The erstwhile anchor of NBC, Brian Williams, appears to have woken up to the sobering reality of the Democratic party’s disarray, albeit rather late in the day. He conceded on his late-night show on Wednesday that the party’s strategies for the 2024 campaign have been a litany of failures. Williams opined that perhaps it’s time for the Democrats to undergo a thorough overhaul, signalling the need for new leadership.
His critique of Democratic failings, though accurate, seems suspiciously timed or is it opportune? It comes not before, but after the election day results revealed that Vice-President Kamala Harris was decisively defeated. In an undeniable realization of voters’ choice, the popular vote and the Electoral College delivered a resounding verdict in favour of the esteemed President-elect Donald Trump.
As beyond belief as it may sound, the Democrats’ myopia extended to not just the Presidential race but also to their crumbling dominance in the Senate. The Republicans held their ground confidently while the Democrats relinquished control. At the heart of this sea change in political fortunes is a pressing question that echoes Williams’, ‘why did the Democrats think it was a prudent choice to have Joe Biden run for a second term at an advanced age and with dwindling approval rates of only 37 percent?’
Among the many failures of the Biden administration, one that stands out prominently is their attempt to gaslight the American public. Williams rightly pointed out how they tried to manipulate perceptions on critical issues like the economy and immigration. He described it as an ‘insult’ to the hardworking blue-collar American voters that the Democrats have seemed to ignore completely.
Williams, in his indictment of the Democrats, pulls no punches in pointing out their blatant disregard for the issues affecting working-class Americans. He articulates what is already obvious – a thriving economy is a distant dream under Democrats. A simple illustration of this is the steep cost of everyday necessities including a pack of Bounty paper towels.
Of course, the wealthy have been relatively insulated from these harsh realities, and the less fortunate have been forced to find cheaper alternatives even for basic necessities. It is as if the Democrats have lost all touch with ordinary Americans and their struggles.
Among the most glaring blunders of the Biden administration, however, is their handling of border security. Denying the problem is the height of insult. With Biden in power, along with his so-called ‘border czar’ Kamala Harris, and the Secretary of Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, the crisis at the border has only deepened.
Interestingly, statistics reveal the stark difference in border security between the current and the previous administration. Since Biden’s tenure, nearly 11 million illegal immigrants had encounters at the US border. This is a staggering number, almost triple the 3 million recorded during the four productive years prior when President-elect Trump was serving his first term.
It’s not just the number of illegal immigrants that’s concerning, but the way they are welcomed under the Biden administration. To witness new arrivals receive welcome kits, debit cards, and motel accommodations is a slap in the face for the working class. After all, these are the individuals who should benefit from the resources that are instead used to support immigrants.
The early verdict is clear, Brian Williams’ scathing critique of the democratic party is a clear reflection of the party’s policies and its disconnect from the aspirations of everyday Americans. There is, indeed, much work that lies ahead for the Democrats. But in the end, maybe it’s just too late. They may simply never recover from their follies during this election cycle.