Joe Biden devoted most of his first day in government to demonstrate how he could still negotiate with those on the other side of the political spectrum. Democrats now want him to increase the pressure on conservatives as the second year approaches.
Democrats Want Biden to Leave His Comfort Zone
With the collaborative infrastructure program now law, congressional Democrats and party officials believe Biden has to keep hammering Republican lawmakers for rejecting his economic agenda and stifling movement on the epidemic and inflation.
“The administration is in an uncomfortable situation [since] outside of reconciliation, getting things done will need Republicans,” said former White House press director Robert Gibbs.
“Eventually, Joe Biden will have to make this a stark decision between two vastly distinct ideologies and philosophies. To have a chance in the 2022 midterms, we’ll need to contrast our positions with those of Republicans.”
Liberal media bemoans Biden's poor approval rating despite 'achievements'https://t.co/VGlXlFsJ4I
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 29, 2021
Authorities at the White House say they’re keen to draw that distinction. According to the senior White House director of communications, Biden wants to make the point that Republicans are universally hostile to his humanitarian spending plan in the coming weeks.
The government also intends to paint Republicans as supporters of oil companies that are inflating their earnings. Biden similarly aims to portray Republicans as a group “cheering” for price hikes caused by inflation “since [they] think it will help them politically.”
“We’re entering a new chapter,” Berner added, referring to the high stakes accompanying Biden’s social services bill’s approval in December.
“We’re going to make it obvious what’s at stake. We’ll make it apparent who is on the side of cost-cutting, price-control, and inflation-fighting, and who isn’t.”
Democrats are at Odds
The question of how aggressive Biden has to be is a source of debate inside the president’s circle.
As per three officials who were not permitted to openly address personal discussions, a group of older advisors in the West Wing encouraged Biden to accept more intense political warfare and call out conservatives when necessary.
Notice every time something drags Biden’s approval rating lower like the border crisis, Afghanistan or reports of inflation that the lib news @CNN @MSNBC @nytimes @washingtonpost will always comes back to over-hyped COVID variance sky is falling stories and reports? pic.twitter.com/o8mAMf1Lvr
— David A. Clarke, Jr. (@SheriffClarke) November 30, 2021
However, Biden has mainly avoided taking potshots at conservatives on Capitol Hill, while he has been harsher with Republican governors who have obstructed federal funding to combat the virus.
“Aggressiveness is not [Biden’s] approach,” said John Podesta, past White House chief of staff and head of the leftist think tank, Institute for American Progress. “I don’t think it’s where the president feels at ease.”
Biden’s ability to strike a balance between the temptation to go after Republicans harder and his desire to play the unifying force could decide his party’s destiny in the midterms.
Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott, the director of the Senate GOP’s reelection arm, described inflation and the likelihood of increasing interest rates as a “bonanza” for Republicans seeking Senate power, a little over a week ago.
