In the wake of the 2024 presidential election, Stephen A.
Smith, a prominent figure at ESPN, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party, which he had previously supported.
"I voted Democrat, and I got to tell you something right now, I don't like the fact that I did. I don't like what I'm seeing," Smith confessed during an appearance on "Life, Liberty & Levin."
According to Fox News, the Democratic Party has been embroiled in a blame game since President-elect Donald Trump's historic victory in November. The defeat of Vice President Harris has sparked a flurry of accusations, with fingers being pointed at various figures within the party, including President Biden.
The president's failed re-election campaign and plummeting approval ratings have been highlighted as potential factors contributing to the party's loss.
In the twilight of his term, President Biden has faced significant criticism, particularly over his decision to pardon his son, Hunter. Smith expressed his disdain for this move, stating, "I don't want to hear about, 'Oh we're about the law. Nobody's above the law. Nobody's above the law.' But then you go out, and you pardon your son, and you try to blame everybody else for it.
"This pardon, issued on December 1, came despite Biden's previous assertions that he would not intervene should his son be convicted.
However, Smith's grievances with the Democratic Party extend beyond Biden's contentious pardon. Echoing sentiments expressed by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Smith criticized the party's platform and policy priorities. "I don't want to hear about defund the police. I don't want to hear about, you know what?
There should be open borders. I don't want to hear this stuff. And I don't think most of the American people want to hear that," Smith asserted.
In the aftermath of the election, Sanders attributed Harris' loss to the Democratic Party's perceived abandonment of the working class, a sentiment that drew a sharp response from former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Sanders stated, "It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.
While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And theyre right." Smith expressed his disinterest in "listening to a bunch of fear mongering to tell us who we shouldn't vote for." Instead, he challenged, "Why don't you come up with a plan that tells us why we should vote for you?"
He emphasized the importance of prioritizing America's interests, particularly those of the disenfranchised, and suggested that this should be a key focus for any politician.
Smith expressed openness to supporting Republican candidates who champion such a message, including Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Byron Donalds, and Marco Rubio. "If that's the kind of message that they're going to put forth, I'm down for it. I'm open-minded enough to make sure that they entertain that from a policy perspective. That's what I want for the American people. That's what I want for this nation," he stated.
While Smith admitted he could potentially see himself voting for Trump in the future, he maintained that the president-elect would need to "prove a lot." He explained his previous vote against Trump and for Kamala Harris was due to concerns over Trump's divisive nature and prioritization of personal loyalty over national governance.
"It can't be just about fealty to him and loyalty to him. It has to be about getting the job done on behalf of what's in the best interests of the American people as opposed to yourself," he said.
Smith concluded by suggesting that if Trump could demonstrate maturity and focus on the nation's interests over his own, he could not be dismissed as a viable candidate. "You do things like that, and you show that you're the adult in the room, I don't think anybody could dismiss Donald Trump at this particular moment in time," he stated.
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