President Biden to Address Morehouse College Graduates

Amidst growing concerns over U.S. policy towards Israel and the Gaza conflict, President Joe Biden is set to deliver a commencement speech at Morehouse College on May 19, 2023. Morehouse, a historically Black men's college in Georgia, is known for its distinguished alumni, including civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.

The Biden administration, which has been accused of staunch support for Israel despite a rising death toll in Gaza, has faced criticism from Morehouse faculty and students. Nevertheless, the White House has confirmed through spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre that Biden will proceed with the address. Morehouse spokesperson Jasmine Gurley also affirmed that there would be no changes to the commencement plans.

Senior Miles Ross, reflecting the skepticism of some Morehouse students, views Biden's visit as a political gesture. This sentiment comes as the U.S. continues to block United Nations votes critical of Israel's actions, with Israel being the largest recipient of U.S. aid since World War II.

Campus protests have erupted across the U.S., including at Columbia University, where police were involved in dismantling tents and arresting pro-Palestinian protesters. In anticipation of potential campus unrest, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have planned minimal presence at college commencement addresses, with Harris speaking at the Air Force Academy and First Lady Jill Biden expected at a community college.

The number of commencement speeches by the President and Vice President remains consistent with their activities over the past two years. The White House Press Secretary has emphasized the importance of these speeches as a chance for the President to share uplifting messages with graduates and their families.

Despite foreign policy concerns, a Harvard University poll indicates that young voters prioritize domestic issues like inflation and health care. John Della Volpe from Harvard suggests that Biden could use commencement addresses to address Gaza-related issues and reconcile differing views.

The Biden campaign has launched a youth engagement program to motivate younger voters, with national youth engagement coordinator Eve Levenson spearheading the initiative. The campaign has deployed staff to organize a presence at colleges in key states and is targeting college students through online platforms and paid social media advertising.

Vice President Harris's “Fight for Our Freedoms” tour included college campus visits, while Representative Ro Khanna visited Wisconsin campuses, acknowledging students' concerns over inflation, health care, and Gaza. The administration's campus outreach includes addressing these concerns, as well as promoting Biden's domestic policy agenda.

Morehouse alumnus and Amherst College professor Jared Loggins has labeled Biden's invitation to speak at Morehouse a “moral disaster” due to the tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict. Meanwhile, senior adviser Tom Perez highlights Biden's civil rights activism and the importance of Morehouse's connection to Martin Luther King Jr.

Despite calls from some faculty and students for Biden to withdraw from the commencement, the administration's strategy focuses on engaging with young voters, including advocating for abortion rights and addressing policy positions through strategic platforms like commencement speeches.

The administration's commitment to maintaining dialogue with divergent viewpoints within the African American community is evident in its decision to proceed with the Morehouse address. This approach, coupled with national tours and targeted campus engagements, underscores the administration's efforts to address key voter concerns while navigating complex socio-political issues.

Conservative Bias:

Ladies and gentlemen, what we have here is a classic case of liberal hypocrisy and pandering at its finest. President Biden, with his administration's unyielding support for Israel, has the audacity to speak at Morehouse College—a beacon of civil rights—while completely ignoring the bloodshed in Gaza. He's using this historic institution as a political prop, attempting to schmooze with the African American community and distract from his administration's foreign policy disasters. This is nothing more than a feeble attempt to salvage the dwindling support from young voters, who are waking up to the Democrats' empty promises and catastrophic economic policies. Biden's so-called "youth engagement program" is just a smokescreen to cover up the real issues: inflation, healthcare, and the fact that this administration is turning its back on democracy and human rights abroad. It's a moral disaster, indeed, to see Biden parade around as a civil rights advocate while his administration funds the machinery of war. The Democrats are desperate, folks, and they're using commencement speeches as a last-ditch effort to indoctrinate our young people with their radical leftist agenda.

Liberal Bias:

Here we are witnessing yet another stark example of the conservative machine's relentless obstructionism and moral bankruptcy. President Biden, a steadfast advocate for civil rights and social justice, is being unfairly targeted for his planned address at Morehouse College. The right-wing media and their cronies are twisting this narrative to deflect from their own failures and inaction on critical issues like healthcare and the economic struggles facing young Americans. They're demonizing a President who is courageously navigating the complexities of international diplomacy while maintaining a commitment to dialogue and engagement with all communities. Conservatives are quick to st*** the flames of division, criticizing Biden for his domestic and foreign policies without offering any viable solutions themselves. They're ignoring the broader context of the President's efforts to empower the next generation through initiatives like the "Fight for Our Freedoms" tour. It's clear that the conservative agenda is to undermine progress and silence the voices of those fighting for justice and equality. Biden's presence at Morehouse is not just about a speech; it's about affirming the administration's dedication to addressing the concerns of young voters and upholding the values that institutions like Morehouse represent. The right's attempts to slander this as anything other than a commitment to our nation's future is both disingenuous and reprehensible.