Sanders calls Hamas War Biden’s Vietnam

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said that the Hamas War is impacting on President Biden like the Vietnam War impacted President Lyndon Johnson.

We can all agree that the wave of protests has put Biden in a tough spot.  He is trying to straddle a widening divide in the Democrat base. On one side are those who believe that Biden should stay with his initial unqualified support for Israel as it’s the Hamas terrorists that carried out a deadly barbaric attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.  That means continuing to provide Israel military weapons and munitions – without conditions.  Biden recently signed the bipartisan bill that did just that.

There has been a rising tide of opposition to more aid to Israel from pro-Palestinian members of Congress.  To the surprise of many politicians and pundits, the radical anti-Israel and antisemitic statements by such squad members as Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have ignited a latent anti-Israel constituency within the Democratic Party – resulting in the widespread illegal, and occasionally violent, college protests we see on the news every day.

The demonstrations across America are not limited to condemning the Israeli war effort and securing a cease fire.  The mobs taking over campuses are reflective of historic antisemitism seen in those calls for the crushing of Israel economically (BDS – boycott, divest and sanction) and the elimination of the State of Israel itself (“from river to the sea”).  It is seen in the demonstrators’ intimidation and assaults on Jewish students – and blocking their access to the classroom.  That is not protesting a war.  That is antisemitism in full view.

It is noteworthy that the expression of antisemitism differs from party to party.  Right-wing antisemitism is seen in a small fringe of powerless – albeit dangerous — extremists who are repudiated by mainstream Republicans and conservatives. 

The antisemitism on the left comes from a powerful radical wing of the Democratic Party.  They are folks who hold public offices supported by a significant segment of the major news media.  Their power was manifest in Biden’s shift from unconditional support for Israel to his becoming the most hostile American President since the Jewish nation’s founding in 1948.

Though not yet as virulent, today’s imagery mimics the television coverage of the 1960s anti-war demonstrations.  Even worse.  It mimics the street scene in Germany in the 1930s.  Ironically, the Democratic Party will be holding its 2024 nominating convention in Chicago – the same event in the same city that erupted in violent anti-war protests in 1968. 

The permanent anti-American protest establishment (who I refer to as the “perma-pissed”) is already promising to bring their acolytes to Chicago for the sequel.  Already, more than 70 mostly left-wing organizations have announced plans to protest at the Democrat Convention.

The current chaos is what led Sanders to call the current wave of civil unrest “Biden’s Vietnam.”  That is a claim that has since been echoed by other Democrats.

It is more than a simple comparison of imagery.  Sander’s comment is rife with deep significance for Biden.  Sanders is clearly suggesting that the current wave of anti-Israel and antisemitic demonstrations is doing real damage to Biden’s prospects for reelection.

The fact that we are less than half a year before the start of voting in the 2024 election … that Biden’s overall numbers are not good … that he is slightly behind Trump in most polls …and that it appears things are likely to get worse in the future … has Democrats suffering political apoplexy.  Their painful expressions of cheerleader optimism are a bit like Cub fans chanting “wait until next year.”  (Hey! I’m a Chicagoan and a Cub fan.  I know the feeling.)

Sanders’ comment is a barely veiled call for Biden to step down – as President Johnson was forced to do in the wake of the Vietnam anti-war movement.  Sanders is reflecting what a growing number of Democrats are believing in private – and some not so privately.  They feel that the handling — or mishandling – of the Hamas War, and the wave of protests it has provoked, tip the scale against Biden.  They do not believe he can win. Replacing Biden on the ticket – even at this late date – is gaining increasing acceptance among Democrats.  Some see it as a necessity.  So far, most of the talk is behind closed doors and unattributed reports in the media.  But it is real and significant.

Even if a growing number of Democrats are losing confidence in Biden – and believe that Biden is the modern-day Lyndon Johnson — with the Hamas War as his Vietnam – who can take his place?

It would be nearly impossible to find any Democrat leader who would look to Vice President Harris.  Her polling numbers are even worse than Biden’s.  She would be easier to beat.  Democrats are not stupid enough to replace a possible loser with a sure loser.

The most logical choice is California Governor Gavin Newsom.  He has been diplomatically positioning himself as the replacement should Biden falter or withdraw.  Others mention Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker.  Neither of them is the ideal white knight riding in to save the day.  In fact, the Democrats do not have a strong bench. Should Biden withdraw, Democrats would likely have to go with Newsom as the better of bad choices.

If Sanders is implying that Biden should step down, he should be thinking of the alternatives – and also recall that Johnson withdrawing did not help the Democratic Party win in 2068,

So, there ‘tis.