President Joe Biden called out Republicans in Congress as “the party of chaos and division” and said they are “worse” than Strom Thurmond, a former South Carolina senator who ran for president as a segregationist in 1948.
“I’ve been a senator since ‘72. I’ve served with real racists. I’ve served with Strom Thurmond. I’ve served with all these guys that have set terrible records on race. But guess what? These guys are worse. These guys do not believe in basic democratic principles,” Biden said at a fundraiser in San Francisco on Wednesday, according to the pool traveling with him. “Time and again Republicans show they are the party of chaos and division.”
Biden’s comments come as Republicans in Congress are holding still a foreign aid package that would send aid to Ukraine and Israel. The $95.3 billion foreign aid bill, which was passed by the Senate last week, still faces a showdown in the House as House Speaker Mike Johnson has told his House Republican Conference members that he is not rushing to respond to the bill.
It would be nice if we had more to celebrate than what amounts to sick burns.
Does it help or hurt that Biden also gave a eulogy at Strom Thurmmond’s funeral?
That article makes me like Biden even more. There’s something to be said for someone who can respect all people and maintain his value set over his entire life.
Biden also disclosed his preference for persons over principles. Not that Biden has no principles. But he is loath to let his principles get in the way of personal connections. No amount of historical baggage was going to keep him from forming a bond with a colleague — and in Biden’s telling, Thurmond repaid that bond by standing with Biden through an episode of political peril.
Also on display in the pulpit of First Baptist Church that day was Biden’s view of politics as a two-way street, a marketplace of needs and favors in which participants can all benefit from the free exchange of chits. Except on Election Day, Biden is a “win-win” kind of guy. The “Northeast liberal” fully understood that his eulogy was a Thurmond power play from beyond the grave; the old coot turned to Biden for a fresh coat of paint on the historical record. But Biden benefited, too, from his prominent appearance as a national healer.
Uhhh, no. Segregationists don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt whatsoever. You can’t be a good person and simultaneously fight against people’s basic human rights. Those are two completely contradictory points.
Fuck Strom and fuck Biden.
Strom Thurmond changed his mind about race relations over time. Do you think that would’ve happened if Biden threw up his hands and said “fuck this guy”? He relentlessly went back to Thurmond with unconditional positive regard and advocated for a better world, and that’s how you make a difference, not your black or white dismissive bullshit. What even is your goal if not trying to change minds and build more equitable institutions?
Well I’m glad he changed his mind as soon as he had no power to do anything about it. Meanwhile he spent 24 hours fillibustering in favor of segregation. So yeah: fuck that guy and Biden for acting like he’s done any good. Harmful actions remain even if you change your mind.
My goal is to listen to people and allow them basic human rights. Especially when I have the political power to grant it like Strom once did. It’s not hard at all believe it or not.
Dude, I’m not defending Strom Thurmond in any way. I’m defending Biden treating him with respect. If you had political power, you’d realize building relationships is one of the primary mechanisms through which you get what you believe in accomplished. I bet you dismiss Lyndon Johnson out of hand the same way you do Joe Biden. Smh
You’re damn right Lyndon Johnson can fuck himself. In fact Johnson can fuck himself even harder than Biden by most accounts. Vietnam was an absolute disaster for everyone involved, and that dumb shit is one of the primary reasons the US got involved and massacred a ton of innocent people.
And I don’t care who you’re defending or not. No part of what I believe in involves segregation/constant war crimes whatsoever. And there should be no respect given to anyone espousing or condoning such beliefs. They lost any ounce of respect they might gain as soon as they started their racist dehumanizing bullshit. The world was a better place after Strom died. The world was a better place after Johnson died.
And I should know a thing or two about former segregationist senators, being one myself
Can you explain, please?
Biden was against busing for school desegregation.
Without that and with the existing racist housing policies, it would have effectively prevented school desegregation.
Strum Thurmmond gave the longest fillibuster, and it was against civil rights.
Biden and Strum were friends, to the point Biden even gave a eulogy at his funeral.
You know that saying about how when you see four guys sitting at a table and one’s wearing a nazi uniform?
Biden was super chummy with those old racists, so for him it was more like he was the only one out of uniform. Seriously, don’t you remember the last primary? He kept talking about how they’re all his friends and get along so well.
He just didn’t know they didn’t give a fuck about him after Obama. They only liked him because sometimes he pulled a Manchin.
I cant imagine being judged for somethi g i did 50 years ago, as the basis for the person I am today.
I really am not a fan of Biden, but come on, bringing up shit that happened half a century ago is really manipulative. It’s as if you’re saying that your actions as a 30 year old are representative of the person you are at 85, which simply isn’t true.
Well, the eulogy was 2003…
And the 2020 primary he wouldn’t shut up about how great friends he is with Republican senators.
It only changed when they gave him the cold shoulder.
I mean, really, do you think Thurmond was better?
As bad as shit is now, it was much worse for minorities back in the 50s/60s. And while Biden didn’t get to the Senate till the 70s, he made quick friends with the older Republicans that had been in power then.
You can’t play the “people change” card decades before they changed.
I am friends with a bunch of people that I don’t share views with. I have some friends that support trump, does that suddenly mean I support trump? Absolutely no, it doesn’t. I’m just saying, his actions now are what we should judge him on.
As for becoming friends with people in congress, that’s called politics dude. You become friends with the people around you to further your own career. That goes for any career… Am I talking to teenagers here? Sheesh.
In this analogy you’d be friends with trump tho…
Like, do you have any idea what know kind of person Thurmmond was?
I mean, really, do you think Thurmond was better?
Better than people who are racist and fascist traitors? Yes, obviously.
Your question is like asking if negative eleventy-billion is a bigger number than negative infinity.
Jesus…
People are really out there running around America thinking Strum Thurmond wouldn’t have overthrown the government if he thought he had half a chance?
You wouldn’t be interested in buy a bridge in Brooklyn would you?
