{"id":2322531,"date":"2024-08-10T19:57:54","date_gmt":"2024-08-10T23:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ehrlich-about-that-protecting-democracy-thing\/"},"modified":"2024-08-10T20:03:45","modified_gmt":"2024-08-11T00:03:45","slug":"ehrlich-about-that-protecting-democracy-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ehrlich-about-that-protecting-democracy-thing\/","title":{"rendered":"Ehrlich: About That &#8216;Protecting Democracy&#8217; Thing"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fehrlich-about-that-protecting-democracy-thing%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2322531&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The \u200ccommentary discusses the Democratic Party&#8217;s\u2062 shift in strategy and \u200dperception since the 2020 presidential election, focusing on President Biden&#8217;s administration. Initially elected as\u2064 a moderate alternative to\u2063 Trump, \u200bBiden was viewed as a candidate who \u200bwould restore normalcy in Washington. However, the author argues that his presidency has deviated from \u200bits promises, aligning more\u2063 with progressive ideologies, \u2062leading to significant policy changes on issues like law and order and border security, which many Americans now find troubling.<\/p>\n<p>The article highlights a \u2062growing discontent \u200bamong the electorate, noting that \u200ca majority no longer perceive \u200cthe Biden-Harris \u200dadministration\u2062 as a \u2062return to normalcy. It also critiques\u2064 the Democrats&#8217; interpretation of &#8220;protecting democracy,&#8221; \u200bsuggesting that many Americans feel \u2062alienated by the party&#8217;s treatment of the opposition. The author\u200d contends that the Democratic leadership&#8217;s approach, which seems to marginalize traditional values and the rule of law, undermines their credibility on democracy and governance.<\/p>\n<p>The piece\u2063 is\u2063 penned by Bob Ehrlich, a \u200bformer Maryland governor and an established voice in\u200b American\u200c political commentary, emphasizing that his views do not reflect those of the publication.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycallernewsfoundation.org\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A little more than four years ago, a Democratic Party desperate for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/there-were-jokes-russia-celebrates-friendly-biden-call-with-putin\/\" title=\"&#039;There Were Jokes&#039;: Russia Celebrates Friendly Biden Call with Putin\">viable presidential candidate<\/a> not named &ldquo;Bernie&rdquo; or &ldquo;Elizabeth&rdquo; turned to good ol&rsquo; &ldquo;Amtrak Joe&rdquo; to deliver the goods.<\/p>\n<p>The mission: To &ldquo;save&rdquo; the country from President Donald Trump and his allegedly dangerous band (approximately 73 million of them) of &ldquo;MAGA&rdquo; supporting Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>Party elders (correctly) viewed the thrice-vetted candidate for the presidency and quintessential safe-seat Eastern liberal as the one Democrat who would not scare the wits out of Middle America. <a href=\"https:\/\/bioguide.congress.gov\/search\/bio\/B000444\">Biden&rsquo;s<\/a>&nbsp;gentlemanly style and grandfatherly manner would contrast perfectly with the bombastic&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-67914569\">Queens developer<\/a> with a penchant for the mean tweet.<\/p>\n<p>The effective and oft-repeated moniker was &ldquo;a return to normalcy&rdquo; in Washington, D.C., where regular, familiar order would be restored after four years of Trump-induced chaos.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Both party establishments and their mouthpieces in the legacy press rested easy after Biden pulled off a successful COVID-induced mail-in, &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/nation-world\/joe-biden-spent-much-of-the-general-election-in-his-basement-now-he-and-his-aides-ponder-a-very-public-inauguration\/\">basement strategy<\/a>&rdquo; and was declared the winner in a nail biter.<\/p>\n<p>Four years later, the Biden-Harris administration followed a similar narrative while adding a not-too-subtle subtitle: &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo\/?fbid=513439004593932&amp;set=ecnf.100077835098866\">Protect our democracy<\/a>&rdquo; &mdash; a reference to the alleged &ldquo;dictator&rdquo; Trump, the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and the alleged racist-nativist inclinations of the MAGA movement.<\/p>\n<p>But the suppositions of 2020 are quite different from those of 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The first, of course, concerns the false advertising that accompanied Biden-Harris circa 2020. Indeed, it was shortly after the election that the reliable old liberal, transformed by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2022\/02\/18\/democrats-squad-activists-midterms\">Squad<\/a> into a squish, enthusiastically and unapologetically traded his non-threatening credentials for the ways and means of a woke progressivism that had recently captured the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n<p>Here, long-established positions on law and order &mdash; border security, free speech, parental rights and energy independence &mdash; were jettisoned with alacrity.<\/p>\n<p>These policy changes were accompanied by a physical and mental decline that was clear to anyone who cared to see &mdash; a condition that only further deteriorated over the succeeding four years.<\/p>\n<p>Accordingly, few should be surprised at polls that reflect that a majority of Americans do not associate the Biden-Harris administration with a &ldquo;return to normalcy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But the false-advertising indictment is not the sole reason for the Democrats&rsquo; present disorder.<\/p>\n<p>The other, more profound element here is the Left&rsquo;s inaccurate interpretation of &ldquo;protecting our democracy&rdquo; &mdash; a favorite soundbite of now-candidate Harris.<\/p>\n<p>At least half the country does not buy the unrelenting persecution and Stalinesque treatment of the opposition party&rsquo;s candidate for president as consistent with the rule of law.