Historians meet Biden for a White House lunch, urge him to speak out more forcefully
Historians meet Biden for a White House lunch, urge him to speak out more forcefully
Democracy may be on the ballot. Less clear is what was on the menu.
President Joe Biden hosted a small group of scholars and historians for lunch on Wednesday as he gears up for a speech framing the upcoming election as a battle for the nation’s democracy.
The discussion revolved around “ongoing threats to democracy and democratic institutions both here in America and around the world, as well as the opportunities we face as a nation,” the White House said in a statement.
Princeton’s Eddie Glaude Jr. and Sean Wilentz, Harvard’s Annette Gordon-Reed, Yale’s Beverly Gage and Boston College’s Heather Cox Richardson were among the attendees, as well as presidential biographer — and occasional Biden speech writer — Jon Meacham.
Attendees were tight-lipped about what was discussed at the gathering. One would only go so far as to say they “talked about American history and its bearing on the present — a lively exchange of ideas.”
Another person in the room, who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly about a private meeting, said the historians urged the president “to call out the moment for what it is.” In blunt terms, the academics discussed looming threats to the nation’s democracy and warned about the slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe.
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I think it's important for Biden to call out this moment for what it is. It will be difficult to do, though, without alienating the people in the country who have incorporated Trump into their political identity. When you point out that their emperor has no clothes, they will feel exposed themselves and lash out at the truth teller.
Biden has to try and build a coalition of all sorts of people to meet this moment. Especially all the people who are disillusioned with the situation in Gaza right now. It amazes me how all those people would think Trump would be any better at that. Trump would sell out Gaza to build a resort if we let him.
Trump would gleefully see Gaza get destroyed. He would call on Israel to not slow down and allow aid to pass through, but do it faster. Like, “have it done by next Monday so I can take the credit for it”.
Then call on biden to act to stop the genocide and there wont be an issue.
Biden doesn’t control Netanyahu and Netanyahu would much rather have Trump back in power. Why the fuck would he do him any favors
Biden doesn’t control Netanyahu
Did Netanyahu force Biden to sell him weapons?
Hell did he force him to bypass congress to do so? Twice?
Or veto a UN resolution for ceasefire?
It will be difficult to do, though, without alienating the people in the country who have incorporated Trump into their political identity
They're already alienated, there's likely nothing Biden could possibly do that would earn him their votes.
The question is- can Biden afford to alienate the folks who are against US support of Israeli occupation and genocide? If they stay home, the GOP wrecking crew may get another 4 years of opportunity to dismantle American democracy. Is it safe to bet that they'll hold their nose and vote against the greater evil?
I'm not 100% sure how much of the Democratic party (or independents) would find it to be a deal-breaker if Biden were to take a critical stance of Israeli occupation and genocide, nor am I certain of how many likely-democratic voters find it a deal-breaker if Biden continues to give Israel military support without conditions. It seems likely to me that if Biden doesn't address this issue directly and clearly, he will lose one or the other of these groups and I worry he can't afford that in 2024
The great part is that there's nothing Biden can do that would be a deal breaker. I must vote for him because the way we vote is stupid. There's nothing that can make me not because the alternative is objectively worse.
So it's no wonder the DNC doesn't care what I think.
Or and hear me out here we could allow them to see the consequences of their own actions.
Fucking fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me
The people who need to feel consequences will not feel the consequences. People I care about will feel the consequences. The people running the Democratic Party will feel nothing.
We tried that in 2016 and got Trump.
We are just sick of supporting people that support genocidal actions.
You guys have fun with genocidin biden, if he’s on the ballot I’m just staying home and staying quiet for the next 4 years
No I don’t care about game theory or blah blah blah.
I care that I do not show support for anyone who is helping to kill innocent children.
You guys still have a chance to actually run a primary.
Straight up fuck anyone who is VBNMW
im voting for him regardless of his stance on israel/palestine. How is staying home going to help palestine??? Even for palestine, biden is the lesser evil on who runs the us.
