The Ben Shapiro Show LIVE: Biden Addresses the Nation; Ben Reacts
Added: Jul 25, 2024
Ben Shapiro discusses President Joe Biden's speech announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. Shapiro criticizes Biden's performance, noting his stumbling over words and apparent difficulty staying awake during the 11-minute teleprompter speech. He argues that Biden's declining mental health is the obvious reason for his withdrawal, though Biden did not explicitly state this. Shapiro points out that Biden, his administration, and the media have been dishonest about his health for years.
Biden framed his withdrawal as necessary to preserve democracy, claiming the election was too important for him to be in it. Shapiro finds this reasoning nonsensical, arguing that if Biden wanted a referendum on his presidency, he could have simply stayed in the race. Biden praised his own record and leadership but said nothing could come in the way of saving democracy, including personal ambition. He claimed it was time for new, younger voices.
Shapiro questions why Biden isn't resigning the presidency immediately if he's unfit to run for reelection. He argues Biden's continued presidency for the next six months poses problems for Democrats and Kamala Harris. He criticizes Biden's vague statements about defending democracy without explaining how his withdrawal accomplishes this. He sees Biden's rhetoric about democracy being at stake as dangerous, potentially inciting violence against political opponents.
Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party
Shapiro discusses how the Democratic Party and media have quickly pivoted to enthusiastically supporting Kamala Harris as the new presumptive nominee. He notes the stark contrast between recent critical coverage of Harris and the current glowing praise. He argues Harris is a deeply radical candidate whose policies align closely with Biden's, including support for higher taxes and increased government intervention in the economy.
He highlights Harris's decision to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress, seeing it as indicative of the Democratic Party's shift away from supporting Israel. Shapiro connects this to broader changes in the party's base and ideology under Barack Obama's influence. He argues the Democratic Party is now held hostage by its pro-Palestinian faction.
Netanyahu's Speech and Democratic Boycott
Shapiro discusses Netanyahu's speech to Congress, which about half of congressional Democrats boycotted. He sees this as unprecedented and reflective of a major shift in the Democratic Party's stance toward Israel. He reviews key points from Netanyahu's speech, including his thanks to both Biden and Trump, his defense of Israeli soldiers, and his criticism of pro-Palestinian protesters. He argues there was nothing controversial in the speech to justify the Democratic boycott.
Shapiro connects the Democratic boycott to pro-Palestinian protests outside, where demonstrators burned American flags and vandalized monuments. He sees these actions as indicative of the radical elements now influencing the Democratic Party, arguing they will likely support Kamala Harris. He criticizes the lack of law enforcement response to these demonstrations.
Media Coverage and Democratic Strategy
Shapiro observes how quickly the media has shifted from critical coverage of Biden and Harris to enthusiastic support for Harris. He sees this as part of a broader pattern of media bias in favor of Democrats. He argues the Democrats and media are attempting to rewrite history, particularly regarding foreign policy successes and failures in the Middle East. He contends they must find ways to discredit Trump's Middle East policy while defending the Obama-Biden approach, which he views as a failure.
Conclusion
Shapiro concludes that the Democratic Party has taken the wrong side in the Middle East conflict. He argues their foreign policy under Obama and Biden has been a failure, particularly regarding Iran. He predicts Harris will continue this failed approach. He sees the Democratic response to Netanyahu's speech and the accompanying protests as reflective of a party that has lost its way on foreign policy and embraced radical elements hostile to both Israel and traditional American values.
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