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, those same flyover types reject the left&rsquo;s attacks on traditional American values (the rule of law, voting integrity, an independent judiciary, free speech). Of these, the attempt to label mandatory photo identification at the polls as &ldquo;racist&rdquo; during a time when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fairus.org\/issue\/how-many-illegal-aliens-are-united-states-2023-update\">millions of illegal migrants<\/a>&nbsp;have crossed over into the country is especially rich.<\/p>\n<p>The bottom line: MAGA and other Trump voters fail to see how the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/project-veritas-strips-cnn-naked\/\" title=\"Project Veritas Strips CNN Naked\">legacy media<\/a> (now AWOL on insisting Harris answer media questions since her coronation) and the Democratic leadership&rsquo;s constant belittling of them &mdash; their politics and values &mdash; helps strengthen our country and culture.<\/p>\n<p>When all is said and done, an establishment that has sought to castigate &mdash; bankrupt, cancel, impeach, arrest, convict and muzzle &mdash; the opposition&rsquo;s candidate, while choosing their nominees for president and vice president without a single primary vote, will not receive the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the notion of protecting &ldquo;democracy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>Bob Ehrlich is a former governor of Maryland, member of Congress and state legislator. He is the author of five books on American politics and opinion pieces that have appeared in America&rsquo;s leading newspapers and periodicals. He and his wife, Kendel, can be seen and heard on their weekly podcast, &ldquo;Bottom Line with Bob &amp; Kendel Ehrlich.&rdquo;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p><em>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/union-membership-plummets-to-record-low\/\" title=\"Union Membership Plummets to Record Low\">legitimate news publisher<\/a> that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter&rsquo;s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><i><b>The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either d or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/submitop-ed\/\">here<\/a>.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Just over four years ago, the Democratic Party, in search of a credible presidential candidate who wasn&#8217;t \u201cBernie\u201d or \u201cElizabeth,\u201d turned to \u201cAmtrak Joe\u201d to step up. The goal was to \u201crescue\u201d the nation from President Donald Trump and his purportedly perilous group of roughly 73 million \u201cMAGA\u201d-supporting Republicans. Party leaders believed that Biden, a well-vetted candidate with a reputation as a safe Eastern liberal, would be the one Democrat capable of appealing to Middle America without causing alarm. His gentlemanly demeanor and grandfatherly approach were seen as a stark contrast to Trump&#8217;s brash style and penchant for provocative tweets. The campaign&#8217;s central theme was framed as a &#8220;return to normalcy&#8221; in Washington, D.C., aiming to restore order after four tumultuous years under Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Both party insiders and their allies in traditional media felt reassured when Biden successfully executed a COVID-driven mail-in voting strategy from his basement and emerged victorious in a close election. Fast forward four years, the Biden-Harris administration has adopted a similar narrative but added an explicit focus on &#8220;protecting our democracy,&#8221; referencing Trump\u2019s alleged dictatorial tendencies, the events of January 6th, 2021, and supposed racist-nativist elements within the MAGA movement.<\/p>\n<p>However, perceptions have shifted significantly since 2020. One major issue is that many feel misled by how Biden-Harris presented themselves back then; shortly after taking office, Biden transformed from being viewed as an old-school liberal into someone who embraced progressive ideals pushed by more radical factions within his party. This shift led him to abandon long-standing positions on issues like law enforcement policies\u2014border security, free speech rights for parents\u2014and energy independence with surprising speed.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, there has been noticeable physical and mental decline over these past four years that many observers have noted. Consequently, it\u2019s not surprising that polls indicate most Americans do not associate the current administration with restoring normalcy.<\/p>\n<p>Yet this perception problem isn&#8217;t solely due to misleading advertising; it also stems from how Democrats interpret &#8220;protecting our democracy.&#8221; Many citizens reject what they see as unjust treatment towards opposition candidates underpinned by claims about rule of law violations while simultaneously dismissing attacks on core American values such as voting integrity and free speech\u2014especially when initiatives like mandatory photo ID at polling places are labeled &#8220;racist&#8221; amid rising illegal immigration.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, supporters of Trump view ongoing efforts by legacy media (which seems absent now regarding Harris&#8217;s accountability) alongside Democratic leadership&#8217;s consistent derision toward their beliefs as detrimental rather than beneficial for national unity or culture. An establishment focused on discrediting its opponents through various means\u2014including impeachment or legal action\u2014while selecting nominees without primary votes will struggle to gain trust regarding their commitment to protecting democracy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2322532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-2165129711-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5521,14083,32171,37799,36479],"class_list":["post-2322531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democracy","tag-ehrlich","tag-political-commentary","tag-protecting-democracy","tag-social-issues"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-2165129711-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2322531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2322531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2322531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2322532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2322531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2322531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2322531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}