Democrats vs. the Enraged Left – WSJ

Democrats are pursuing the same strategy on a national scale. They encouraged and coddled the protest movement in the wake of George Floyd s death, which complemented their theme of racism and disorder under President Trump. Even as the movement grew more organized and militant and came to encompass a dizzying array of unpopular progressive demands climate justice, divestment from Israel, transgenderism, migrant legalization Democrats still claimed it in its fold.

Now that public opinion has soured on the left s street blockades, crime and campus takeovers, the Biden administration wants it both ways. It was inexcusably slow to condemn this spring s spring campus and city protests initially hoping it could stay above the fray. And when President Biden finally did condemn violent protests even as he claims he still steadfastly supports Israel his team kept working to pacify those shouting Genocide Joe and taking over campus property. It halted certain weapons to Israel, leveled sanctions on Israeli groups and individuals, and pressured Jerusalem for a cease-fire. The summer drama over Mr. Biden s age and the party nominee did at least divert attention away from this split in the party.

But enraged leftists haven t gone anywhere, as evidenced by their meltdown over Kamala Harris s consideration of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a running mate. She ducked that confrontation by going with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, yet what Democrats continue to fail to appreciate is that this crowd won t be appeased by anything less than full capitulation. That includes an end to any support for Israel. For a sense of the unity in the party, see the chaotic videos from a Wednesday night rally by New York Democrats in advance of next week s convention. Its afterparty was besieged by an anti-Israel mob intent on mayhem. Many carried placards reading: Kamala = Genocide.

via www.wsj.com

Kimberley Strassel