Friday, November 13, 2020

Biden seeks to appease the Left as Democratic fissures emerge

Naomi Lim, Political Reporter, Washington Examiner  "Presumptive President-elect Joe Biden campaigned on a message of unity, but his own party is fractured after last week's shock election.

"Democrats failed to expand their House majority or gain Senate control, despite high expectations. And the party's Left is complaining they're being scapegoated for the disappointments as members try to shape the apparent president-elect's nominations and policy priorities.

"Yet those fears seem to be misplaced, with Biden's top spokeswoman signaling liberal Democrats won't be let down by the two-term vice president once he's inaugurated.

"Republican strategists, including Brad Todd, suggest Biden's buckling to the Left has been a running theme of his bid, citing his running mate choice of presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

" 'By picking Kamala Harris, the most liberal member of the Senate by voting record, Joe Biden gave reason to believe it is his intention to allow the left-most elements of the Democratic Party to have heavy influence on the rest of his administration," Todd told the Washington Examiner.

"But with another divided Congress set to be sworn in next year, pundits and Democrats don't believe centrist voices will be entirely drowned out.

"A Republican Senate headed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would make it "nearly impossible for really progressive legislation to pass," according to the Brookings Institution's governance studies vice president Darrell West." . . .

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