Biden decries Trump backers 'dagger at throat' of democracy

WSLS ^ | 02/06/2022 | Darlene Superville, Kevin Freking, Jill Colvin Alexandra Jaffe and Farnoush Amiri

[sevinufnine]

President Joe Biden accused Donald Trump and his supporters of holding a “dagger at the throat of democracy” in a forceful speech Thursday marking the anniversary of the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol. He warned that though it didn’t succeed, the insurrection remains a serious threat to America’s system of government. Biden’s criticism was blistering of the defeated president whom he blamed for the assault that has fundamentally changed Congress and the nation, and raised global concerns about the future of American democracy. “For the first time in our history, a president not just lost an election, he tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power as a violent mob breached the Capitol,” Biden said. “You can’t love your country only when you win."

“We must be absolutely clear about what is true and what is a lie,” Biden said. "The former president of the United States of America has spread a web of lies about the 2020 election. We are in a battle for the soul of America. I did not seek this fight, brought to this Capitol one year from today. But I will not shrink from it either. I will stand in this breach, I will defend this nation. I will allow no one to place a dagger at the throat of this democracy.”

Republican leaders and lawmakers largely stayed away from the day's events, dismissing them as overly politicized — some continuing to spread false claims about the election.

[sevinufnine]

“The former president’s supporters are trying to rewrite history. They want you to see Election Day as the day of insurrection and the riot that took place here on January 6 as a true expression of the will of the people. Can you think of a more twisted way to look at this country, to look at America? I cannot.”

Biden's remarks launched the start of daylong remembrance, drawing a contrast between the truth of what happened and the false narratives that persist about the Capitol assault, including the continued refusal by many Republicans to affirm that Biden won the 2020 election.

[eeriegeno]

Joe who?

[sevinufnine]

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed that 3 in 10 Republicans say the attack was not violent, and about another 3 in 10 say it was somewhat violent. Around two-thirds of Americans described the day as very or extremely violent, including about 9 in 10 Democrats.

As Biden is prepared to direct blame toward the former president, the percentage of Americans who blame Trump for the Jan. 6 riot has grown slightly over the past year, with 57% saying he bears significant responsibility for what took place.

[Williams]

“whom he blamed for the assault that has fundamentally changed Congress and the nation, and raised global concerns about the future of American democracy.”

Excuse me? I must have missed all that.

[Steve_Seattle]

Last night my girlfriend mentioned something about January 6th that I hadn't thought of. We all saw the clips of the dark-clad men scaling the wall, but she pointed out that there were steps nearby and there were already other people standing on the second-story veranda. Scaling the wall in that manner was unnecessary.

She thinks the scaling of the wall was for show, for dramatic effect, to reinforce the idea of an "assault." I wonder if those men have been arrested.

[kiryandil]

The Puppetdent is blasting feces from both orifices today...

[sevinufnine]

Slow Joe, Sleepy Joe, Creepy Joe, that one ;>)

[sevinufnine]

“I wonder if those men have been arrested.”

I wonder if they were Democrats!

[1Old Pro]

I’d like to ask him some questions about his comments, but he runs away from questions like a feeble old demented coward.

[Steve_Seattle]

I wonder if they were feds.

[Sarcazmo]

Their projection is getting pretty scary, and quite obvious.

[CrappieLuck]

Man, they are wearing out “Threat to our Democracy” almost as bad as, “Racist”.

I’m so sick of that phrase.
It must have polled well in a focus group a couple of years ago.

[KC_Lion]

[M Kehoe]

Hi.

I’m mortified.

Within a year, I went from a deplorable to a terrorist while sitting im my chair, drinking a beer.

All i can say for myself is...

Let’s go Brandon.

5.56mm

[Steve_Seattle]

"Man, they are wearing out “Threat to our Democracy” almost as bad as, “Racist”."

I agree. It sounds like something they tested on focus-groups.

[Uncle Miltie]

Tagline.

Poopy Pant *resident.

[Joe Boucher]

F-you dementia Joe/

[Terry L Smith]

I proudly accept such a ‘nom de pax’ as joementia proclaims!
It is he and his dogs that are and have been the threat to our constitutional republic. It is and have been his dogs yapping violence and stripping of personal constitutional rights.

Joementia’s script writers have forgotten that it was Thomas Jefferson himself who proclaimed that our vote is an act of violence. So, YES, Election Day is the citizen’s response, followed by the cry, “Throw the bums out!”

[sevinufnine]

So much for Biden and Harris and company wanting to unite us....

[Uncle Miltie]

Several states instituted voting rules dictated by the executive branch, in full contravention of the constitution.