Messaging & Data Lab | Messaging & Data Lab

The Real “Threats to Democracy”

June 19, 2024

Key Takeaways

End the Two-Tiered Justice System

Stop Government Weaponization

Ensure Accountability

Prepare to Govern

THE ISSUE
If you listen to the Left and legacy media outlets, you will hear exaggerated warnings and false narratives about the “threat to democracy” posed by the America First movement and “MAGA Republicans..” The fact is, it’s the ACTIONS of the Left that most Americans think threaten the future of our democracy.
So, when you hear the phrase, don’t back down.

Instead, point to the numerous examples of how the Biden Administration threatens and undermines the fabric of our constitutional republic—whether it’s election interference through lawfare against a political opponent, intentionally allowing mass illegal immigration, desires to destroy the Supreme Court, using the government to force vaccines, secretly colluding with big tech to censor people they disagree with, or a whole host of other examples.

TOP LINES

POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS, A.K.A. “TRUMP TRIALS”

  • The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump or “Hush Money” case was politically motivated well before the indictment, and was seemed to be all a show to distraction from President Biden’s failures and keep former President Trump off the campaign trail.
    • In 2021, Alvin Bragg campaigned on prosecuting Trump.
      • Boasted on the campaign trail that “I have sued Trump over 100 times.”
      • Sounds an awful lot like “Show me the man and I’ll find you the crime.”
    • In 2022, the 3rd highest ranking official in Biden’s DOJ, Matthew Colangelo, self-demoted himself to be the senior counsel and lead prosecutor for the Manhattan DA.
      • Colangelo served previously as the Acting Associate Attorney General (AG) and Principal Deputy Associate AG and is a former Democrat National Committee consultant.
    • In 2023, the Manhattan DA’s office indicted former President Trump with 34 misdemeanors elevated to felonies by deeming personal reimbursements for legal expenses as campaign contributions conspiring to interfere in the 2016 election, or a separate “underlying crime” (without specifying to the defense what that crime was).
      • The case was thoroughly examined by Bragg’s predecessors in the Manhattan DA’s office, the Southern District of New York, and the Federal Election Commission—they all declined to bring charges.
      • The charges are not unusual – They’re BESPOKE for the former president and no one else.
    • New York Judge Juan Merchan was “randomly selected” to preside over the case.
      • Donated to Joe Biden, “Progressive Turnout Project,” and “Stop Republicans” in 2020 – a violation of New York Judicial Conduct Section 100.5(A)(A)(h).
      • His daughter, Loren Merchan, raised $93 million for Rep. Adam Schiff and the Democrat’s Senate Majority PAC, and her political consulting firm did work for the Biden-Harris campaign.
      • Violated former President Trump’s 1st and 6th Amendment rights.
      • Placed former President Trump under a gag order, fined him $10,000 for violations, and threatened him with jail time in front of the jury.
      • Never compelled the prosecution to identify the underlying crime.
      • Did not require the jury to decide unanimously the underlying crime.
      • Denied the defense the ability to introduce a federal election law expert witness on how the legal payments are not campaign contributions.
    • Dubbed the “Zombie Case” by Manhattan DA employees, this FAKE BOGUS CONVICTION will be appealed – and the real verdict will be on November 5, 2024Election Day by the rest of America.
      • No state prosecutor has EVER charged federal election laws as a direct or predicate state crime, against ANYONE, for ANYTHING.
      • Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg deleted phone call records of key witnesses’ attorneys before trial.
      • The case relies on testimonies from two untrustworthy witnesses, Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen.
        • Daniels admitted Trump never offered her a penny and never told her to keep silent. Rather, it was Cohen. Also, NDAs are legal and so is “hush money.”
        • Cohen, who pleaded guilty to eight felony charges and lied to Congress, not only committed perjury while on the stand but he also admitted to stealing $50,000 from the Trump Organization.
      • Even liberal lawyers have even said this case will be overturned on appeal.
    • The two-tiered system of justice has never been more apparent.
      • Upwards of 90% of charges or citations against BLM rioters were dropped, dismissed, or went unfiled.
      • The largest FBI investigation into Americans – 1,240 defendants have been identified and charged with participating in the Capitol protest, including 452 charged with assaulting law enforcement officers.
      • What about the Biden Family and their alleged wrongdoings?
        • Joe Biden was deemed “too senile” to stand trial for illegally disclosing and mishandling classified information – Biden’s memory described as “hazy,” “fuzzy,” “poor,” and having “significant limitations.”
        • Hunter Biden was convicted of 3 felonies for deceiving a gun dealer into selling him a gun while using illegal drugs.
        • Hunter also faces 9 criminal counts for $1.4 million in tax evasion – No mention of Joe though.

