ON TARGET

 4/19/19   By Dave Gunn

Me Too – Retargeted

     It has been a mostly effective weapon when used against Republicans. One woman accuses a Republican seeking election or re-election or appointment of sexual impropriety, followed by a second, and a third, until it seems like a host of accusers comes forth, covering the victim in so much smoke that most people assume a fire is burning.

     It worked with Herman Cain, whose presidential campaign was making headway until he was accused by several woman of making unwanted advances. Whether he could have won the Republican nomination or not we will never know. As it would have been intolerable for the Democrat Party, which assumes it owns the black vote, to have to face a black Republican candidate, operatives brought forth the accusers and raised such a row that Cain withdrew. With their mission accomplished, the accusers faded away.

     The tactic also worked on Judge Roy Moore, whose sure Senate election was derailed by a small army of accusers. They created just enough doubt in the minds of voters to give the election to Doug Jones, who ran as a moderate but has had Chuck Schumer’s hand in his back since he arrived in Washington. Again, as soon as the election was over the accusers faded into the woodwork. The only one still in the limelight has been kept there against her will by a Roy Moore lawsuit.

     Moore is considering another run against Jones in 2020. Jones was expressed his delight at the prospect of beating Moore a second time. Jones should be careful what he wishes for. People now know that they were hoodwinked the first time. They are not likely to be as gullible again.

     The tactic was tried against Brett Kavanaugh, who won confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court because the Republican establishment stood with him, unlike their run for the high grass when Roy Moore was accused.

     Now the “Me Too” guns have been turned on Joe Biden, who is considering a run for the Democrat presidential nomination, and will make an announcement soon. As usual, it started with one accuser and then progressed to several, and then several more. Biden must be surprised that this tactic us being used against him. After all, he is a loyal Democrat. He is also pretty far left, although not as far left as the Democrat Socialists like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

     So why has the far left of his party, along with some of the “moderates,” turned against “Uncle” Joe? In the first place, he is said to be too old. If elected president, he would be 77 years old when he begins his first term. In a party that prides itself as a youth movement, he is like an extinct dinosaur. So much for being against age discrimination.

     Then too, Biden is said to be too white. The Democrat Party boasts of its coalition of minorities. Biden was born to a middle class family, and therefore was a beneficiary of “white privilege.” Not the kind of candidate that reflects the “diverse” image of the Democrat Party.

     Now Biden’s age and whiteness could be excused but for one thing. Biden is also a male. So he is an old, white man. That is a trifecta of disqualifiers.

     Still, the Democrat establishment tends to like Uncle Joe. They consider him to be the one most likely to win back white blue collar workers who voted for Donald Trump in 2016, and thereby defeat Trump and bring the presidency back to the Democrats. However, that is not good enough for the young minority socialists of the party.

     We should note that Biden has not been accused of any serious immorality. The complaints against him consist of creepy things like putting his hands on women’s shoulders, rubbing their backs and sniffing their hair.

     Biden could make a strong defense of himself except that in the “Me too” era, it is said that women must be believed. It does not seem possible that any women could ever make a false accusation. So Biden is a victim of his own party’s philosophy.

     Will this be enough to sideline Joe Biden? That remains to be seen. As of now, for the first time, Bernie Sanders has taken the lead from Biden in the polls. It also remains to be seen is whether or not Biden’s enemies are willing to up the ante if their current tactic does not work and Biden retakes the lead.

[Dave Gunn is the nom de plume of Dr. David E. Gonnella, pastor of the Magnolia Springs Baptist Church in Theodore, Alabama. The opinions expressed are his own, and do not necessarily reflect those of the church or its membership.]