OPINION:
The big story of the day is that former Vice President Joe Biden beat out Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in several Super Tuesday states, seeming to hat tip more moderate Democrat politicking over radical socialism.
But hold the phone on that conclusion. Biden, in Texas, only squeaked out a win over socialism — by fewer than 3 percentage points.
And that’s just too uncomfortably close for all of America to breathe easy.
The fact is socialism doesn’t belong at all in U.S. governance. It’s not just another choice, like Democrat versus Republican, or Republican versus Libertarian. Socialism is an enemy of freedom — and that means socialism is an enemy of the democratic-republic that founders gifted us with the Constitution.
Biden’s showing in Texas, according to the latest day-after results, gave him 33.6% of the vote over Sanders’ 33%.
Yes, Texas is an open primary state, which means Republicans with intent on dabbling in the Democratic race and foiling Biden’s chances probably cast votes as well. But that’s not really the point. The point is — the point always is — an open socialist is running for the presidency of the United States and that he just grabbed some major electoral love is a horrible commentary on the condition of the country.
That’s not the America that should be.
Freedom-loving Americans should feel queasy about votes cast for a socialist, even if the votes cast for socialist were motivated by intents to mess with another candidate.
This is what the Lone Star State has become?
A state with a party that nearly chose Sanders the socialist as the presidential pick for 2020?
Fewer than 3 percentage points in a state that’s known for standing proudly and loudly on principles of freedom and independence does not a resounding message make. Biden won Texas is the line that’s being sung in the aftermath of the primary — Biden won Texas after a come-from-behind win that polls predicted probably couldn’t happen. Kudos on that.
But the line should be: Sanders nearly won Texas.
Sanders, the open socialist, won the favor of a vast number of red-blooded Texans to nearly go on and beat the long-time, long-in-service, well-connected politician Biden. And no matter how you slice it, no matter how you sell it, that’s a warning for all of America.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter by clicking HERE.
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