The Optics Tell The Story, And It Could Not Be More Revealing

On Thursday, March 28, 2024, for what might be the first time in American history four presidents appeared in the same state at the same time, three in the same place. Former presidents Clinton and Obama joined now-President Biden in an all-star-studded cast of characters at a fundraiser at New York City's storied Radio City Music Hall. Tickets to the gathering cost upwards of $500,000, which netted the Democratic Party over $25 million.

The three Democratic presidents sat together on stage laughed and joked, and responded to questions by the event's host Steven Colbert. The adoring crowd of celebrity and political elites, media, and the glitterati expressed their approval with thunderous applause. There was also music and entertainment. Those assembled were the top echelon of the ruling class, and included a number of Hollywood bigwigs and billionaires. Photographs with the three presidents were offered and cost $100,000 a click.

While the festivities proceeded, former President Donald Trump appeared only about 40 miles to the east on Long Island. Mr. Trump was attending the funeral of NYPD Police Officer Jonathan Diller, a member of the Queens South community response team who was killed in the line of duty. The former president was invited to meet with the family. Mr. Trump flew up from Florida, spent about an hour commiserating with the Diller family, then flew back.

Office Diller was 31 years old and married with a one-year-old son. The crime involved a routine traffic violation; a vehicle parked in a bus stop. As the young officer approached the car, Guy Rivera, 34 years old, was asked along with the driver 41-year-old Lindsay Jones to step out of the vehicle. Rivera opened fire, hitting Officer Diller in the stomach just below his body armor. Officer Diller’s partner fired his gun hitting Rivera and wounding him, not fatally. 

Both Rivera and Jones are career criminals, having over 35 felony and misdemeanor arrests between them, some for gun possession. Both served time in prison, and should have been behind bars at the time of the officer's shooting. They like many other thugs are free because of New York’s progressive bale reform law.

The night of the deadly shooting, Police Commissioner Edward Caban made this statement, “This city lost a hero, a wife lost her husband, and a young child lost his father. We struggle to find the words to express the tragedy of losing one of our own.” The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association president Patrick Hendry praised Officer Diller. “Our hero police officer confronted this dangerous individual knowing that he was putting himself at risk, and knowing that he had a family waiting for him at home.”

This story of a fallen police officer, although devastating, is not unique. It is however an assault on society and civilized norms and threatens the safety, freedoms, and protections we rely on from the criminal element. The killing of law enforcement officers in the line of duty for the year 2023, ending December 31, numbered 136; this figure represents federal, state, and local officers. Forty-seven of the fallen were police officers.

As over ten thousand law enforcement officers from around the world lined the avenue, another story emerged from the funeral and memorial mass the following day. It was how New York State Democratic officials were received. They were confronted and lambasted, and accused of having blood on their hands for their treatment of the NYPD, and how the bail reform laws they enacted, as Democrats, have affected policing and the rise in crime. The Governor of New York, Cathy Hochul, stayed for only minutes, and then left in a huff. 

The optics tell the story; imagine it all on a split screen. The appearance of impropriety and the manner people behave, even during a solemn occasion. What occurred in New York on Thursday, March 28 reveals just how deeply divided we are, politically, emotionally, and philosophically. On the one hand, we have a bunch of demagogues and ideological Leftists celebrating and gathering together for what they believe is important, the almighty dollar. On the other hand, less than forty miles away, thousands of men, women and children were mourning the loss of a fallen hero. 

It would have been appropriate, while at the fundraiser, for President Biden to have stood before the audience and ask for a moment of silence for Officer Diller. Sadly, no mention was made, and as of this writing Mr. Biden has not contacted the grieving wife and family.