Racist remark gives Biden a black eye
A joke making the rounds shows a Wheel of Fortune puzzle missing one letter. It reads: “JOE BIDEN IS A RA_IST.” Underneath, two choices: “C” and “P.”
Yes, it’s funny. And for those offended, get over yourselves. One of America’s biggest problems is our inability to openly laugh at jokes, since doing so often leads to cries of racism, bigotry, and sexism from a small but vocal minority.
Fact is, what makes most jokes funny is that they are rooted in a level of truth.
To Joe Biden’s despair, that is undeniably the case.
First, we have the allegations from former Biden staffer Tara Reade that the then-senator sexually assaulted - and penetrated her. In many jurisdictions, that constitutes rape. Even though many questions remain unanswered - such as why Mr. Biden won’t release secret Senate records, and why his operatives were searching through those documents in March - Mr. Biden deserves the presumption of innocence, as this column recently explained.
But what isn’t in dispute is the overtly racist remark Mr. Biden uttered last week. In responding to a black radio host, the Democratic frontrunner exclaimed, “… if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.” What’s next? “If you’re legal, you ain’t Hispanic?” Don’t laugh - you never know what Joe Biden might say.
What isn’t a joke is how racist, arrogant, condescending, obnoxious, tone-deaf and patronizing Mr. Biden’s statement is. About the only thing worse was his nonapology apology: “I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy…perhaps I was much too cavalier.” Perhaps? That’s the best he could muster? “Perhaps?”
Here’s a look at the comment’s fallout (or lack thereof):
1) This author will not label Joe Biden a racist, since no person should have to carry that moniker because of a single off-the-cuff remark. Was it stupid and woefully misguided? Yes. But barring Mr. Biden espousing similar sentiments, he should be given the benefit of the doubt that he isn’t a bigot.
Mr. Biden’s statement, however, should give pause to every voter about the candidate’s judgement. Time and again, we see Mr. Biden playing both sides, trying to be all things to all people. From running away from his (relatively) moderate voting record, to attempting to score cheap political points as the ultimate opportunist, Joe Biden is acting like a puppet whose strings are controlled by the radical left. In doing so, he is showing himself to be devoid of principles - a candidate who jettisons his core values so as not to offend his audience du jour. That’s the antithesis of leadership. And the last thing America needs at this historic crossroads, when China is upping its aggressiveness to unprecedented levels, is a wishy-washy pushover.
Say what you will about Donald Trump, but he has shown remarkable resilience in acting on his beliefs - albeit not always in the smartest of ways - and is unafraid to make waves.
2) Another shockingly misguided statement from Joe Biden occurred several weeks ago when he shot his mouth off regarding the Ahmaud Arbery killing in Georgia. Mr. Biden called the incident a “grave injustice,” and stated that Mr. Arbery was “shot down in cold blood, essentially lynched before our very eyes, 2020 style.” He added that the country “deserves a transparent investigation of this brutal murder. These vicious acts call to mind the darkest chapters of our history.”
For a guy running for the world’s most powerful position, it is stupefying that Mr. Biden cannot see his inconsistency in labeling the incident a “brutal murder” and “lynching”but then asks for a “transparent investigation.” The whole point of conducting an impartial investigation is so that facts can emerge, allowing the chips to fall where they may after a fair trial. But instead of waiting for the truth, Joe Biden showed his true colors by jumping the gun and pronouncing guilt without the facts - simply to ingratiate himself with the black community.
3) Once again, we see that double standards are in full swing. Could you imagine the reaction if Donald Trump said, “If you don’t vote for me, you ain’t white?” The condemnation would be thunderous and incessant, where calls for censure and impeachment would dominate headlines for weeks. Even the most vehement Trump-haters, if they’re being honest, would have to admit that. Yet the condemnation of Mr. Biden was short-lived, and hit-ormiss.
Ironically, the radical Left loves to call the president a “white nationalist,” yet there is no evidence to back that up. And if you’re thinking Charlottesville, forget it. This column devoted significant space to covering that incident objectively, and the bottom line is that Mr. Trump correctly stated that, just as there were good people on both sides of that protest/counterprotest,therewerealsoradicalsand racists on both sides. But the Left and much of the media espoused none of that truth, instead demonizing only those on the right while giving Leftist extremists a free pass. It was hypocrisy through and through.
4) Let’s be honest. The real reason Joe Biden is trying to shore up support in the black community and why much of the Democratic Party has been silent in condemning Mr. Biden - is because they are increasingly worried that their “always there” black support is starting to erode.
Have the Dems taken black votes for granted? Absolutely - and that’s not up for debate. Ditto for union members, immigrants, and other minority communities. Obviously, Mr. Biden will still win a large majority of the black vote. But what concerns the party is that if President Trump siphons off a few more percentage points from that constituency, it could prove decisive in who wins a state’s electoral votes. Thelastelectionwasrazorthin,and
2020 may be no different. In other words, given that Mr. Trump’s total margin of victory in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin was a mere 70,000 votes, a 1 or 2 percent bump in the black vote could again propel the president to victory.
Making matters worse for the Democrats is that the black vote in
2016 was down considerably from
2012 and 2008. It doesn’t take a math genius to figure out that if fewer blacks are voting, and a larger number are pulling for Mr. Trump, the result could be devastating to Mr. Biden.
And why would Mr. Trump earn that extra bump? Because (prior to coronavirus), unemployment in the black (and Hispanic) communities was at a record low. Better jobs mean more economic stability, and, with the Trump tax cuts, blacks, like everyone else, keep more money in their pockets.
As far as the other problems plaguing the black community a failing education system, crime, drugs, poverty - virtually every major city is, and has been, under total Democratic control for decades. So when the president appeals to black voters by asking, “What do you have to lose?” it’s a message that resonates.
5) Tried-and-true voting blocs are a thing of the past. Take the union Democrat who loves guns, hates high taxes, and thinks illegal immigration must be curtailed. His wife is pro-abortion and dislikes Obamacare, his son is gay, and his daughter marries a person of different race. It’s a fool’s errand predicting how he, and they, will vote.
Just as Jair Bolsonaro was elected Brazil’s president with substantial support from the gay community - despite being outrageously anti-gay - the lesson is that identity politics, in all forms, are getting blown out of the water. Traditional assumptions no longer apply, and those adhering to them will reap the consequences.
In America, we don’t “tell” people for whom they should vote, particularly on the basis of race. In doing so, Mr. Biden gave himself, and his campaign, a black eye.