US Midterms: Biden Says Democracy 'On the Ballot'
With the US midterm elections around the corner, Pres. Biden delivered a speech on Wednesday warning of what he deems an "unprecedented threat" to American democracy.
Facts
- With the US midterm elections around the corner, Pres. Biden delivered a speech on Wednesday warning of what he deems an "unprecedented threat" to American democracy.
- Speaking at the Democratic National Committee in Washington, DC, Biden stated that several GOP candidates have signaled their intent to deny the Nov. 8 results if they lose.
- He made particular mention of what he called "ultra MAGA" Republicans — a reference to former Pres. Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan — and last Friday's attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband.
- The address emphasized that this is the first federal election since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, with Biden urging voters to dismiss candidates who have denied the 2020 presidential election results.
- This comes amid claims of an increase in voter intimidation, with at least five people having been charged with federal crimes for harassing workers during early voting, which has seen more than 27M people vote so far.
- According to an October poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 9% of Americans believe democracy is working "extremely" or "very well," while 52% surveyed reported it's not working well.
Sources: Financial Times, Al Jazeera, and Associated Press.
Narratives
- Republican narrative, as provided by Daily Wire. Biden's speech — a painful regurgitation of his September prime-time address — is nothing more than an eleventh-hour plea ahead of his party's inevitable loss in the upcoming elections. Unable to abate voters' concerns regarding real issues that America faces, the president has resorted to his overused tactic of fearmongering — a divisive tool at a time when unity is needed.
- Democratic narrative, as provided by Yahoo! News. The president's remarks, which come on the heels of the attack on Pelosi's husband, is a much-needed caution to an alarming number of GOP representatives who've signaled their intent not to accept the midterm's results if they lose. With the unabating shadow from the Jan. 6 attack ever-present, Biden is making it clear that another such insurrection won't be tolerated.
