a company whose founder has taken a position with which you disagree or which has donated to a cause you don’t support, I find it very hard to believe you are going to make any purchases ever," Cillizza said. "That's just not how life works."

The Dangers of Obsession with Politicization

Cillizza warned against the obsession with turning every aspect of life into a political statement, emphasizing that this mindset is driving people further away from recognizing their common humanity.

"We're losing sight of what's really important here," Cillizza said. "We're not just talking about politics; we're talking about basic human relationships and experiences. When we turn everything into a political statement, we lose sight of that."

A Personal Perspective

Cillizza's experience is not an isolated incident. He has faced his own share of backlash for his views and actions, including accusations of being a "monkey for the corporate media" after visiting Chick-Fil-A.

"I was accused of supporting anti-LGBT causes because I ate at Chick-Fil-A," Cillizza said. "But my decision to eat there was based on my enjoyment of the food, not a desire to send a message to the gay community."

A Call to Action

Cillizza's incident serves as a reminder that we need to be mindful of how our actions and words are perceived by others. By recognizing the dangers of politicization and encouraging people to think critically about their actions, we can work towards building a more inclusive and compassionate society.

"We need to take a step back and think about what's really important here," Cillizza said. "We need to focus on building bridges, not walls."