BEYOND THE PROTESTS: Biden's Steady Standing in the Student Vote

The Democrats are in serious trouble! Joe Biden and his party are divided on ideology, values, and principles. The divide is like a bad pair of brand-new pantyhose with a run that gets wider and deeper the further it goes up the thigh. According to left-leaning Democrats and so-called “centrists” or third-party political groups, the number of college student protesters is evidence of a growing divide within the Democrat party. While I believe this is true, I don’t think the divide is driven by actual student protesters. A closer look reveals that the majority of students are not actually participating in these protests and the Israeli war in Gaza is not top of mind for most students.

According to a survey done by Generation Lab and reported by AXIOS, when college students were asked what was top of mind for them, the Israeli War came in last with a mere 13% considering the issue to be among their top three. Over 40% of students ranked health-care reform as their number one issue, while education, economic fairness, racial injustice, and climate change all rated above 30%, with immigration and national security beating out the conflict in the Middle East.

Considering the lack of student interest it begs the question: Who are these large crowds of protesters out on college campuses and inside the tent encampments? It also questions whether this issue will directly impact Joe Biden's chances of bringing students out to the polls come November.

After Trump nearly dropped the ball, leaving America in what seemed like shambles, Biden and Harris took office on the wings of justice and order, draped in team blue. However, right out of the gate, they fumbled the ball. They have failed on nearly every campaign promise, from their failure to bring the COVID crisis to a safe close, to the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan that resulted in violence and death.

Joe Biden and Harris have mismanaged the boarder and the Haitian crisis and appear to be weak on the global stage, bullied by Africans in Niger, Muslims in America, and a bunch of college kids. They have mishandled the economy, failed on their abortion agenda, and deserted Israel, our closest ally, aligning with Islamic religious extremists under the guise of freedom and expression. While I could say more, I will end here to return to my original point.

Examining the perception that student protests could significantly impact the Democrats' campaign, there's a belief that students, particularly those passionate about the conflict in Gaza, could negatively influence the outcome for Biden in November. However, this might be a misconception. While it may seem that student protesters are considerably influencing this issue, the reality could be different.

Media outlets, predominantly those with socialist-Marxist leanings, tend to portray the scenario as predominantly white students from elite institutions carrying the weight of these protests, with a smattering of Black students involved. However, individuals like podcaster Sabby Sabs argue that Black students, including those from HBCUs, are just as involved and invested as their white counterparts.

This call to action by the media, challenging students at HBCUs to demonstrate their stance, has culminated in some notable events. There's no greater way for HBCUs to express their support for Palestine than by protesting any leader who defends Israel's right to self-defense.

For instance, Xavier University, an HBCU in Louisiana, cancelled an invitation for Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.N. Ambassador, to deliver the commencement because she vetoed a ceasefire for the Israeli war in Gaza. Furthermore, when Morehouse announced that Joe Biden would be the Commencement Speaker on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Atlanta, both left-leaning and centrist Democrats called out the black students to protest the graduation ceremony.

Anticipating potential protests, the White House sent an emissary to meet with a group of students who expressed their disappointment with Joe Biden’s continued support for Israel. Despite this, the university's president, David A. Thomas, announced that the ceremony would proceed as planned, with Joe Biden delivering the address and receiving an Honorary Degree. Thomas announced that should there be protests, “he would shut the ceremony down.”

Nevertheless, plans were being placed by supporters of Gaza. The algorithms were set in motion, encouraging Black students to protest Joe Biden. These tactics were already being used across college campuses, with students wearing keffiyehs or holding up the Palestinian flag during graduation ceremonies. But outside of a few shorts or snippets, the student protesters at universities have been coming off like a barking Chihuahua. However, when it was learned Joe Biden would give an address, the podcasters sounded the alarm and led the charge, giving advice on ways to protest. Even third-party candidates like Jill Stein jumped in again to encourage students to protest at Morehouse.

The impact seems to have risen and fallen flat. Over the last couple of weeks, we have witnessed groups of students getting up and walking out of their own ceremonies. Some wave the Palestinian flag or wear keffiyehs, but other students are starting to shout back. In one recent ceremony in Michigan, students chanted USA when pro-Palestinian students walked out carrying the Palestinian flag. When Jerry Seinfeld delivered the commencement ceremony at Duke, Pro-Palestinians students were booed as they left the ceremony.

During the Morehouse ceremony, the Valedictorian, Garrison Hayes called for a ceasefire and a few of the students replaced their graduate hoods, with the Keffiyeh scarf, or turned and stared at other students that looked up at Joe Biden, and perhaps some got up and walked out, but overall, most had their heads up, listening and even laughing at some of Joe Biden’s jokes.

While Joe Biden may face significant obstacles with his policies, his standing among students may remain steady. This was evident during the Morehouse ceremony where, despite some student protests, Biden delivered his address and received his award unabated. It's critical to remember that these protestors might not represent the majority sentiment among students, casting doubt on their authenticity. Thus, their attempts to amplify their voices may not reflect the broader student perspective. Consequently, the perceived risk to the Democrats' campaign from student protestors could be overstated, suggesting Biden might retain a strong position in the student vote, despite prevailing perceptions.