Thoroughly Unmodern Joe: The Staleness of Biden’s Message on Jan 6
As we mark the one-year anniversary of the January 6 Capitol Riot, President Biden and VP Harris took to the airwaves this morning to speak to the nation. Standing at a podium in Statuary Hall, their messages were clear. First, democracy is strong but fragile, and it requires vigilance and a renewed commitment to comity and to the principles and ideals that have made America great. Second, the chaos at the Capitol on that day was the former president’s responsibility — both to never have incited and then to have stopped. Third, we must act together to ensure voting rights in all of our States.
The one message that was left out is one that I think continues to evade the White House’s understanding: the Capitol Riot was different than the Black Lives Matter protests. Many Americans still equate the violence at the Capitol with the marches for Black Lives Matter. That remains the defense. This false equivalency is pervasive and strong and is the very psychological block that is keeping a large group of citizens — all voters — from fully comprehending the horror that went on one year ago today. Something akin to “if you can do it, so can we” is the refrain I hear most in conversations with friends and family who support the right.
In place of this false equivalency, we need to clearly hear three actual…
