While one naturally might assume Democrats support President Joe Biden’s infamous anti-MAGA rhetoric that he spewed out in front of the nation earlier this month in Philadelphia, a recent poll indicates that’s not the case at all.
In fact, September’s Issues & Insights/TIPP Poll shows that way more Democrats than Republicans view Biden’s words as increasing America’s divisions and endangering free speech. Even the poll summary characterized it as a bit of a surprise result.
What did the poll find?
First off, the online poll of 1,277 adults taken Sept. 7-9 shows nearly two-thirds of Americans — 62% — believed Biden’s speech about former President Trump and his MAGA supporters “increases division in the country.” Only 29% disagreed, the poll found, adding that the survey’s margin of error is +/- 2.8 percentage points.
The big shocker? Far more Democrats — 73% — than Republicans — 50% — said Biden’s words increased America’s divide. In addition, the poll said a greater number of blacks and Hispanics — 70% — than whites — 58% — saw Biden’s anti-MAGA rhetoric as divisive.
The poll also inquired whether respondents believed Biden’s comments “endanger Americans’ First Amendment rights to free speech and free assembly,” and the majority of respondents agreed — 55% to 34%.
But again, way more Democrats — 65% — than Republicans — 45% — were on board with that concern, the poll found.
The poll also asked respondents whether they saw Biden’s remarks as an “uncouth and politically biased use of the office of the president,” and the majority agreed — 58% to 30%. But yet again, way more Democrats — 68% — than Republicans — 49% — saw that as the case.
What did Biden say about MAGA Republicans?
During his Sept. 1 speech in front of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall — bathed in red light and with a pair of Marines flanking him — Biden said, “MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people.”
He added that “MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards — 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.”
Biden also said MAGA Republicans “embrace anger,” “thrive on chaos,” and “live not in the light of truth but in the shadow of lies.”
“We’re all called, by duty and conscience, to confront extremists who will put their own pursuit of power above all else,” he added during his address.
The I&I/TIPP Poll summary recalled that, in stark contrast, Biden said after his election that “I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify; who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States.”
He also was quoted as saying that “it’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again. And to make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as enemies,” the poll summary noted.
Anything else?
Somewhat reflective of this month’s I&I/TIPP Poll were reactions from CNN anchor Brianna Keilar and the cable network’s national affairs correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, both of whom criticized Biden for the militaristic backdrop of his anti-MAGA speech in Phildelphia.
(H/T: The Daily Wire)