As Israel unleashes a barrage of airstrikes on Iran, targeting key military figures and nuclear scientists, a striking silence has fallen over the Democratic Party, a phenomenon explored by former Democrat strategist Dan Turrentine on Wednesday’s “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Fox News.
Turrentine attributed this quiet to deep internal divisions within the party, suggesting that Democrats would rather focus on domestic issues than confront the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
“Our party is almost as divided to some extent as the Republican Party is right now. And I think they’d rather, unfortunately, be talking about kings than talking about Iran right now,” Turrentine told host Jesse Watters, referencing the “No Kings” protests that coincided with a military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. The protests, which saw over 1,800 participants, targeted Trump’s policies and challenged the celebration of American history.
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Turrentine elaborated on the Democratic Party’s long-standing foreign policy schism, highlighting two pivotal moments in recent history: the 2004 presidential primaries, where Howard Dean’s anti-Iraq War stance gained traction, and Barack Obama’s successful campaign against Hillary Clinton, largely fueled by his opposition to the Iraq War.
“This is a great issue. I mean, if you remember, we’ve had two big moments in our party in the last 20 years. 2004, what was Howard Dean fueled on? Being against the Iraq War. John Kerry, Dick Gephardt, all kind of, you know, bit their tongues and voted for authorizing force. Barack Obama against Hillary Clinton. What did he hang around her neck? You voted for the Iraq War. I’m watching all those people thinking about 2028, those Senate candidates in swing states. They’re very quiet,” Turrentine observed.
Despite the historical divisions concerning military interventions, Turrentine emphasized the need for Democrats to break their silence on the current situation.
“Israel is our ally. I know this issue has divided us for years here, the last couple of cycles between the Palestinians and the Israelis,” he stated.
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Turrentine also underscored the bipartisan historical opposition to Iran, citing incidents like the bombing of the Marine barracks in the 1970s or early 80s.
“But, fundamentally, we have been opposed to Iran as a country now, going back to when they bombed the Marine barracks in the 70s or the early 80s,” Turrentine added. “Absolutely, our country should say, we are with President Trump on this. If we’re going to go against the Iranians and try to knock out their nuclear program, it is to protect America.”
However, instead of unified action or clear statements on the conflict, prominent Democrats have focused on restricting President Trump’s authority.
Democratic Virginia Senator Tim Kaine introduced a war powers resolution aimed at preventing military action against Iran without congressional approval.
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Similarly, Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Israel’s preemptive strikes and proposed legislation to limit U.S. involvement in the conflict without formal authorization.
The current escalation follows a 60-day ultimatum imposed by Trump on Iran to reach an agreement on its nuclear program, which lapsed just before Israel’s strikes commenced.
With Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even hinting at the potential elimination of the Ayatollah, and the U.S. deliberating its participation in targeting Iran’s nuclear sites, the Democratic Party’s continued silence remains a point of contention and concern for some, including former strategist Dan Turrentine.
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