In the modern Democratic Party, identity politics is the hot ticket. Watching the 2020 Democratic presidential contenders constantly walk on eggshells so as not to offend one single person, except of course Republicans, is tedious and sickening.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, who’s polling a whopping 0 percent according to TheBlaze’s Aaron Colen, proclaimed that only a certain kind of “white guy” should be president. Since he’s in the presidential race, the John Edwards look-a-like obviously believes he is this type of “guy.”
Since apparently white men are the equivalent of the boogeyman in liberal ranks, white male Democratic presidential candidates “seem to feel obligated to speak in an almost apologetic way for their race and gender” according to Colen.
Swalwell isn’t an exception. The Representative, whose campaign is focused largely on stricter gun control, was recently asked on an airing of “Vice News Tonight,” “Why should another white guy be president?”
Responding to the inquiry, Swalwell stated, “Well, a white guy who doesn’t see other identities, or understand other experiences should not be president. I do. And where there would be gaps in my knowledge or my experience, I will pass the mic to people who do have that experience. I’ve also pledged that I would ask a woman to serve as vice president.”
Addressing Swalwell’s remarks, Colen commented, “As a minority, I would be happy to see another minority ascend to the presidency. But, race and gender are not qualifications for office, and should not be the first thing considered when a voter selects a president or when a presidential candidate selects a running mate.”
He went on to say, “Swalwell, in his eagerness to atone for his white maleness, elevates race and gender to the top of the list when deciding who he would hypothetically select as advisers or as a running mate.”
Referring to Swalwell’s promise to “pass the mic” when he is clueless about issues regarding race, Colin said, “Instead of attempting to become knowledgeable and empathetic enough to speak competently on issues that impact minorities, Swalwell would simply hand the microphone to a token on his staff to handle the issue.”
In an opinion piece for the Washington Examiner, Eddie Scarry stated, “But he’s unaware that to ‘pass the mic’ isn’t about taking turns. It’s about giving up his turn altogether. The very question he was responding to in the Vice interview was, ‘Why should another white guy be president?’ In other words, Don’t you think it’s time you step aside for someone else, Mr. Swalwell?”
Scarry aptly added, “Running for president and choosing to ‘pass the mic’ is like serving as the best man and asking someone else to give the toast. It’s not honorable. It’s just weird.”
Besides making the comments during the “Vice News Tonight” interview, Swalwell also tweeted over the Memorial Day weekend, “Being a good president doesn’t mean you speak the loudest or tweet the most. Being a good president means knowing when to listen.”
According to Scarry, the tweet consisted of a picture of the Representative sitting with five black people in Chicago. Scary sarcastically quipped, “I’m sure the Chicagoans were grateful that Swalwell, who repeatedly acknowledges that he’s white, was there to help by listening. Having a white male show up and explain how his presence is what makes for a good president is no doubt exactly what they needed.”
In addition to Scarry, Alicia Garza, a prominent black activist, seemingly wasn’t impressed with Swalwell’s attempts at liberal political correctness. In a New York Times opinion piece, Garza remarked, “During election season, I always cringe when I see candidates eating fried chicken next to a bottle of hot sauce in Harlem or taking staged photos with black leaders. These shallow symbolic gestures are not a substitute for meaningful engagement with black voters. And candidates should know that we see right through them.”
As long as Swalwell and his fellow 2020 Democratic presidential candidates concentrate solely on identity politics, they will likely come across as inauthentic and out-of-synch with average Americans. This is precisely one of the main reasons President Donald J. Trump resides in the White House today. If Democrats keep it up, the odds are good he’ll still be there after the 2020 presidential contest.
