Aaron Kliegman | Gingrich 360 - Biden’s ‘Simple Decency’ Vs. Trump’s Strong Record

By Aaron Kliegman Forget Vladimir Putin: To the American political left, Benjamin Netanyahu is public enemy No. 2, trailing only a certain billionaire from Queens. Indeed, Democrats and progressives view Israel’s right-wing prime minister as a corrupt and racist authoritarian who is destroying liberal democracy. This antipathy led many left-wing Americans, even Democratic presidential candidates, to campaign against Netanyahu before Israel’s parliamentary elections last April. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), for example, said he hoped Netanyahu would lose. Beto O’Rourke, meanwhile, called Netanyahu a “racist” (as has Sanders), adding that Israel’s longest ever serving prime minister doesn’t represent “the true will of the Israeli people.” Apparently, progressives in America know what Israelis want better than Israelis do. Following the elections, however, Netanyahu was poised to secure another term as prime minister, baffling and dismaying Democrats and allied journalists in America. “I don't think it's a very good sign,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said of the results. “Some of us don't understand why would keep reelecting Netanyahu,” wondered Joe Scarborough. “I certainly don’t.” The MSNBC host then asked what Israelis see in Netanyahu that the rest of the world doesn’t. Many people may dislike Netanyahu, viewing him as a wannabe king, a manipulative politician, or a man of questionable character. But the hard truth is that he has objectively been a good prime minister. What American left-wing elites in both politics and the media failed to see — or to accept — is that Israelis support Netanyahu because they believe he has made their lives better and improved their country's situation. It’s quite simple: Israel has become richer and Israelis have become safer during his time in power. No one can refute Netanyahu’s strong record. And that’s why he wins. The same will be true for President Trump in November. Indeed, one can say all of the above — from receiving the ire of left-wing elites to surviving nonstop character assassinations — about the 45th president. But none of that can refute an irrefutably impressive record while in the White House that has benefited Americans in tangible ways. Most notably, President Trump oversaw a booming economy, characterized by low unemployment — 3.5 percent before the coronavirus hit — and consistent growth. By cutting taxes, eliminating onerous regulations, and creating better incentives, the president helped put more money in workers’ pockets and remove barriers to prosperity. While voters may disapprove of his handling of the pandemic, they don’t blame him for the economic downturn caused by the virus, understanding that China is responsible. And amid a dire economic crisis, President Trump and Republicans created the Paycheck Protection Program, which kept the economy afloat and saved numerous small businesses. The other key pillar of President Trump’s record is spurring a shift in Washington against Beijing with his words and actions. This will be especially helpful at a time when Americans view China more negatively than ever before. Other highlights of President Trump’s record include destroying the Islamic State’s caliphate; ordering the killing of Iran’s most dangerous general; restoring American military power by increasing the Pentagon’s budget; filling the federal courts with young, conservative judges; pushing legislation to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs and the criminal justice system; supporting the Great American Outdoors Act, which will preserve America’s natural beauty; replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement; and much more. The president can show the American people several specific, concrete accomplishments that he made happen to create wealth at home and deter conflict abroad. Perhaps this is why, when it comes to policy, Democrats have been noticeably vague, if not altogether silent. Watching the Democratic National Convention and its aftermath, few people have brought up much about policies beyond general left-wing platitudes. True, Democrats released a policy platform while Republicans didn’t. But President Trump did unveil a bulleted list of his agenda for a second term, and the agenda is one that illustrates a clear vision of innovation, economic growth, and American strength abroad. The Democratic platform, meanwhile, emphasizes social justice, climate change as the coming apocalypse, and how terrible President Trump is. Instead of attacking President Trump’s record in specific ways, though, Joe Biden, fellow Democrats, and their allies in the media are focusing on his character. “Character is on the ballot. Compassion is on the ballot. Decency, science, democracy,” Biden declared while accepting the Democratic presidential nomination. Journalists got the message. “Joe’s fearsome weapon against Trump: simple decency,” read one headline. “Biden speaks from a place Trump doesn’t know — the heart,” echoed another. “America is looking for decency and competence,” wrote a third columnist, arguing that Biden is therefore the better candidate. A seemingly endless wave of columns came out following the convention with the same metaphor: Trump is darkness, and Biden is the light. Democrats and the media are clearly trying to make this election a referendum on President Trump’s character, not his record — or, most critically, how Biden would do better for the American worker. They’re not crazy for trying this. After all, President Trump is no doubt a divisive leader with obvious character flaws. But he has also been a successful president. And now the president and Republicans have a real opportunity to show voters not only how their agenda will help Americans in real ways, but also how Biden’s agenda will do the opposite — on everything from energy to education. This presidential race seems to be, at least in part, a contest between Biden’s “simple decency” and President Trump’s strong record. If that becomes the core choice for voters, then there will be some very unhappy journalists on television on Nov. 3. And as was the case with Netanyahu, they won’t get why he won — nor will they learn from the experience. Order Newt's Latest Book: https://www.gingrich360.com/trump-and-the-american-future

INNER CIRCLE MEMBER CONTENT