Don't try to apply logic here. This shit doesn't make any since. Trump would 100% toss Ukraine to Russia and Palestine to Israel. All either countries would have to do is stuff some money in his pocket. They are fucking delussional thinking that theres some other option here. There isn't. Our political system is not being overhauled for 2024. A new party is not arising. There are no new front runners for either party. Its gonna be Trump v Biden 2: Misinformation Boogaloo and these people really think Trump would do this gracefully and with the safety and peace of all nations in mind. They are steeped in madness.
Look at the username. Obstinate child.
lol
You guys have fun with genocidin biden, if he’s on the ballot I’m just staying home and staying quiet for the next 4 years
"genocidin Biden"? No wonder you're not voting, you sound like you're 12. Go to your room and think about what you just said, young human. It's not as deep as you think it is.
The situation in Gaza is tragic, and can't be solved with a soundbite. But anyone who thinks outcomes will be better with Trump in office is delusional. Trump has proven that he doesn't really care about human rights, he cares about enriching himself. The Palestinians will be sold to the highest bidder. Is that what you want?
Browbeating is satisfying, and is less work than addressing the issue and trying to make progress toward a resolution. Do you suppose that your response made it more likely that the person you responded to will behave in the way you want?
Dismissiveness indicates an aversion to introspection.
I am not averse to introspection, I did a lot of it before I made my decision.
Morally, I can not support someone who wants to kill Gazans so badly that he did a run around around congress, twice.
He even confirms that he is not concerned about it, just the optics on israel.
I am not averse to introspection
I didn't say you were. I was referring to your interlocutor.
Ah, my apologies then.
Dismissiveness also comes from fatigue, which we have in spades right now
Dismissiveness also comes from fatigue, which we have in spades right now
Yes, people who aren't as supportive of genocide as you'd prefer are certainly fatiguing.
Since when has what I wanted been a factor in an election?
Also, my bad, it should be Genocidin’ Biden with a capital g and an apostrophe for proprieties sake
I’m 37 and voted blue from 18.
The party is officials are ignoring my concerns therefore, I no longer support them.
Feel free to do so if you’d like, I don’t intend on standing in your way.
You did not have my back, and now I won’t have yours
Cool, so you're just a fucking idiot then, got it
Loyalty is a 2 way street. I fronted the party some and they fucked me when it came time to pay it back.
I’ll give you some good life advice, never give your loyalty to someone who ignores you.
I’ll tell you what, maybe you can go bypass congressional oversight to do what you want.
Maybe you can give unlimited support to him, but I won’t help a bad person.
I’ll give you some good life advice, never give your loyalty to someone who ignores you.
We're talking about voting, not loyalty.
Maybe you can give unlimited support to him, but I won’t help a bad person.
Of course you will. Choosing to throw away your vote is a choice nonetheless.
I mean, if I really disagreed that much I could just vote for the other guy out of spite.
I support the rest of what y’all stand for enough not to help the enemy, I just can’t stand the thought of standing next to you anymore.
I like it more than genocide Joe, hell at least I still capitalize his name.
and staying quiet for the next 4 years
I doubt it lol
Nope, I hate motherfuckers who bitch about the president and then you find out they didn’t even bother to vote.
I can at least respect the opposition when they bitch they put in the time and effort to stand in fucking line or maybe even just mail in a form.
Stupid troll
I wish I was, this is honest to God how I feel anymore
Okay, enjoy the genocide of your lgbtq+ and immigrant neighbors. You won't vote but the MAGA crowd will appear in full force.
You're kind of helping his argument, no? His choice is support genocide of his LGBT+ neighbors or Palestinians? Neither option presented sounds worthy of a vote.
And republicans are going to end the Israel-Palestine conflict? I don't think so
You're so hell bent on making it a Republican vs Democrat thing. We should be primarying Biden out. They're both too old and need to go the fuck on.
Whether you like it or not, until we get RCV, approval voting, STAR, or some other method better than first-past-the-post (we don't even have majority!), it is a Democrat vs. Republican thing. Which I should mention, is also how YOU framed it in your post. The only thing I'm pointing out is that if you choose the option that's bad for LGBTQ+, it's also just as bad for Palestinians as the other option is.
