The war in Ukraine has recently competed for headlines with the leaked draft of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade. Americans who believe in supporting both the defenders of Ukraine and the rights of women to make their own health decisions were sitting on the edge of their seats as events unfolded.
Those who pay attention to the polls know most Americans favor the Biden Administration’s policies on Ukraine, with more than 70% of those surveyed opining Washington is doing either the right amount or even not enough to help defend Ukraine against the Russian invasion. “The findings suggest that Biden’s policies largely reflect Americans’ preferences,” concluded the Washington Post.
Meanwhile, a 2-1 majority of Americans say the Supreme Court should uphold Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion, a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted late last month finds.
Here is the conundrum. Why isn’t Joe Biden — who clearly has the support of most Americans on his Ukraine policy and on his belief that the Supreme Court should uphold Roe v. Wade — getting the love he deserves? Why isn’t the president — whose goal is to replace the malfeasance of his predecessor with policies that work for all Americans — receiving not nearly enough credit for his good work? And why isn’t the Biden Administration getting all the kudos it deserves for the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law?
Perhaps Democrats need to be more energetic in joining the fray. Republicans, whose tongues must be sore having licked Donald Trump’s boots for so long, aren’t being held accountable for the outrageous things they say or do. Trump and his GOP need to be reminded it’s not nice to lie to the public:
Republicans believe House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy when he denies discussing whether Trump should resign in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection — when he did.
Trumpublican Rep. Lisa McClain (R-NY) announced to an adoring crowd that Trump “caught Osama Bin Laden.” But the grifter-in-chief was still hosting “The Apprentice” on May 2, 2011 when Seal Team Six apprehended the terrorist.
And, of course, Trump’s ongoing delusion he won the 2020 election continues to have traction in some quarters of America — and is reflected in the votes to overturn the election cast by North Carolina Republican congressmen David Rouzer and Ted Budd.
The role of “No more Mr. Nice Guy” starts at the top. President Joe Biden, by nature a kind, decent man, needs to continue using the world’s largest bully pulpit to take the duplicitous Republicans to task. He recently called out "MAGA" in the strongest terms yet, naming it the "most extreme political organization that's existed in American history." But other Democrats — from elected officials to you, dear reader — need to take on the GOP’s Big Lies as well.
Democrats in Washington must continue to aggressively combat the contemptible malfeasance of the GOP. The January 6th Committee has been working tirelessly to gather all evidence to expose the traitorous acts of their fellow Republican leaders who participated in the insurrection. Committee members have been pressuring Attorney General Garland to criminally charge Trump White House aides who are flagrantly ignoring the panel’s subpoenas. A recent Justice Department request for transcripts obtained by the January 6 Committee gave a welcome signal that the DOJ is, in fact, pursuing investigations of the perpetrators of the insurrection.
Senate Democrats must remain committed to ridding the Republic of the onerous filibuster that stands in the way of progress. Democratic majorities must pass laws to protect the voting rights of all Americans. While two Democrats, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, have been holdouts, stymying Biden’s agenda at multiple turns, we must remember all 50 Republicans have voted against filibuster reform and voting rights legislation. Increasing the Democratic majority this fall is the path forward.
Perhaps most important, Democrats in Brunswick County and all over the country must shout from the rooftops the Biden Administration has done more for the U.S. economy in 15 months than Trump accomplished in four years of blather and calumny. The nation’s unemployment list continues to shrink, and the lives of Americans in rural areas is improving. As the New York Times pointed out in a recent article, “President Biden has done more for…rural America than Mr. Trump ever did. The rural economy is stronger, wages are higher and infrastructure projects are popping up all over.”
Democrats need to speak up for America. Our democracy depends on all of us taking part in calling out the lies and broadcasting the truth.
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