If Donald Trump comes back into power, our democratic republic will become largely that in name only.
On Jan. 6th 2021, I went to D.C. to film what was occurring. What I saw was a movement dedicated to one individual that, but for the grace of God, could have turned into a bloodbath. I saw how close we were to losing our Republic. I have no doubt that if Donald Trump comes back into power, our democratic republic will become largely that in name only as Trump, a Republican, cements his power. We have also seen that the corruption and partisan allegiances within the Congress and even the Supreme Court is going to destroy any checks and balances built into the system.
Due this existential danger, it is time for Democrat Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race. As someone who voted for Biden in 2020 and is deeply concerned about the prospect of a Trump presidency, I think the Democrats need to have a clear-eyed view of what is occurring and urge Biden to gracefully exit the stage. The latest polls are not just concerning; they are devastating for the Biden campaign. He is down, and often down significantly, in every battleground state.
There could be changes before November. However, with so much on the line with a possible dictatorial government under Trump, the Democrats need to be much more strategic. There are many reasons that Biden is struggling, some fair and some unfair. The economy, though it has improved, is not where it should be. There is a lot of hyperbolic language about the border, and there is a great deal of focus on his mental capacities (while Trump does not often get the same scrutiny).
However, the one issue that is going to be the ultimate disaster for Biden is his policy on Israel. He seems unwilling or scared to actually stand up to Benjamin Netanyahu and his horrific actions in Gaza. This is despite the fact that the world community, the majority of Americans, and the overwhelming percentage of Democrats support a ceasefire. It is largely only the donor class that is out of touch with normal Americans who think that complete and unequivocal support for Israel is a good idea. This is not only going to lead to him losing the Arab and Muslim vote in places like Georgia and Michigan, which could be enough to cost Biden those states, but it is also going to significantly drive down the youth and progressive vote across the country.
There is way too much at stake for the Democrats to keep someone like Biden running, who is already very down in the polls and seems to be unwilling to make any significant policy changes on Israel to help change that tide. We are either going to have a Trump presidency, or the Democrats can put up a strong candidate and give us a chance to still preserve our democracy. A Biden win is off the table, and we need to face that harsh reality now. We do not realize how close we are to losing our republic.
Will McCorkle (mccorklewd@cofc.edu) is an assistant professor of educational foundations and social studies education at the College of Charleston. his research focuses on immigration and peace education.
