Last week, they wouldn't stop fulminating about the risk of war resulting from President Trump's ultimately resolved and successful strike against the Iranian regime.

Then, over the weekend, Democratic leadership went radio silent as democratic protesters took to the streets of Iran.

On Sunday, George Stephanopoulos attempted to challenge House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the party's about-face, asking the nation's most powerful Democrat if she supported the protesters and if "it would be a good thing" if they succeeded in overthrowing their oppressors.

"Well, the regime — the protesters are — are protesting, as I understand it, this brand of protesters, about the fact that that plane went down. And many students were on that plane. And these are largely students in the street," Pelosi said. "I think the Iranians should have not had commercial flights going off when there was."

When the ABC News anchor pushed back on her apparent dismissal of those challenging the regime, Pelosi doubled down.

"Taking down this plane is a terrible, terrible tragedy. And they should be held accountable for letting commercial flights go at a time that was so, so dangerous," Pelosi said. "But there are different reasons why people are in the street. Of course, we would love to see the aspirations of the people of Iran realized with a better situation there, but escalating the situation — unless we’ve exhausted every other remedy ..."

Pelosi's prevarication is Orwellian, in that it both denies reality and expresses approval of authoritarianism. As journalist Yashar Ali pointed out in a thread calling out Democratic silence, Iranians are hardly livid about Trump taking out Qassem Soleimani, a man responsible for the oppression and murder of countless Iranians and their Syrian and Yemeni neighbors.



5. Nearly 2 months ago, Iran massacred hundreds (at least) and up to 1,500 of its citizens in the streets for protesting against gas prices. People in the streets are taking an enormous risk not only by protesting but by saying what they're saying like death to the Supreme Leader — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 12, 2020



Democrats were right to be wary of war, but that question has already been resolved. Trump successfully took out one of the most successful terrorists on the planet and then allowed the Iranians to save face with an ineffective retaliatory attack. So, while they focus on the rightful legislative limitation of executive war powers, Democrats ought to redirect their Iranian efforts to express solidarity with the courageous protesters calling out the Iranian regime's lies.

Yet, they refuse to.

Over the weekend, the only Democratic presidential contenders to publicly pledge support to the protesters — who, again, are risking their lives in the pursuit of liberty — were Joe Biden and long shot, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.



Trump’s reckless policies have needlessly endangered our interests in the Middle East. But none of us should be under any illusions about the Iranian regime, and the Iranian people — like all people everywhere — have the right to peaceful protest. The world should support them. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 12, 2020

People should have the right to peacefully protest in any country, including Iran. — Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) January 13, 2020



So, we got one tweet that included a dig at a domestic political adversary and another that sounds like it was written with a Glock to the head. Support for democratic protesters should be instinct, not something that comes only with reluctance. And yet the authoritarian Left's stranglehold over Democratic leadership mixed with the party-wide Trump derangement syndrome has culminated in half of the nation's political leadership all but turning their backs on one of the most passionate pro-democracy movements on the planet right now.

Where is New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the supposed Democratic superstar who refuses now to back a democratic movement abroad? Where is Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, who backs the boycott, divest and sanction movement against Israel because it's "driven by the people," but not a democratic movement quite literally driven by the people of Iran?

And where are all the other presidential hopefuls who want to unseat this guy?



To the leaders of Iran - DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS. Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching. More importantly, the USA is watching. Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free! Stop the killing of your great Iranian people! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2020



Yes, Trump spent Monday morning retweeting a string of nonsensical and petty boomer memes and smears about his challengers. But the rest of the world will simply hear the silence of his competitors, Democrats in name only.