Questions that Democrats need to answer

More and more Democrats are saying wackier things — and more dangerous things. More and more are supporting — even screaming or suing for — wackier policies.

It’s happening more and more frequently. Look at Virginia just this weekend.

I’ve written in the past about the political and cultural phenomenon of the suburbs in the 2000s as things were moving from solid Republican to soft Republican, eventually to Democrat. Along the way, there were “Republicans, but.”

Republican officials, candidates and party leaders felt the peer pressure, so they essentially created a third party — the “Republican, but” Party.

They were Republicans, but…they wouldn’t make all abortions illegal. They didn’t “hate poor people,” so they wouldn’t reduce the welfare state. They weren’t cutting Social Security or Medicare for seniors. They didn’t like Trump…they didn’t vote for Trump. 

And the legacy media both helped and encouraged this new classification — keeping the pressure on by asking local Republicans to commit, any time any Republican anywhere misspoke or said something that they viewed as extreme or outside the mainstream. 

Over the recent past, Democrats have voted for, fought for, or even rallied for things that are increasingly extreme and incredibly unpopular. And dangerous.

So, it’s only fair and very relevant, especially in this era when even local candidates feel emboldened to talk about national and even international issues, to ask Democrat office holders, candidates, and party leaders where they stand.

Are they “Democrats, but?” Please tell us you aren’t like those crazy Democrats that I see on TV and read about on my phone…

I revised this column to add a new ripped from this weekend’s headlines. Every Democrat running this year must answer:

Do you agree that the Democrat nominee running for Attorney General of Virginia was 1000% wrong and morally repugnant for texting — at length — that he wanted to shoot and kill the former Republican Speaker of the House?  Texting: “Two bullets in the head.” 

And adding, kill his children — “only when people feel pain do they move on policy.”

As of now — seven Virginia county party organizations have issued statements that they are standing-by this dreadful, scary nominee. Seven and counting!

So, we ask: where do you stand: Wasn’t that repugnant? Shouldn’t he step aside? In fact, shouldn’t he resign from the office he holds now? Shouldn’t every Democrat in Virginia — in America say that — now?!

(Frankly, if you can’t answer that question properly — without adding “but…” — you should not run for any office, anywhere — nor should you receive even one vote.)

Do you agree that it was 1000% wrong and morally repugnant to assassinate Charlie Kirk — to silence him because the shooter didn’t like his views?  The same for the CEO of United Healthcare?

Do you agree that it’s wrong to riot, to burn buildings or cars, to throw bricks or bottles at police officers, the national guard or ICE agents? To vandalize buildings, artwork, or statues? That there’s no political justification for violence, rioting, and destruction? Right?

Do you agree that men should not be allowed to play girls’ sports? That it’s dangerous for girls, and disrespectful to their sports?

Do you agree that it’s wrong for judges to sentence biological male prisoners to women’s prisons?

Do you agree that biological males should not be allowed to use girls’ bathrooms and lockers at public schools?

Do you agree that antisemitism is wrong — in words and actions? That Jewish students must be safe to go to school and colleges; that Jews must be allowed to live and work without fear of being targeted?

Do you agree that illegal immigrants who commit crimes in America — or who are known to have been convicted of committing crimes in their own country — ought to be deported?

Do you agree that “Defund the Police” was wrong — and should never be put into law?

Do you agree that Larry Krasner has been a disaster in Philadelphia? Allowing criminals to run free without bail and allowing shoplifting to essentially be legalized?

Do you agree that the Covid mandates and lockdowns were an overreach? That too many liberties were taken away, that unreasonable mandates were put in place, that our children were locked out of school for too long? And that we should never be that extreme again?

Do you agree that public schools — teachers, counselors or administrators — should never keep secrets from parents? Never have secrets about student pregnancies, never have secret names for students, never allow them to dress in biologically opposite clothes, never allow them to pretend that they’re cats or dogs? 

You do agree that parents should never be kept in the dark, right?

Voters deserve to know where candidates stand. Whether they hold these whacky, dangerous, radical views. Whether they encourage or excuse violence against political opponents, or law enforcement.

Are Democratic candidates committed to using common sense and focusing on actual problems, or are they captive of leftwing ideology? To virtue-signaling and violence?

Are they trying to preserve, protect, and defend America — and encourage Americans to reach their best? Or are they trying to tear it down?

If they won’t tell us, well, we have our answer.  

Guy Ciarrocchi writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. A Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation, you may follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.