Diary of disturbing disinformation and dangerous delusions
With elections just three weeks off, Democrats have suddenly been singing a different tune on a wide range of issues, especially — given that soaring crime is a top issue — criminal-justice reforms and defunding the police. Here are 10 examples of almost comical flip-flops by leading Democrats.
President Joe Biden
Question: “But do we agree that we can redirect some of the [police] funding?”
Answer: “Yes, absolutely.”
— President Biden, July 2020
“The answer is not to ‘defund the police,’ it’s to fund the police.”
— Biden, August 2022
Letitia James, NY state attorney general
“I’ll work to eliminate cash bail.”
— NY state Attorney General Letitia James, 2018
“We need to address a wide range of issues, including . . . looking at [fixing cashless] bail.”
— James, Tuesday
Beto O’Rourke, Texas gubernatorial candidate
“I really love that Black Lives Matters and other protesters have put this front and center . . . in some necessary cases, completely dismantling those police forces and rebuilding them.”
— Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, 2020
“I don’t think I’ve ever advocated for defunding the police.”
— O’Rourke, 2021, after launching his campaign for governor
Rep. Jerrold Nadler
“We’re spending too much on the police.”
— Rep. Jerrold Nadler, 2020
“Yes.”
— Nadler, August, 2022, when asked if he backed more federal funding for police
John Fetterman, US Senate candidate, Pa.
“We could reduce our prison population by ⅓ and not make anyone less safe.”
— John Fetterman, US Senate candidate, Pa., 2020 (a sentiment he’s repeated numerous times)
“This idea that I want to release all these prisoners is just also a lie.”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
“People think that the president . . . has the power for [student] debt forgiveness. He does not . . . That has to be an act of Congress.”
— Speaker Nancy Pelosi, July 2021
“Clearly, it seems he has the authority.”
— Pelosi, August 2022
Mandela Barnes, US Senate candidate, Wis.
“We need to invest more in neighborhood services . . . Where will that money come from? . . . From overbloated budgets and police departments.”
— Mandela Barnes, US Senate candidate, Wis., 2020
“They’re claiming I want to defund the police . . . That’s a lie.”
— Barnes, recent ad
Stacey Abrams, candidate for governor, Ga.
“Despite the final tally . . . we won.”
— Stacey Abrams, April 2019, on Georgia’s 2018 governor’s race
“I have never been unclear . . . I did not win the race.”
— Abrams, this month
Vice President Kamala Harris
“He’s entitled to his opinion [backing pot legalization].”
— Vice President Kamala Harris, laughing and taking issue with her then-GOP foe, 2014. As San Francisco’s district attorney, Harris oversaw 1,956 marijuana convictions.
“Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed.”
— Harris, this month
President Biden
“The data shows that most of the price increases we’ve seen are — were expected and expected to be temporary.”
— President Biden, July 2021
“Prices are still too high.”
— Biden, this month
— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board
