Historians meet Biden for a White House lunch, urge him to speak out more forcefully
Historians meet Biden for a White House lunch, urge him to speak out more forcefully
Democracy may be on the ballot. Less clear is what was on the menu.
President Joe Biden hosted a small group of scholars and historians for lunch on Wednesday as he gears up for a speech framing the upcoming election as a battle for the nation’s democracy.
The discussion revolved around “ongoing threats to democracy and democratic institutions both here in America and around the world, as well as the opportunities we face as a nation,” the White House said in a statement.
Princeton’s Eddie Glaude Jr. and Sean Wilentz, Harvard’s Annette Gordon-Reed, Yale’s Beverly Gage and Boston College’s Heather Cox Richardson were among the attendees, as well as presidential biographer — and occasional Biden speech writer — Jon Meacham.
Attendees were tight-lipped about what was discussed at the gathering. One would only go so far as to say they “talked about American history and its bearing on the present — a lively exchange of ideas.”
Another person in the room, who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly about a private meeting, said the historians urged the president “to call out the moment for what it is.” In blunt terms, the academics discussed looming threats to the nation’s democracy and warned about the slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe.
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And who will shield the needy and vulnerable? Who will come to their aide when the world simply stares? What is your alternative solution?
And who will shield the needy and vulnerable?
Who indeed? Democrats had some legitimacy when they claimed they would do that. Until recently.
What is your alternative solution?
I'd start with Democrats ceasing their support for genocide.
The older Democrats and generation in general hold fast to Israel. Its what they're familiar with and have grown up "on their team". There is a divide in the age groups as the younger democratic officials support Palestine. What other elected officials of a different political party support Palestine and endorse it publicly? Do many Republicans? In American politics, those are your options without fundamental change to the voting system.
What other elected officials of a different political party support Palestine and endorse it publicly? Do many Republicans? In American politics, those are your options without fundamental change to the voting system.
I.
AM.
NOT.
ADVOCATING.
FOR.
VOTING.
FOR.
ANOTHER.
PARTY.
You jumped into the chain that started with someone claiming voter apathy. What do you think I'm on about?
That doesn't mean I support everything everyone else in the chain says. I jumped in because you were acting like Democrats are interested in the slightest in stopping genocide. I pointed out why that no longer holds water.
If you want to credibly claim that a party will even try to protect anyone from genocide, that party should not be actively supporting genocide when you make that claim.
Democrats have supported one genocide. Democrats are governed by political expedience. When it becomes politically expedient, they will support another. Who do you suppose it will be?
I suppose you have lots of calls to make. Nearly every member of congress supports Israel. I have made my phone calls to tell my representatives to stop. Have you? This is the time to protest in the streets.
My representative is a maga chud. No amount of calling her will make the Democratic Party support genocide less. A Democrat would be more likely to move that particular needle, but the candidate who ran against the maga chud was a progressive, so the party cut her funding a month before the election.
Both of my senators are Republicans. Calling them won't change Democrats' enthusiastic support for genocide either.
My governor's only involvement in foreign policy has been to dump refugees in blue cities. Needless to say, he's also a Republican. Even if it were possible to change his hateful closed mind, changing him won't change Democrats.
My president is Joe Biden.
Then despair, since you refuse to take the necessary action of simply dialing your representatives.
Did I say I haven't called them?
I said calling a bunch of Republicans isn't going to change what Democrats do.
Blame me some more for the genocide you live to support. I'm done with this fucking waste of effort. Put words in someone else's mouth. Just remember that when Democrats support the next genocide, it's because they can count on people like you to be apologists.
You dudn't say you did call them. Call them. They need to know what you think.
What the hell makes you think they’ll change in the future?
I don't. I think we need to change how our voting system works. We don't have time before the next election. Thats my rationale. You have to choose now, this year. Ranked choice is not being implemented. So, you're getting Trump or Biden most likely. With this shitty voting system, anybody spitefully withholding votes is helping Republicans make a Theocracy.
With this shitty voting system, anybody spitefully withholding votes is helping Republicans make a Theocracy.
I am not advocating for not voting, nor am I advocating for voting for republicans.
I just pointed out that "we'll protect you from genocide" is no longer a convincing argument when it comes from a party that is currently supporting and enabling genocide.