For conservatives, independent types, and open-minded liberals, the jury’s “not guilty” verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial Friday was proof that the American justice system still works in high-profile cases, that juries can weigh evidence in a trial independent of what they may feel the violent reactions will be in their cities if they decide the “wrong” way.
For diehard liberals, though, including those who purport to support criminal justice reform in part based on the belief that defendants oftentimes don’t get a fair shake, the meltdowns were palpable, with many demonstrating they still don’t have the clue first as to the actual facts of the case by continuing to (wrongly) suggest that Rittenhouse is a white supremacist even though the people he shot in self-defense were white.
All of this brings me to the official responses from the White House. President Joe Biden was asked not long after he’d gotten his colonoscopy on Friday about the verdict. A reporter wondered if he still stood by his comments from last year where he equated Rittenhouse to a white supremacist and murderer. Instead of answering the specific question, Biden said, “Well, look. I stand by what the jury has concluded. The jury system works and we have to abide by it.”
Watch:
It was a pretty milquetoast response that should have stood on its own. But when a formal statement was issued later from Biden, a more “woke” approach was taken because apparently, he needed to let those disappointed with the verdict know he stood in solidarity with them (bolded emphasis added by me):
“While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken. I ran on a promise to bring Americans together, because I believe that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. I know that we’re not going to heal our country’s wounds overnight, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to do everything in my power to ensure that every American is treated equally, with fairness and dignity, under the law.
He then urged protesters to demonstrate “peacefully.”
Vice President Kamala Harris’s statement was also brief, and predictably “woke.”
“My impressions about the verdict – the verdict really speaks for itself,” Harris said to reporters prior to boarding a plane. “As many of you know, I’ve spent a majority of my career working to make the criminal justice system more equitable, and clearly, there’s a lot more work to do.” She then walked away without taking a moment to explain what it was exactly she meant by her answer.
Watch:
First things first. Why would Joe Biden be “angry and concerned” with the verdict? I mean he literally said in the video that he had not even watched the trial. How can you be “angry and concerned” over something of which you have no knowledge? Unfortunately, this is part of a pattern with this White House of popping off at the mouth to score cool points with the radical progressives in the Democratic party without having all the facts and in the process making an already volatile situation much worse by pouring fuel on the fire.
Had he actually watched the trial, however, he’d likely have found himself in agreement with those who found the “not guilty” verdict just.
Also, was this verdict supposed to bring about racial healing? A man was on trial for murder because he killed two people and injured another in self-defense. This trial was not a social experiment, nor should any trial be for that matter. Biden confused the heck out of a lot of people on that one.
As far as Harris suggesting the verdict, in this case, was proof “more work” needed to be done to “make the criminal justice system more equitable,” what the hell does that even mean? Again, the three people Rittenhouse shot were white. This wasn’t a case where a white cop shot three black men, nor was this a case where a white counter-protester shot three black rioters.
Not only that, but as former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard pointed out in that now-legendary debate moment with Harris in July 2019, her record on criminal justice reform towards communities of color during her time as a prosecutor in California, well – let’s just say it left a lot to be desired.
For those who missed that debate moment – or for those who would like to watch it again, click below:
In other words, those so-called “inequities” that Harris says exist in the criminal justice system are there in part because of people in positions of power like her.
But most tellingly, what was missing from either of Joe Biden’s statements about the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial was the apology for him repeatedly suggesting Rittenhouse was a white supremacist and murderer as the case was being built against him. He did it here:
And here:
It was highly irresponsible of Biden to say what he said then and it’s highly irresponsible for him and Harris to say what they said yesterday. Perhaps the better thing for both of them to have done was to view the available evidence first before commenting on the case, which is something I should point out that former President Donald Trump actually did:
Gee, there’s something else Trump got right and Biden/Harris got wrong. That list is getting very, very long.
— Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via Twitter. —
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