As the media reported on protests across the nation, especially in Portland this week, they also covered this week’s House Judiciary show trial hearing. Democrats attacked Attorney General Barr, blaming the administration for interfering with “peaceful” demonstrations. While Democrats like Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer keep claiming the violence on our TV screens are really “peaceful protests,” Americans have a different take. The disparity between the Democratic Party’s leadership and the rest of America could not be starker.
No Democratic leader has been willing to specifically and forcefully condemn the violent and chaotic protests carried out in the name of social justice. Americans may have issue with that. A June 5 CNN poll found 69% of Americans believe violent protests that have occurred in response to George Floyd’s death and racial injustice are “unjustified,” compared to 27% of those who say the violence is “justified.” That is a significant percentage of the nation that recoils from the violence seen in places like Portland, Seattle, and even Washington, D.C. with 58% of black Americans believe the violence is “unjustified” while only 39% of blacks believe it is “justified.”
Mr. Biden speaks frequently of “leadership” and “unity,” almost always to decry President Trump’s failure to provide either. But if Mr. Biden wants to provide leadership and promote unity, why does he go along with the mob encouraging the Portland and Seattle violence? Why does he refuse to urge leaders of peaceful protests to end their silence and denounce the violence? By failing to challenge the violent left forcefully, Mr. Biden is likely to lose ground with the political center, with voters who are sick of the nihilism they see on their nation’s streets. Democrats who follow his lead could see their standing with these voters decline as well.
