The Trump/Pence "law and order" campaign argument is based on a claim that Democrats support rioters or are at least unwilling to do much about them.
But there's actually a big split among folks on the left about whether to cut police budgets and how to respond to violence.
But there's actually a big split among folks on the left about whether to cut police budgets and how to respond to violence.
There are some elected officials, like people on city councils in Minneapolis and Seattle, who want to cut police funding.
But other Democratic officials--including Biden and Congressional leadership--who have repeatedly said they oppose those efforts.
But other Democratic officials--including Biden and Congressional leadership--who have repeatedly said they oppose those efforts.
There are also divisions within local governments on these issues. For example, earlier this week the Seattle mayor vetoed the city council's budget, which had included significant cuts to the Seattle PDs budget.
I haven't done a systematic survey to determine which Democratic officials support defunding the police and which do not. But my not-completely-uninformed impression is that the folks arguing to defund the police are a minority within the Democratic party.
So what does that mean for the Trump campaign argument that only his reelection stands between America and utter lawlessness?
As many others have pointed out, it's an odd argument to make because these protests and this violence is happening *while* Trump is president.
As many others have pointed out, it's an odd argument to make because these protests and this violence is happening *while* Trump is president.
Nonetheless, it is an argument that is gaining traction with at least some people.
Maybe the argument is working because Trump keeps saying that Biden wants to defund the police (Biden doesn't, that's false).
Maybe it's working because some folks want an excuse to vote for Trump.
Maybe the argument is working because Trump keeps saying that Biden wants to defund the police (Biden doesn't, that's false).
Maybe it's working because some folks want an excuse to vote for Trump.
But maybe it's working because it is too easy to frame political issues in terms of Left and Right--especially in an election year.
But those people who pay attention to criminal justice issues know that the left/right framing is very misleading when it comes to crime & justice.
But those people who pay attention to criminal justice issues know that the left/right framing is very misleading when it comes to crime & justice.
I've actually seen some pretty good media reporting on this divide within the Left about defunding the police and criminal justice issues more generally.
But a lot of that reporting occurs below the fold & isn't reflected in the headlines that shape many Twitter discussions.
But a lot of that reporting occurs below the fold & isn't reflected in the headlines that shape many Twitter discussions.
Perhaps more importantly, the nuanced reporting about the divide within the Decmocratic party most definitely has not made its way into the conservative media. Tucker Carlson and others are eager to slam Biden and the entire Dem party for violence in the streets.
In any event, I thought it would be worth flagging the issue here. Because I know that I haven't thought enough about how the split within the Democratic party affects the national conversation about crime. And I wanted to thank @KevinARing for highlighting it for me yesterday.
Finally, let me add that crappy comments like this don't help. How to deal with violence shouldn't be a political gotcha issue. And a person pointing to a fact shouldn't be seen as scoring points--that's how you get "alternative facts"
