These two campaign ads perfectly sum up the difference between Biden and Trump in 2024
An epic struggle is coming
Watching the stark contrast between President Biden and Donald Trump’s new campaign ads instantly conjured up the famous opening of Charles Dickens’s classic, “A Tale of Two Cities.”
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us.”
Given the contest we are locked in between the forces of democracy versus MAGA’s forces of fascism, it truly feels as if we are living through parallel worlds that are both the “age of wisdom” and a dangerous “age of foolishness,” a “season of Light” and a “season of Darkness.”
And the new ads by both Biden and Trump’s campaigns emphasize that message. Biden’s campaign commercial focuses on how his policies have--and will continue—to help Americans. In contrast, Trump’s recent campaign commercial is dark, angry, filled with lies and focuses on helping one person: Donald J. Trump.
Biden’s ad titled, “Fought Back” (below)—that will be airing this month in battleground states-begins by reminding Americans of the pandemic that was plaguing our nation at the time he was sworn in. It was “the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression,” the ad’s announcer notes. But then “America fought back,” with the ad touting the Biden championed policies that helped create a robust economy and bring unemployment down such as the infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Yet even in this commercial, Biden credits Americans for the remarkably low unemployment rate at 3.5 percent, noting that, “he knows it’s the American people who are the heroes of this story.”
The only reference to Trump is a quick image of him over the words, “There are some who say America is failing…Not Joe Biden. He believes our best days are ahead because he believes in the American people.” The ad concludes with an upbeat, hopeful Biden declaring, “it’s never, ever been a good bet to bet against America.” It truly is the idea of the “best of times,” hope and light.
What a striking contrast to Trump’s angry, dark and lie-filled worst of times ad he released about ten days ago that solely focuses on attacking the prosecutors investigating him. The ad begins with the outright lie that Biden is somehow orchestrating Special Counsel Jack Smith, New York Attorney General Tish James as well as investigations by Manhattan and Fulton County District Attorneys. The misleading ad--as fact checkers have noted—focuses the bulk of its ire on Fulton County DA Fani Willis, dubbing this county official elected in 2020 as “Biden’s newest lackey.” The Trump ad then spews outright lies that Willis was in a relationship with a gang member. The commercial concludes with the words, “I’m Donald J. Trump and I approve this message.”
Of course, Trump approves of the ad. This commercial is in perfect keeping with Trump’s 2024 theme of both vengeance against those who dare attempt to hold him accountable and making everything about himself. In March—about five months after Trump announced his candidacy- Trump delivered a speech at the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) where he declared that his 2024 campaign theme was about “retribution.” That is when he told the cheering crowd, “In 2016, I declared I am your voice Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice, adding ominously, “And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution.”
And while Trump may touch on other issues at rallies in his long meandering speeches, his focus and his passion is himself and revenge. For example, in his speech in early August in Alabama, he slammed Special Counsel Jack Smith as a “deranged, sick person," while declaring, "The only civil rights that have been violated in this matter are my civil rights."
And during his late July speech in Erie, Pennsylvania, he vowed to appoint a special counsel to “to expose the monumental corruption of the Biden crime family once and for all" while threating to primary Republicans in the House who won’t join in impeaching Biden. It’s all revenge against those he feels have wronged him—not helping our nation.
Trump’s recent social media posts on Truth Social tell the same story: It’s all about Trump, not America. His recent posts praise Republicans who defend him, slam Republicans who don’t while attacking every and anyone he views responsible for the 91 felony charges against him from President Biden to the prosecutors. In the midst of these attacks, he shares polls that show him leading the 2024 GOP field and in a moment of absolute narcissism, he even posted yesterday a video clip of himself hitting a golf shot at his private country club in New Jersey that landed 10 feet from the hole.
Now to be fair, President Biden’s ads that tout his legislative achievements and the strong economy, are designed to help his political fortunes in 2024. Polls show that despite objective data showing the economy is breaking records in terms of job growth and the fear of a recession is all but gone, not everyone is feeling that--while others might not get the connection between Biden’s policies and the economy. But the tone of this new Biden ad campaign is quintessential Biden. It’s upbeat, accurate and touts that as Americans working together, we can achieve anything.
What a contrast to Trump’s: “I am your retribution.” Although to be fair, if you were charged with 91 felonies and the prosect of spending the final days of your life in prison, you, too, might be laser focused on revenge against all you perceive are involved in prosecuting. But that is not the message of someone running to be President of all Americans. It’s the message of angry, bitter person who alarmingly is willing to do anything—literally anything-- to win in 2024 in order to stay out of prison.
Adding to the concerns: New CBS polls finds Republicans believe what Trump says is true over their own family and religious leaders. This is what a FASCIST movements looks like. MAGA is a clear and present danger to our Republic. MAGA can NOT co-exist with a democratic Republic.
Biden cares about the USA, Trump cares only about himself. There couldn’t be a more starker choice.