Editor’s Note: From the Back Forty is Liberty Nation’s longest running and most popular weekly column.
President Joe Biden lit another dumpster fire by calling two allies “xenophobic,” and another Hollyweird actor alienated the entire Midwest by claiming he knew how heartlanders think politically. The use of force in voter identification had Americans saying, “how ironic.” And, love him or hate him, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is making more sense than ever.
Biden Vision Quest Dimly Lit
If the president isn’t making up stories about Corn Pop, Uncle Bosey and the dreaded New Guinea Cannibals, or his blue-collar stint as an over-the-road trucker, he’s busy hurling insults at random voters or world leaders. Biden doesn’t seem to read his audience very well before throwing one of his signature temper tantrums. Instead, as has become his custom, the president just lets something harmful fly without reflection and leaves his aides scrambling to clean up the mess. Unfortunately for him, his trusted staff is no better at delivering the necessary explanations.
On the very first day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, at a fundraiser, Joe delivered these remarks: “Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they’re xenophobic. They don’t want immigrants.”
The fundraiser was hosted by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, among other notables. It took a widely inappropriate turn with Biden’s remarks; it was probably embarrassing to Duckworth and Tai, but it was also a tragic move for ally diplomacy.
The Japanese Embassy issued a mild rebuke:
“It is unfortunate that some of the comments were not based on an accurate understanding of Japan’s policies. We have raised this point to the US government and explained Japan’s positions and policies once again.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was handed the mop, but she only made it worse: “Look, he, I think he was – look, the president was very clear. I think that …” and her one-sentence rambling explanation was interrupted when a reporter stated: “He wasn’t very clear. That is why we are asking you.”
KJP tried to rally, bless her heart, with another version: “I’m explaining what he was talking about and how he was – what he was focusing on in those comments – country of immigrants, it makes us stronger, and it is important to be very clear about that. And the president’s always going to be really clear on speaking on issues that matter to the American people.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t blame Trump and then say no more questions, which is her usual response,” wrote Phil Paulson of Milwaukee. But perhaps Bernie Taylor was coming to her defense when he pointed out: “Listening to Biden is like trying to understand Ozzy [Osbourne] recite old McDonald had a farm.”
Tone Deaf Daniels
Another actor has come forward in the waning days of his career to irritate heartlanders and flyover folks with political commentary. In an appearance on a big box media cable show, Jeff Daniels claimed he knew how middle America felt about the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
“He’s a bad Willy Loman. It’s the fraud. It’s the emperor has clothes, we get that. I’m not talking about the people on the right, MAGA, they’re going to go. People on the left are there, but it’s the people in the middle, in the middle of the country, not the Hollywood liberals. It’s the Midwestern independents who are sitting there listening.”
“I know this is costing him where I live in Michigan. This is costing him votes,” Daniels added. “I know Republicans who went with Trump to get their tax cuts and then maybe it’s DeSantis, and then it was Nikki Haley, and now they’re throwing up their hands. What everybody wants is decency. They want respect again.”
Mike Patrick, of Fulton, MO, gave him a nod, saying: “He should know about Midwesterners. On his flights between the east coast and west coast, he flies over them all the time.”
In Monroe, NC, John Simpson could not resist: “Dang, and all this time I just thought he was playing a part in Dumb & Dumber…never would’ve thought he was just being himself!” Daniels was once asked how he played the part of Harry Dunne in the cult classic, and he replied: “Don’t act dumb. Be dumb.” Daniels continued, “I determined that he had an IQ of 8.” It seems some Midwesterners likely now believe that’s true.
Wesley Bond in Davison, MI, gave a serious retort: “Wrong, we are sick of the current administration’s anti-American policies, open borders, and support for ‘woke.’” But Nick Karavalos in Champaign, IL, brought us back: “That is the most tone-deaf statement in the history of stuuuupid statements.”
“Can’t Find a Betterman”
On Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning lab-grown meat in the Sunshine State. The governor released a statement saying Florida is: “fighting back against the global elite’s plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals. Our administration will continue to focus on investing in our local farmers and ranchers, and we will save our beef.”
As global elite Bill Gates put it, “I do think all rich countries should move to 100% synthetic beef. You can get used to the taste difference, and the claim is they’re going to make it taste even better over time. Eventually, that green premium is modest enough that you can sort of change the [behavior of] people or use regulation to totally shift the demand.”
Oh, Hell no. That’s just creepy – and Sen. John Fetterman agrees. “Pains me deeply to agree with Crash-and-Burn Ron, but I co-sign this,” he posted on X. “As a member of @SenateAgDems and as some dude who would never serve that slop to my kids, I stand with our American ranchers and farmers.”
A few flyover folks advised the man to get a bodyguard. In Gray, TN, Ron Wise was concerned: “I see a Russian collusion charge in his future.” Another conservative, Ron Thompsen of Crescent City, IL, applauded the man, saying: “When he was running for office, there was almost nobody that thought he would do well, and I was one of them being from the other side of the aisle. Since he has been serving in the Senate, he is standing up for the citizens, not only from PA but for the common people of the USA.” He went even further: “Thanks, Senator Fetterman.”
“He just keeps getting better and better,” mused Debbie Ritz Stricker in Queen Creek, AZ, “he has more brains than the whole D party.”
And just like that, a new hashtag was created: #Betterman.
“Stinkin’ Badges”
Former UK Prime Minister Boris ‘BoJo’ Johnson learned firsthand that some of his enacted policies are working quite well for the constituency. He was turned away at a polling station on Thursday, May 2, because he did not have acceptable photo identification and fell short of the rules his government instituted just two years past.
In Cedar Rapids, IA, Dustin Smith had a dream: “Good. The rules are being enforced. Not like in the USA where it seems to be rules for thee but not for me.”
