Local GOP: No comment on white supremacy
Local Democrats say that Trump's behavior marred debate
Following Tuesday night’s presidential debate, local Democratic party officials expressed embarrassment at the state of our democracy while the local Republican party refused to comment.
When asked specifically about whether the local Republican party condemned white supremacy and believed in the peaceful transition of power, the new chair Doug Brower refused to comment, saying the party would not be offering any kind of “official comment or statement this time around.”
“We have no statement period,” Brower wrote in a text message.
During the presidential debate, after moderator Chris Wallace asked President Donald Trump if Trump was willing to condemn white supremacy, the president said, “Sure, I’m willing to do that,” but countered that more violence was sprouting from left
wing groups than rightwing ones, which official FBI statistics contradict.
When pressed by former Vice President Joe Biden to condemn the militant rightwing group the Proud Boys, Trump said “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,” which the group later celebrated online as a show of support.
Local Democrats said they weren’t surprised by the president’s refusal to condemn white supremacy, but “the fact that he’s so reluctant to do it speaks volumes,” said Danny Kelley, chair of the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee.
“Our nation is tearing itself apart and he’s just standing by and letting it happen,” Kelley said. “It’s ridiculous.”
Trump has also suggested widespread voter fraud might be taking place and hinted there might not be a peaceful transition of power after this year’s election.
Kelley said he believed that the peaceful transition of power would still take place because the verified and authen tic winner of the election would have the full force the U.S. government behind him.
“No one will be allowed to claim power inauthentically,” Kelley said. “The voter counts will matter.”
Local Democrats said that the president’s behavior during the debate was unpresidential and his constant interruptions didn’t give the public a chance to really hear each candidate’s positions.
However, local Progressive Democrats said they were disappointed by what they did hear of former Vice President Joe Biden’s policy positions.
“What I didn’t expect to happen was the Democratic to run from progressive values,” said Michele Walford, vice chair of the Progressive Democrats. “Our party is headed in the wrong direction. They’re following the right ever rightward.”
The kind of incremental change being promised by Joe Biden isn’t enough to address the crises of the time, Walford said.
“Sadly, the only thing I can say is a vote for Biden gives us needed time to prevent the full-blown fascism that is imminent under Trump,” Walford said.