This skios the part where the Dems act like Biden is the only candidate that can beat Trump. He may beat him, he also may beat him to his grave. He's too old and should be primaried out.
Who would run instead? Harris? I haven't seen a single article about her. Bernie? The DNC would never do that. Biden is the incumbent, and what other good options are there?
Finally someone who gets it!
It’s not an “or” question, it’s an“and”.
not really since the palestines situation will be the same or worse under turmp. so its a choice of some or more of.
Democrats already jumped at the chance to support one genocide. Why should anyone trust them to not do it again at their earliest convenience?
Republicans also jumped at the chance to feed Ukraine to Russia. Whats your point? Feed Ukraine to Russia so that Trump will protect Palestine? The Republicans already cut so much of Ukraine's funding that they are struggling. I really don't see what this better alternative is. We can't just say no. Too much of the country is okay with both parties.
Whats your point?
I made my point. You ignored it. You don't get to act like Democrats will protect anyone from genocide while they're actively supporting a genocide.
They're not being shielded; they're just another entry on the "then they came for" list.
And who will shield the needy and vulnerable? Who will come to their aide when the world simply stares? What is your alternative solution?
And who will shield the needy and vulnerable?
Who indeed? Democrats had some legitimacy when they claimed they would do that. Until recently.
What is your alternative solution?
I'd start with Democrats ceasing their support for genocide.
The older Democrats and generation in general hold fast to Israel. Its what they're familiar with and have grown up "on their team". There is a divide in the age groups as the younger democratic officials support Palestine. What other elected officials of a different political party support Palestine and endorse it publicly? Do many Republicans? In American politics, those are your options without fundamental change to the voting system.
What other elected officials of a different political party support Palestine and endorse it publicly? Do many Republicans? In American politics, those are your options without fundamental change to the voting system.
I.
AM.
NOT.
ADVOCATING.
FOR.
VOTING.
FOR.
ANOTHER.
PARTY.
What the hell makes you think they’ll change in the future?
I don't. I think we need to change how our voting system works. We don't have time before the next election. Thats my rationale. You have to choose now, this year. Ranked choice is not being implemented. So, you're getting Trump or Biden most likely. With this shitty voting system, anybody spitefully withholding votes is helping Republicans make a Theocracy.
Realistically, in real life, your other option is Republicans. Thats how American politics works. Until we fundamentally change the way our voting system works. So I'm curious what your rationale is. What are you going to do? Allow a man who straight up claimed he be a dictator to take over in spite? What is the goal?
This is the third time you've ignored what I've said and accused me of saying something I haven't.
You jumped in the chain literally about my reply to someone daying "have fun with genocidin biden". Thats part of the context. The democrats only have one thing going and its their lead not being a fucking psycho. We don't have time to implement ranked choice.voting across the country before this years elections. Thats all they have besides being centrist capitalists every else in the world, which is marginally better than raving theocrat. We need to change our system but we are forced to vote one more time first. Unless you have something better to propose.
I'm still not saying that anyone should vote for another party. I pointed out that Democrats cannot be trusted to prevent genocide, since they are currently enabling one.
Unless you have something better to propose.
I've answered this already. Democrats should stop supporting genocide.
Everybody does. Most US Politicians support Israel. Biden is handling this as shit as most other US politicians would. The list I shared is just newer congress members of congress too.
How is voting for the lessser of two evils going to change anything for the better?
You got a greater good to offer?
I do but I can't afford the billion dollars it costs to get on the ballot
You're killing trans children at home. Other out groups as well. Thanks. And thanks for sharing and encouraging others. This is helpful. I'll remember your bravery and honor and this moment and the chair I'm sitting in, when they are separating my family at the gas chamber in 6 or 7 years. Bc you didn't know how to read the room.
You’re already voting to support that, you just want other people to pay that price for you.
You think both sides are the same for trans kids? What are you, like 17?
Are you cause you’re working really hard to twist what I said