SiriusXM’s Stephen A. Smith Critiques Democratic Strategy
On “Straight Shooter” Wednesday, Stephen A. Smith of SiriusXM urged Democrats to refrain from labeling the opposition as a “threat to democracy,” suggesting such accusations are hypocritical.
In a surprising turn of events, former Vice President Kamala Harris secured the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination after receiving almost no backing in the primary, following former President Joe Biden’s resignation and his endorsement of her on July 21, 2024. Smith pointed out that this situation contrasts with the Republican Party, stating that Democrats appear to be selecting their candidates rather than allowing the voters a say.
“Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled about voting for Kamala Harris. She didn’t even make it through the primaries, so saying she has a claim to the position? It feels off,” Smith remarked. “Democrats often talk about this ‘threat to democracy.’ I think it’s pretty rich coming from them, especially since the former vice president essentially bypassed the primary process to become the nominee.”
He added, “We could’ve moved on from Biden earlier, but we kept him because we wanted it to be her turn. It reminds me of 2016 with Hillary Clinton—it was her time. And the way Clyburn came to Biden’s rescue during the primaries? That’s a major issue for me regarding the Democratic Party.”
This year, both Biden and Harris’s campaigns have painted Trump as a danger to democracy. Democratic representatives like Jasmine Crockett, Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have made extreme comparisons, equating Trump with dictators and labeling Republicans as fascist.
Additionally, independent Senator Bernie Sanders expressed agreement with comedian Akaash Singh in May, indicating that the manner in which the Democratic Party has conducted its primaries since 2008 poses a “threat to democracy.” “I’m not going to argue that,” Sanders acknowledged. “That’s why I chose to be an independent.”
There’s a palpable frustration among left-leaning voters and even some former advisors to Bill Clinton, like Doug Schoen, over the nomination process that put Harris on the ticket.
