Biden Needs A Sister Souljah Moment
If Democrats, especially Joe Biden, want to win in November, they have to distance themselves from the crazies on the so-called left.
Joe, or his surrogates, have to do what Bill Clinton did in the 90s. When Republicans confused the public by conflating Democrats with radicals outside the Democratic Party, he denounced a representative of the left, rapper Sister Souljah, and effectively immunized Democrats from the spurious attacks.
Democrats have to face up to this problem NOW.
The problem with the left isn’t merely the recent controversies over Israel or latent - and sometimes blatant - antisemitism. Like the right, it has extreme, identity-focused - and specious - views on a host of cultural issues, including race and sexuality, diversity, free speech, economics, history, and the very legitimacy of the United States.
The left doesn’t believe in equality of opportunity per se. Its priorities aren’t voting rights, education, fair treatment under the law, economic advancement, or free speech. It’s an illiberal movement that believes in reparations and political correctness, in equality of outcomes, not opportunity.
ts focus is on “equity” and on performative gestures, not on practical results. It espouses platitudes, not solutions. It is more concerned with pronouns than in solving problems, on undocumented immigrants than native-born Americans, on cursing capitalists than promoting economic development, on sex education than in basic reading skills.
Examples abound. Most recently, in New York State, a committee has called for the elimination of traditional educational standards of excellence in favor of nebulous goals of equity and cultural diversity. The state probably dodge a bullet in delay congestion pricing, which could have hurt their Congressional chances in swing districts outside the city.
In Chicago, the Mayor recently called for yet another study of reparation. It may or may not be a good idea, but it doesn’t help Democrats win wavering swing voters. (One thing’s for sure, though: it’s a lot easier than educating, housing, or protecting Chicago’s poor). Liberal policies in West Coast cities on housing and crime have been disastrous, and are only now being recognized as problems by Democratic leaders.
Variations of damaging progressive views have floated around for decades, occasionally surfacing and influencing mainstream thought.
They have ever gained currency with mainstream America. The rhetoric of the left may appeal to idealistic or ill-informed kids, but it’s unlikely that it resonates with most young people.
Biden may be able to stay above the fray. But Democrats have to reestablish themselves as the party with a vision of equality and economic justice - not as platitudes, but as practical policies.
The left has a vital role to play in pointing out inequities in our society, in serving as a moral voice, on countering cynicism in the country, on being idealistic standard bearers against moneyed interests. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have come up with substantial policy proposals. But the left generally sticks to cultural concerns and is generally bereft of practical policy ideas.
Bill Clinton recognized the problem the left posed for mainstream Democrats and solved it. Now they have to do it again. Distancing themselves from the most radical sexual, racial, and cultural identity politics will not only help them win, it’ll help them to govern.