Biden hits a low point with House Democrats
Axios reports that President Biden’s relations with House Democrats are particularly low as he prepares for his departure.
Why it matters: After the 2024 elections, tensions were already simmering, but Biden’s pardoning of his son Hunter, as one senior House Democrat put it, “sent many over the edge.”
The lawmaker said, “People are really mad,” and, like other people quoted in this article, spoke on condition of anonymity so that they could speak honestly about the president.
When asked by Axios about the relationship between Biden, House Democrats and Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, he replied, “I do not think it is great.”
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What we hear: The loss of Vice President Harris has raised the feeling that Biden’s decision to stay in the race until the end of July was a costly mistake for the Democratic Party, even though they were caught up in the global anti-incumbency movement.
“I think that there is a general feeling that he waited too long to come out, and that this made it difficult for Vice-President Harris to run a campaign that was as impactful as possible,” said Rep. Jesus “Chuy”, Garcia (D).
Landsman praised Biden’s “a lot of work” but added that there are “legitimate doubts as to whether he should only have served one term.”
Another senior House Democrat stated that “some of the frustrations over Harris’ loss are due to Biden… you know, he stayed around longer than he should have.”
Zoom out: For many members, the Hunter pardon was the straw which broke the camel’s back, especially after Biden stated he would not do it. The first senior House Democrat said that “more than half” of House Democrats were frustrated by it.
Landsman told Axios, among others, that Biden “should have talked through this pardon decision… with other people outside of his immediate family.”
Axios quoted a senior House Democrat as saying that “there’s definitely tension” over the pardon.
There is a great deal of frustration about Biden’s “about-face”, said a fourth House Democrat. She cited both the president’s promise to not pardon Hunter, and his pledge for 2020 to be a “bridge” to the next generation Democrats.
Biden’s supporters argue that a bad run in his career shouldn’t invalidate decades of public service.
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., acknowledged that there were “legitimate” concerns regarding Biden’s decision to run for office again. However, Goldman said Biden would “go down in history as a wonderful president.”
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. said that even though some people may be resentful of certain decisions, they will only complain softly. ).
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said that President Biden and House Democrats “built the strongest legislative record of modern history.” Biden, he added, “continues partnering with House Democrats to achieve more unprecedented results for American families.”
The intrigue: Although Democrats have criticised the pardon, a range of opinions exists from those who defend it like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi(D-Calif.), to some legislators who find it praiseworthy.
Jan Schakowsky, a Democrat from Illinois, said: “I think he should pardon himself because I believe Trump will go after Joe until he dies.”
Axios quoted a sixth anonymous House Democrat as saying: “I would be mad if he did not pardon [Hunter].
Goldman said: “I have no problem with the pardon, because Hunter Biden has become a Republican boogieman.”
Many lawmakers have expressed their exasperation with Biden and are ready to wash their hands.
Second, senior House Democrats commented on the Hunter pardon. “He shouldn’t of done it but…people, I think in general, are like ‘It is time to move forward. ‘”
Axios reported that a fifth House Democrat who was asked a question this week about Biden said: “I’m unplugging Biden now.”
Bottom line: “There is certainly frustration with the Biden Administration, and in some respects the most frustrating thing is that some of us love Joe Biden,” stated a seventh House Democrat.
“And the feeling that: Why are you going out like this?”
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