There is a moment in every politician’s career when they must decide what kind of leader they want to be. Last week, Minnesota Lieutenant Governor and U.S. Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan gave America a masterclass in accountability — the progressive kind, where the buck stops with someone else.

Asked on “Morning Joe” whether she bears any responsibility for the massive fraud scandal that has cost Minnesota taxpayers billions, Flanagan did not flinch, did not waver, and most importantly, did not claim any responsibility. Instead, she pointed the finger squarely at Governor Tim Walz, her boss of seven years: “The governor says the buck stops with him.” She added that more should have been done sooner — a statement so bold it deserves its own medal, given that the governor she was blaming is the same man whose administration she served as second-in-command since 2019.

Critics call this deflection. I call it leadership. In the old days, politicians felt obligated to take responsibility for the failures that happened on their watch. That outdated model produced nothing but careers ended by principle. Flanagan represents the new, improved model: a leader who understands that accountability is not about what you did, but about who you can point at.

The fraud at the heart of the scandal is staggering — reports describe losses in the billions from Minnesota’s social services programs, siphoned out of the state over years while the people at the top — including, one assumes, the people who were at the top — looked the other way. Flanagan’s answer is that Republicans are using the fraud to “distract” from other matters, which is a perfectly reasonable response when the distraction is inconveniently pointing at you.

"The governor says the buck stops with him," Flanagan said, becoming the first lieutenant governor in American history to frame her own irrelevance as a defense.

Some say that as lieutenant governor, Flanagan was literally in the room while the fraud was happening. Others say the lieutenant governor’s job is to be in the room, not to know what’s in the room. The truth, as always, lies in a third position I just invented: the only honest answer to “what did you know and when did you know it” is “I knew I was the lieutenant governor, and that’s it.”

MINNESOTA FRAUD RESPONSIBILITY CHART: OFFICIAL FLOWCHART

  • Did the fraud happen on your watch? Yes. Next question.
  • Were you the governor? No. Responsibility passes to the governor.
  • Did you serve the governor for seven years as his second-in-command? Irrelevant. The buck stops with him.
  • Did you say "more should have been done sooner"? Yes. That's accountability.
  • Did anyone ask what you, specifically, did about it? The question is noted and will be addressed at an unspecified future date.

This is what the modern Democratic Party means by accountability: naming the problem, identifying the responsible party, and making sure that party is anyone other than you. It is a beautiful system, and it is why the party’s most reliable talent has stopped running on results and started running on vibes, on pointing, and on the unstoppable power of a well-timed accusation.

Some say voters will see through Flanagan’s finger-pointing and hold her accountable in November. Others say voters are too busy watching the governor she just blamed. The truth, as always, lies in a third position I just invented: in politics, the person who points first is the person who wins, and the person who points second is the person who was pointed at first.

At press time, Flanagan’s campaign was reportedly printing yard signs reading “THE BUCK STOPS WITH HIM,” which strategists described as “the most honest campaign slogan of the cycle” and “absolutely not a sign of panic.”