Biden started out describing the horrific attack on Paul Pelosi in detail but elided the fact that his attacker is seriously mentally ill. Instead, with no basis whatsoever, he connected the attack to January 6 and then launched into the typical argument that “democracy is on the ballot.”
I think election denial is corrosive, and threats against election workers are wrong and should be prosecuted as warranted. But Biden’s broader case is meritless and self-serving.
He, naturally, didn’t denounce any Democratic election denial or endorse any Republicans who aren’t election deniers as great friends of democracy. The motivation here is strictly partisan, and more obviously so the more Biden denies it. It’s also completely ridiculous to hear a president who has flagrantly abused his powers talking about the need to defend the rule of law and warning against the hunger for power.
Politically, this may be a bid to win back suburban women who have been moving away from Democrats, but the issues of inflation and crime are likely what’s motivating those voters.
Stylistically, the speech was meandering, clichéd, and repetitive, and Biden’s delivery was notably lifeless.
All around a poor performance, but what did you expect?