REAL ALPHA: Jon Hamm stars in devastating ad against Missouri senator

REAL ALPHA: Jon Hamm stars in devastating ad against Missouri senator

One of the MAGA right’s favorite tactics in the culture wars is to denounce what they see as attacks on the masculinity of their tribe. They claim that their men are “alpha males” — something that they purport to be a good thing — without the taint of toxicity.

It doesn’t matter how fast one runs past women or older members of Congress — an alpha male is an alpha male because MAGAs are alpha males, just like Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, get it?

Josh Hawley is so secure in his “manhood” (it’s all in the definition) that he wrote a book, cleverly titled; Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs.

Hawley’s fixation allowed Lucas Kunce, his Democratic rival in the upcoming 2024 election, to make a commercial — starring that icon of masculinity, Missouri-born Jon Hamm of Mad Men fame — that so totally devastates Josh Hawley that MSNBC‘s Joe Scarborough couldn’t resist posting the ad on Twitter:

It is all in the definition.

So what is the usual definition of “manhood”?

Well, it isn’t all that helpful. According to Google, manhood is: “The state or period of being a man rather than a child.”

Perhaps the thesaurus will give us a better indication, especially the reference to “masculinity:”

Wow, that’s even less helpful. “Machismo,” and “virility.”

No, the best definition likely comes from the commercial that Jon Hamm made for Lucas Kunce above.

Hamm advocates for Kunce by stating that masculinity has nothing to do with standing in the Senate and making speeches about anything.

This is especially true when you vote for a bill that stalls a law that would compensate veterans – men (and women, and others) who served their country and were, perhaps, exposed to burn pits as part of their service.

The commercial really goes after the faux masculinity that Hawley demonstrated by fiercely pumping his fist in the air to the crowd gathered around the Capitol. (Did he know what was coming? It’s a reasonable question).

The fist pump is juxtaposed by the video showing Hawley sprinting passed a lot of people that could have used a bit of help dodging the same people that Hawley riled up with his fist.

Hamm proposes on Kunce’s behalf that the country needs something else and it has nothing to do with manhood.

Hamm knows that courage is something that shows itself in good deeds, like helping neighbors – again, nothing to do with masculinity, but something that Hamm believes that Lucas Kunce embodies.

It sure doesn’t need to be advertised or the subject of a book authored by a guy who presumes that masculine virtues are needed and he’s got them in spades.

Kunce embodies Hamm’s genderless definition of “courage” — a preferred word, in which the Mad Men star talks about Kunce’s 13 years of service as a Marine.

And even though such bravery is a genderless quality, historically, it was one of the most obvious signs of “masculinity.”

Hamm (and Kunce) end the commercial perfectly by stating that if Missouri wants someone to write about masculinity, they have their man in Hawley.

But if they want someone who demonstrates courage, they should send the guy who points out that America doesn’t need masculinity.

It does need courage and on that, most people can agree.

I can be reached at jasonmiciak@gmail.com @JasonMiciak

Jason Miciak

Jason Miciak is an associate editor and opinion writer for Occupy Democrats. He's a Canadian-American who grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He is a trained attorney, but for the last five years, he's devoted his time to writing political news and analysis. He enjoys life on the Gulf Coast as a single dad to a 15-year-old daughter. Hobbies include flower pots, cooking, and doing what his daughter tells him they're doing. Sign up to get all of my posts by email right here: