“Republicans often blast Democrats for wanting to defund the police. But Democrats have a new rebuttal: The GOP won’t defend the police. In the aftermath of the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol attack, the GOP’s love for law enforcement – a longtime hallmark of the party – is being called into question as some members on the right continue to whitewash the insurrection and even foist blame on the police officers who protected lawmakers that day. Democrats are ramping up attacks on Republicans who refused to investigate the riots or formally honor the cops who responded, some of whom were tasered, maced and beaten with flag poles by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Members of President Joe Biden’s party are not only painting their colleagues across the aisle as disrespectful of law enforcement, but also arguing that the GOP’s unflinching loyalty to Trump has compromised its core values… It’s a clear attempt to flip the script on Republicans, who yoked Democrats in key battleground districts to liberal calls to ‘defund the police’ as part of an effective messaging strategy that Democrats struggled to counter in the 2020 election cycle.”

“But now, Republicans may find themselves on their heels – and see their own narrative undermined – if these Democratic attacks stick… Democrats see an opening after a wedge started to form between the GOP and law enforcement during this spring’s debate over a proposed independent commission to investigate the events of Jan. 6. While 35 Republicans supported the effort in the House, Republicans in the Senate blocked the bill – despite a lobbying campaign from the mother of fallen Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who died following his response to the Jan. 6 attack after suffering from a stroke” – Politico.