It should come as no surprise for you to learn that I am a lifelong Democrat. And proud of it. 

I’ve walked precincts for Democrats, raised money for Democrats, worked for Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown of California, run for statewide office as a Democrat in California, and served as chair of the California Democratic Party.

So let me say this as clearly as I can: There’s only one of two words to describe the Democratic Party today: either “DUMB” or “SUICIDAL.”

For months, we were worried that Democrats didn’t have a clear strategy leading into the midterm elections. Well, the good news is that Democrats have finally come up with a strategy. The bad news is they could not have come with a worse one. They’re doing what Democrats do best: forming a circular firing-squad.

The Democrats’ strategy for 2022? Here it is: BLAME JOE BIDEN — FOR EVERYTHING!

The glaciers are still melting. Blame Joe Biden. The Supreme Court killed Roe v. Wade. Blame Joe Biden. Russia invaded Ukraine. Blame Joe Biden. People are still getting COVID. Blame Joe Biden. Republican senators block any meaningful gun control legislation. Blame Joe Biden. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema refuse to change the filibuster. Blame Joe Biden. The grocery store’s out of my favorite flavor of yogurt. Blame Joe Biden. And, mind you, this drumbeat of criticism is coming from Democrats, not Republicans.

Here are three headlines that appeared on the morning of July 6, less than 48 hours after the mass murder in Highland Park, Illinois:

• Politico: “Dems want more from Biden after Highland Park.” 

• The Hill: “Frustrated Democrats express alarm over Biden’s powerlessness.”

• CNN: “After string of Supreme Court setbacks, Democrats wonder whether Biden White House is capable of urgency moment demands.” 

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that “some Democrats” think Biden “risks a dangerous failure to meet the moment.” The next day, The New York Times trumpeted: “Biden Promised Calm, but Base Wants a Fighter.”

Biden critics complain that his language isn’t tough enough. Yet, as Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank reports, Biden called the Supreme Court’s abortion ruling a “terrible, extreme decision” and the “realization of an extreme ideology and a tragic error.” After the Buffalo mass murder, he deplored the “murderous, racist rampage” and again called for a total ban on assault weapons. After Uvalde, he raged: “When in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?”

Ironically, a few months ago, when Republicans blocked voting rights legislation, Biden said the real issue is “Do you want to be on the side of John Lewis or Bull Connor?” – and Democrats accused him of being too mean!

Seriously, what are Democrats thinking? How can they be so stupid? Don’t they realize that by eating their own they’re just helping Donald Trump? At this rate, Republicans won’t have to work hard to win the midterms. Democrats are giving Republican candidates all the anti-Democratic ammunition they need.

Granted, Biden’s not the perfect president. He’s no soaring orator like Barack Obama. He still thinks he can work with Senate Republicans. He’s not that exciting. But, surely, whatever Biden lacks in star power pales compared to the existential threat facing this nation were the Trump Republican Party ever to triumph in November: the rolling back of women’s rights, workers’ rights, LGBTQ rights and, with the help of red state governors and state legislators, a direct assault on our democratic system of elections.

Faced with that threat, the answer is not to dump on Biden. The answer is for Democrats to learn from Republicans about party loyalty. Band together. Don’t fight each other, fight the enemy. Put the blame where it belongs. Not on Joe Biden, but on Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy. And then do what Biden urges in every speech: direct our outrage and anger into a historic voter turnout in November, especially among young people. The only way to get this country back in the right direction is getting rid of every Republican officeholder who’s taking it in the wrong direction.

In the end, the folly of Democrats dumping on Biden was best summed up by former congressman and Biden aide Cedric Richmond. Criticism that Biden now faces from fellow Democrats, Richmond told CNN, is “the same foolishness that got us Donald Trump. ‘Hillary wasn’t good enough.’ ‘She’s not fighting hard enough.’ 

That’s what got us Donald Trump. 

And that got us Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.