By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO –President Joe Biden thus far has been cautious in his rhetoric about former President Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 counts in the porn-star hush money case in New York. He doesn’t want to provide “told you so” ammunition for the MAGA Republicans who claim the case against Trump was orchestrated by Biden and executed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
We already know what Trump will say if asked about the conviction during his televised debate June 27 with President Biden. He will call the trial a “disgrace,” a “sham,” and vilify the judge and the prosecutor as corrupt. He will accuse Biden of being the mastermind behind it all. What Biden will say is an open question. He may low key the answer, saying he trusts the American jury system which has served this country well for over 200 years. Or, he may reply that evidence presented at the trial shows Trump to be sleazy in his personal life and a liar in his professional life – not the kind of man America should again honor with the highest office in the land.
So far, Biden’s reticence has contrasted with the rhetoric of at least two Jewish California Democrats, who believe they can turn Trump’s felony conviction to their advantage in the upcoming November 5 elections.
At the statewide level, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) who is running for a U.S. Senate seat against Republican Steve Garvey, criticized Republicans who continue to back Trump.
He said on MSNBC: “Every time over the last eight years, when we have thought, okay, surely now Republicans of good sense, will reject, step away, move away, condemn, shun Donald Trump, this incredibly immoral, unethical and now criminal human being. But every time they show us who they truly are. And who they truly are is people whose word, whose oath, whose devotion to the Constitution means nothing compared to their desire for power.”
So far Garvey has stayed away from Trump. When the former infielder for the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers was asked before the primary election about who he wants for President, he demurred, saying his ballot choice is a private matter. In the wake of Trump’s criminal conviction, he’ll probably maintain that position.
At the local level, Democratic County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer is trying to draw parallels between Trump and her Republican opponent, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer.
She said Trump’s misdeeds aren’t “just a national issue – here in San Diego, we’re still dealing with the fallout from Kevin Faulconer’s disastrous backroom deal to buy 101 Ash St., funneling $15 million in taxpayer dollars to his friends and campaign donors.”
She continued: “Misrepresenting facts, withholding information, and destroying documents to prevent public oversight might be par for the course for Trump and Faulconer, but we cannot allow this corruption to take root again in San Diego.”
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Two Jewish members of Congress – Senator Bernie Sanders (Ind-Vermont) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois)– are among the first to say they will boycott Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress at a yet undecided date.
The invitation was issued by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and by Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York), the minority leader in the House, and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), the minority leader in the Senate.
Boycotting Netanyahu’s record-breaking fourth address to Congress is important for the “virtue-signaling” message it sends to fellow “progressives” that Netanyahu is unworthy of such a prestigious forum. However, the danger is that the more Schakowsky, Sanders, and their allies excoriate Netanyahu, the more Americans may conflate their criticisms of the man with criticisms of Israel and by extension Israelis and their fellow Jews. Schakowsky and Sanders should be careful to make clear the distinctions.
Whether Sanders and Schakowsky and others who may be tempted to emulate their symbolic examples remain in the chamber of the House of Representatives, or follow what Netanyahu has to say by watching the coverage on their offices’ television monitors, the snub is nothing more than political theater. If Netanyahu says anything newsworthy – different from what he has said before – you can bet that they, just like their colleagues, will comment about it.
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.
I agree…What Biden will say is an open question.
What his teleprompter will say is more of the issue isn’t it.
The Geppettos in the white house will continue to pull his strings until Biden’s ice cream melts.
We are witnessing senior abuse of a President of the United States.
As for Shifty Adam Shift, well…nuff said.
But you would rather a convicted felon for President?