DEMOCRACY IS ON THE BALLOT

  • The Trump era is seen as better for U.S. democracy than the Biden era, including by swing voters.
    • President Trump has an 8% advantage when people are asked which president is better for democracy (48%-40%).
  • Everyday Americans aren’t sitting around all day thinking about rhetorical “threats to democracy” or the political theatre in Washington, especially when they struggle to afford groceries and gas.
    • A paltry 14% consider “democracy” as their top issue.
    • Most voters don’t even consider democracy among their top three issues.
  • Despite what the Left and mainstream media want people to believe, there are greater “threats to democracy” than just January 6.
    • When asked, the American people think the weaponization of government against President Trump is bad for democracy.
    • 50% called state actions to remove Trump’s name from the ballot as bad for democracy.
    • 48% see the separate treatment of Biden and Trump concerning classified documents as bad for democracy.
    • Nearly half (46%) call the Russia hoax bad for democracy.
    • More people consider the lawfare in New York and Georgia against former President Trump as bad for democracy rather than good.
  • In reality, Americans think the policies of Joe Biden and the radical Left are a threat to democracy.
    • 57% think millions of illegal immigrants coming into our country are a threat.
    • 55% think the additional $5 trillion national debt is a threat.
    • 54% think censoring your political opponent on social media is a threat.
    • 53% think the Biden Administration halting U.S. pipelines, pausing natural gas exports, and making the United States more dependent on foreign oil/gas is a threat.
  • Fewer people perceive Trump as a threat to democracy after being presented with examples of how Biden and his allies are weaponizing the government against Americans and especially his leading political opponent.
    • After providing examples of weaponization, the margin between Trump and Biden decreases by 6%.
      • The gap shrinks to just 1% among suburban voters.

PRO-TIP

  • When the Left points to January 6, first condone bad actors, but then remind them of the damage caused due to BLM riots in 2020, and then remind them Trump was not responsible for the failures of January 6.
    • The 2020 civil unrest by the Left caused 15 times more injured police officers, 19 times as many arrests, and damages 740 times more costly than the January 6 protest.
    • Trump offered federal assistance to secure the National Capitol Region before January 6 but was denied by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Senate and House Seargent at Arms at the direction of then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

IF PRESSED

  • The Left may have objected to election outcomes but never stormed the Capitol.

The Left supported the civil unrest in 2020 and called the looting, vandalizing, and riots “mostly peaceful,” which caused more deaths, more damage, and more injuries than during those few hours on January 6. Also, the Left supported a $32-million taxpayer-funded investigation into dubious Russian collusion claims.

  • Conservatives tried to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election.

In America, there are systems in place to challenge election results, demand accountability, and ensure an accurate outcome. The Left tried to overturn the 2000, 2004, and 2016 election results. In fact, they objected to every election they lost, going all the way to 1988. The Left is also largely responsible for the unprecedented voting protocols in the wake of COVID-19.

  • Donald Trump called for the insurrection.

No, he didn’t. He actually said, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave Senators and Congressmen and women,” and “Everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”

  • Conservatives refuse to say they will accept the outcome of the 2024 election.

Do you blindly pay your credit card bill when it comes, or do you review the statement to make sure the charges are correct? Will the Left accept the results of a loss? They haven’t the last three times they lost. Perhaps ask Hillary Clinton and Stacey Abrams the same question.

  • Conservatives’ so-called “election integrity” measures are just code for suppressing minority votes.

We want to make it “easy to vote and hard to cheat.” We want every eligible American to be able to vote and have that vote accurately counted. It’s not racist when people must show a photo ID to rent a hotel room, fly on an airplane, pick up certain prescriptions, or even enter some office buildings; the same is true when voting.

MYTHBUSTERS

MYTH: January 6 will be the “biggest image” on the minds of voters in 2024.

FACT: Nearly half (48%) say it won’t be top on their minds. In fact, most suburban voters say January 6 won’t be the biggest issue on their minds when they vote.

MYTH: The so-called “threat to democracy” theme hurts Donald Trump.

FACT: Americans also view the weaponization of government, trying to remove your opponent from the ballot, lawfare, the open southern border, and the national debt as threats to democracy—all issues employed by the radical Left.

  • QUICK STATS

Comparing 2020 BLM Riots to 2021 Capitol Riot

2020 BLM Riots

2021 Capitol Protest

Police Officer Fatalities

1

0

Police Officer Assaulted/ Injured

2,037

140

Non-Officer Fatalities

6-20+

Ashli Babbitt, 3 others

Arrests

16,241

~840

Federal Assault Charges

44

>255

Federal Weapons Charges

79

>90

Estimated Damage

$1B-$2B

~$2.7M

Government Classification

Riots

Domestic Terrorism

Duration

Weeks

~5 hours

Scope

~8,700 events, 574 violent;

140+ cities

Single event; single location

Invasion of Public Space

XX

Defacement of Property

X

X

Explosions

X

Shootings by Participants

X

Arson

X

Looting

X

Impeding Traffic

X

Vehicular Crimes

X

Weapons Encountered

Firearms, incendiary devices, including Molotov cocktails, vehicles, rocks, bricks, etc.

Knives, flag poles, fire extinguishers, baseball bats, tasers, crowbars, etc.

Damage Description

Burned buildings and cars, looted stores, smashed storefronts, property destruction. Graffiti, etc.

Broken glass, doors; graffiti; damage to statues, murals, benches, and shutters

Prosecutorial Rigor

90% of charges or citations were dropped, dismissed, or went unfiled

Largest and most complex investigation in history.

*According to RealClearInvestigations’ Jan.6-BLM Riots Comparison.

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