Democratic senator accused of 'political malpractice' after job ad ignites firestorm over DEI language

A Democratic senator’s internship job posting was deemed "political malpractice" by an essay in The Atlantic on Friday that argued diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) language can fuel the White identity politics that Democrats oppose.

The commentary by Conor Friedersdorf, headlined "The DEI Language That’s Doing More Harm Than Good," pointed to a social media post from Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., in which he sought interns for his Boston office.

In the post, Markey wrote, "BIPOC, LGBTQ+, working class, veterans, and other underrepresented candidates with Massachusetts ties are encouraged to apply."

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The senator’s call for applications sparked criticism online, with critics suggesting Markey was openly discriminating against White men while attempting to appear inclusive.

The Atlantic essay noted that Manhattan Institute senior fellow Christopher Rufo alleged Markey’s internship posting was an open violation of civil rights law and called on the Justice Department to pursue federal charges.

Former Trump Justice Department appointee Theo Wold also weighed in, writing that the goal of the Democratic Party is to make sure White men "have no opportunities to find gainful employment."

Friedersdorf called the senator’s wording "political malpractice," arguing that language that fuels White identity politics is harmful to Americans of all races, even when the intent is good. He added that Democrats should instead adopt rhetoric that clearly commits to equal opportunity.

"White identitarians would exist even in a world without bias of any sort in recruitment or hiring –– but using language that fuels White identity politics, as Markey’s language did, is political malpractice that’s bad for Americans of all races, no matter how well intentioned it might be," the author wrote. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Markey's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response. 

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The article went on to argue that Democrats were more likely than Republicans to support policies that promote diversity in employment opportunities, which Friedersdorf said have prompted credible allegations of discrimination from White men.

Friedersdorf added that members of Generation Z are even more likely to perceive discrimination against young, White men, and that generational differences can further exacerbate the sentiment.

According to the article, in 2019, about a third of young men said men face some discrimination in America. By 2025, that figure was reportedly 51%.

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However, Markey’s call for applications — and the outrage it sparked — drew the attention of Democratic political strategist Kaivan Shroff, who told Fox News Digital the post may have done more harm than good when it comes to Democrats’ public pledge for equality.

"Markey’s post is exactly the kind of virtue signaling that feeds the outrage cycle without actually doing much for diversity," Shroff said. "If your office genuinely wants a broader applicant pool, you should already have relationships with colleges, community groups and organizations that can get the posting in front of those candidates."

Shroff added that the senator's post appeared to be more about "announcing your values than doing the harder work of diverse recruiting."

"So there is also a basic competence question here," Shroff told Fox News Digital. "A Senate office should not need social media language that makes half the country wonder whether they are less welcome in order to find diverse applicants. That also makes the post look like a substitute for the infrastructure you should already have."

The essay concluded by pointing to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., as a model. Her office’s intern job posting describes it as an equal-opportunity employer and encourages "all individuals from all backgrounds" to apply — a notable difference from Markey’s own solicitation.

Warren’s approach was echoed by Shroff, who noted how Democrats have increasingly turned social flashpoints into easy lay-ups for their opponents.

"The larger political mistake is that Democrats keep handing the right these easy cultural fights for almost no substantive benefit," the Democratic strategist said. "Most people understand the argument for widening opportunity and even rebalancing past unfairness where possible."

"What they resent is language that makes it sound like to lift up one group or groups you have to put down or exclude another and that is just unproductive — and incorrect," Shroff added. "Politics is all about addition and not subtraction, so it’s a wrongheaded approach."