A Michigan Senate candidate eulogized Dolly Parton by talking about inequality.
Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed posted a tribute to the country icon on X after Parton passed away Tuesday at 80 following a brief cancer battle. But instead of simply honoring the woman who gave us "Jolene" and a literacy program that mailed books to millions of kids, El-Sayed decided to spotlight poverty, inequality, and the struggles of working people. You know, real funeral talk.
As Conservative Brief reported, the backlash was both immediate and spectacular. His post racked up far more negative responses than supportive ones, which is never the ratio you want when you're supposedly paying your respects.
El-Sayed quoted lyrics from "Coat of Many Colors," Parton's autobiographical song about growing up poor in rural Tennessee. A lovely tune. A touching choice. Completely overshadowed by the fact that he wrapped it in progressive talking points like a political burrito nobody ordered.
Twitchy Managing Editor Sam Janney accused him of exploiting the moment for political gain. Washington Free Beacon reporter Chuck Ross expressed disbelief that anyone would actually politicize Dolly's passing. Townhall Media's Storm Paglia simply told him to be quiet, then added that he hates America. Economy of words, maximum damage.
Senate Leadership Fund rapid response director Chloe Smith responded with a meme telling El-Sayed to stay away from Parton entirely, which is honestly the most relatable political communication of the year.
One user delivered the line that became the unofficial motto of the whole fiasco. "Gimme a break, Abdul is no fan of Dolly and I doubt she of him," they wrote, adding that Parton was a hard working kind person and definitely not a socialist.
Conservative writer Debbie Schlussel went even further, calling El-Sayed a privileged kid from wealthy Bloomfield Hills who was pretending to connect with working class Americans by Googling Parton lyrics. She questioned whether he could name a single Dolly song before that afternoon.
Another account from Matt's Idea Shop pointed out that under the religious laws El-Sayed has been associated with, Parton would have been covered head to toe and barred from performing publicly. That one left a mark.
Here is what makes the whole thing extra awkward. Dolly Parton spent literally decades refusing to pick a political side. In a 2020 interview, she explicitly said she was not political and did not want to offend anyone. She noted she had fans in both parties and wanted to keep it that way. The woman built an empire on being universally beloved, and El-Sayed managed to drag her into partisan warfare before she was even buried.
Parton's representatives confirmed she died peacefully in Nashville, and tributes honoring her career and philanthropy flooded in from every corner of the country.
For El-Sayed, who was already catching heat from conservatives over remarks about Sharia law and other positions, this was basically pouring gasoline on a fire he started himself. In a competitive Michigan Senate race where Republicans are working overtime to paint him as a far left progressive, even his goodbye to America's most nonpartisan entertainer became exhibit A for the prosecution.
Sometimes the best tribute is just saying rest in peace and logging off.
Like what you see? Then sign up for our Free Newsletter
