LIZ PEEK: July Fourth exposed Democrats' big problem with America's silent majority

July Fourth was a bad day for Democrats.

Americans turned out in force to celebrate the birthday of the country they love, applauding the virtues and values that have made the United States an exceptional nation for 250 years. The silent majority, the folks who believe in the essential promise and goodness of this beautiful land, made their voices heard.

A recent Cato poll confirmed that sentiment, showing that 86% of respondents are grateful and 79% are proud to be Americans. Moreover, "most also believe America is a land of opportunity (61%), and even more believe the American Dream (74%) is available to them personally." Cato reports that three-quarters of Americans feel positive about the nation's founding, and 70% believe its founding principles remain relevant today. "In particular, overwhelming majorities believe the U.S. Constitution is important for protecting our rights and freedoms (86%) and for enabling America's prosperity (82%)."

Mamdani's false and cliche-ridden diatribe doesn't even make sense. In one breath, he excoriates the U.S. as dominated by an exclusive wealthy elite, but in the next, he exults in the "power each of us holds to bring America ever closer to the greatness so many have seen when they looked upon these shores." How can both those things be true? In an "authoritarian" regime, what power?

It's about time they did.

Riding that newfound acceptance, Sanders' signature issues, like Medicare for All and taxing the rich, took on new weight, attracting the likes of New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who became one of two democratic socialists elected to the House of Representatives in 2019.

After the bruising defeat in 2024, the party scurried to find a new message and adopted "affordability" as its issue. Democrats crusading to bring down the cost of living are laughable, given that the most expensive places to live in the U.S. are all run by Democrats. What drives costs higher? Burdensome regulations, pro-union labor policies and high taxes, all signature attributes of Democrat-run governments.

Massive government spending - pushing too many dollars into the economy - also drives up inflation. It is no coincidence that during Joe Biden's presidency, when government spending hit the highest levels relative to the economy since World War II, inflation soared to above 9%.

America's silent majority has rallied to defend our nation in the past; if socialism gains ground, those quiet patriots will do so again. Count on it.