‘Radical left’ controlling Biden, say Republicans
Trump’s campaign takes aim at his challenger on Day 1
WASHINGTON: Republicans have sought to tie Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate for president, to “radial left” elements of his party and warned of a dystopian future of the country under him.
They also used the opening night of their national convention on Monday to hail US President Donald Trump’s leadership, including his handling of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Speakers said that Biden would be under the influence of “radical left” wing elements who, they argued, threaten the freedoms of expression and faith, the rule of law, and who will “abolish the suburbs” and turn “schools into war zones”. They sought to portray him as “weak” on China and being wrong on “every major foreign policy” issue.
“Biden, (Kamala) Harris and their socialist comrades will fundamentally change this nation,” said Kimberley Guilfoyle, a top Trump campaign official.
“They want to destroy this country, and everything that we have fought for and hold dear.
They want to steal your liberty, your freedom. They want to control what you see and think, and believe, so they can control how you live.”
“The radicals are not content just marching in the streets,” said Mack McCloskey, who, along with his wife, had waved guns at anti-racism protesters in St Louis, Missouri. “They want to walk the halls of Congress.
They want power. This is Joe Biden’s party.”
In the run-up to the party convention, Trump’s aides had reportedly said the plan was to given a message of hope and optimism. The opening night, however, was full of dire warnings about the future of the country under Biden and dark denunciations of him, his past and his future plans.
The former vice-president is “basically the Loch Ness monster of the swamp”, said Donald Trump Jr, the US president’s eldest son, who was one the night’s speakers.
He also defended the president’s handling of the pandemic, saying he reacted quickly to shut down travel, and ramped up production of ventilators and PPEs for health care workers.