Democrats look to seize the high ground on freedom and patriotism [View all]

Democrats look to seize the high ground on freedom and patriotism
Rob Schofield


(Michigan Advance) The national presidential race has undergone a sudden and striking overhaul in recent weeks. President Joe Biden’s decision to turn the reins of the Democratic Party over to Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked a remarkable resurgence of energy and enthusiasm amongst voters who generally support the policies of the past four years but felt strongly that it was time for Biden to exit the stage.

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But another important factor in the newfound Democratic unity and enthusiasm that extends beyond the handoff (and that could play an important role in the 10 weeks that remain between now and Election Day) involves two matters of substance.

The issues are freedom and patriotism.

For many years, the American political right has done a skillful job of seizing these issues and making them their own. Much of this success was about labeling – see, for example, the ultra-conservative and misnamed House of Representatives “Freedom Caucus” – but some of it was real and substantive.

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And so it was, as Susan J. Demas of the Michigan Advance noted in a recent column, that Democrats in Chicago last week “embraced a muscular, liberal patriotism, from breaking into spontaneous ‘U-S-A!’ chants to filling the hall with a sea of American flags during key speeches.” .............(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/2024/09/04/democrats-look-to-seize-the-high-ground-on-freedom-and-patriotism/