Joe Biden’s ‘Dark’ MAGA Speech Deemed a ‘Terrible Mistake’ over Bad Optics

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 01: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a primetime speech at Independence National Historical Park September 1, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. President Biden spoke on “the continued battle for the Soul of the Nation.” (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Alex Wong/Getty
Paul Bois

President Joe Biden’s speech Thursday night in which he characterized MAGA Republicans as a dark threat to American democracy has not exactly generated a positive response, with even some of former President Donald Trump’s harshest critics admitting he made a mistake.

Throughout the address, Biden routinely portrayed MAGA Republicans as violent right-wingers who disrespect the constitution and seek to strip Americans of their most basic rights.

“MAGA Republicans do not respect the constitution,” he said. “They do not believe in the rule of law, they do not believe in the rule of law, they do not recognize the will of the people.”

“MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards,” he added. “Backwards to an America where there is no right to choose. No right to privacy. No right to contraception. No right to marry who you love. They promote authoritarian leaders and they fan the flames of political violence.”

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a primetime speech at Independence National Historical Park September 1, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

As the speech concluded, images of the president standing before a red and black backdrop with military soldiers flanking his sides poured out all over social media, evoking comparisons with the Third Reich, the USSR, and even the gates of hell.

Even prominent Never Trumper Jonah Goldberg admitted the speech was a “terrible mistake.”

“I think Trump and Trumpism are cancers on the body politic. I also think this speech is a terrible mistake,” tweeted Goldberg.

Members of the corporate media, from CNN to CBS and the Washington Post, also expressed reservations about the president’s decision to have soldiers behind him during a nakedly partisan speech.

“Whatever you think of this speech the military is supposed to be apolitical. Positioning Marines in uniform behind President Biden for a political speech flies in the face of that. It’s wrong when Democrats do it. It’s wrong when Republicans do it,” tweeted CNN’s Brianna Keilar.

CBS News Senior White House & Political Correspondent Ed O’Keefe agreed the president’s use of the military was a bridge too far in a political speech.

“Like or loathe what he said tonight, it should be noted: The president spoke tonight on the grounds of a national park, flanked by US Marines, and took direct, specific aim at his predecessor and members of the Republican Party. Another thing we don’t see everyday,” tweeted O’Keefe.

The optics apparently became so unbearable that CNN even resorted to adjusting the contrast during its live broadcast to lighten the red lights behind the president.

Sensing a serious backlash, the White House immediately jumped into full damage control mode and denounced critics who dismissed the speech as political.

“Democracy is not a partisan or political issue,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Chris Meagher wrote in response to Brianna Keilar.

“Except it’s not political,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates also said.

No matter the spin or rhetorical framing, the damage had been done and the verdict was sealed as the “photo from hell” spread across the social media sphere.

 

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