WASHINGTON – House Democrats are agitated over President Joe Biden’s negotiation with Republicans in order to avoid default.
Other Democrats say Biden is wrong to discredit a href=”https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/14th-amendment option-debt ceiling in order to overcome DOJ concerns.rcna83514″ target=”_blank”>the 14th Amendment/a>. Biden’s critics say he is wrong in discrediting the 14th Amendment as an option to deal with the debt ceiling unilaterally.
In the end, they are worried about who the public will hold responsible if there is no deal or if any agreement has draconian terms. Democrats are worried that if they don’t make a greater effort to reach out to the public then voters will blame them and Biden.
One House Democratic legislator said that the White House must do better at harnessing the “levers of communication of the president, which they haven’t used effectively up to this point.”
The president must fully use the bully-pulpit, or the power of the presidency to communicate to the American public what is really at stake. The American people are not fully aware of what’s at stake in terms of default for the country, said the anonymous lawmaker, who was criticizing the president.
The lawmaker said that the president of the United States was the only person who could replace him.
The Democratic hand-wringing over Biden’s performance is not new. But it comes at an important time for a president who has just launched his bid to win a second term. The negotiations with McCarthy’s group have been stalled, and the Treasury Department has warned that the U.S. may run out of cash and default on debt.
Many Democrats don’t understand the back and forth in the negotiations. This is a major cause of anxiety on Capitol Hill.
One House Democrat who represents a swing-district lamented the fact that Biden and White House only spoke in front of television cameras about raising debt ceilings, but didn’t press their case for cutting spending in the future — an issue which plays well in competitive district like the one that the moderate represents.
The source said, “It seems to me that Republicans are ahead of us in terms of the message,” and continued. The White House must recognize that the message isn’t getting through, and take swift and decisive actions to ensure that more people hear that message.
Progressives to see 2024 results
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D. Washington, said Biden would pay a high price from progressive voters, who were in large numbers in the polls and helped him win by a narrow margin in the 2020 electoral college, if he cut a budget agreement that allowed Republicans to target left-wing priorities.
The Progressive Caucus Chair warned about the “impact of accepting a bad deal, and allowing Republicans put forward such unreasonable positions.”
“I have been a strong supporter of his leadership in the past few years. She said that everything we achieved was due to the partnership, trust and respect developed between the White House and the Democratic Caucus. This included the progressive base. “I think he should remember this because the backlash would be severe if we were forced into a bad agreement.” “I think this is very bad for Americans; I also believe it’s a bad dynamic for future negotiations.”
Rep. Cori bush, D-Mo. said that the president should be mindful of “those who have supported him and have been pushing for his agenda,” while also reaching out to “huge numbers of young people” who are not yet 18 but can vote right now.
She said that a deal between Biden and McCarthy, which cuts domestic funding for things like education programs, would “not be helpful” to Biden’s reelection coalition in the year 2024.
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), a Biden supporter and member of the leadership, said that the president should “negotiate and negotiate and negotiate” and use the 14th Amendment if the time is running out to pay the bill unilaterally. Many progressives have encouraged Biden to take this option.
White House Strategy
Karine Jean Pierre, White House Press Secretary, said that the President has been outspoken and clear on this issue for several months.
You’ve heard the president many times in the past five months. She said, “He’s been very clear.” You’ve heard the president, you’ve also heard the economic team, and you’ve even heard the Democrats, the House leadership, the Senate speak — now, talk about the urgency of Congress acting on their constitutional duty.
Biden’s Press Secretary was quick to embrace the sharper message from congressional Democrats on Wednesday, telling reporters that Hakeem Jeffreys, D-N.Y. Minority Leader, spoke for his party when he attacked Republicans who were “MAGAs” over “gamesmanship” regarding debt limits.
Jean-Pierre replied that both sides had “aligned themselves” for many months.
A new Monmouth Poll released on Wednesday found that 34% approved of Biden’s management of the debt ceiling, while 32% approved of the way Democrats handled it in Congress, and only 29% approved of how Republicans handled it in Congress. A Marist survey revealed that 43% of U.S. adults blamed Biden for a default while 45% blamed Republicans.
The White House seems unsure about the best way to deploy Kamala Harris as Vice President. Barack Obama asked then-Vice president Biden to assist in negotiating a debt ceiling deal during the 2011 fight. Harris, a former Senator, hasn’t played a nearly as important role.
She joined Biden last week in the Oval Office to meet with congressional leaders, a sign she may be becoming more public. Harris was not publicly involved when Biden went to Hiroshima for the Group of Seven Summit. She left the city at one point and flew to Los Angeles, where she toured a warehouse that provides supplies to families. She also attended Brittney Grinders return to WNBA.
Jean-Pierre was questioned at a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan on Saturday as to why Harris wasn’t present in Washington for the talks.
Jean-Pierre stated that “she has also been in regular conversation and has had conversations with the President.” He has listened to and taken her advise, as he does with many other issues.
Democrats Angry with McCarthy
McCarthy and Republicans are the primary culprits for the frustration of many House Democrats. They refuse to compromise on issues such as tax increases and military cuts, which leaves them with little to cut except domestic discretionary expenditure. He rejected a freeze on spending that would have been an inflation-adjusted reduction.
Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), the top Democrat in the Budget Committee, said that Kevin McCarthy had more red lines than Crayola.
McCarthy and Biden were at the White House on Monday when McCarthy said that revenue-raising measures should be discussed, while also saying that spending must be reduced. Biden stated that we should look at tax loopholes to ensure the wealthy pay their fair shares.
McCarthy responded that the Republican-pushed budget caps and the tougher requirements for federal benefits are the concessions. McCarthy told reporters that if AOC or Bernie Sanders are going to lead their party, it’s not his fault. He was referring to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D.Y.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), the third-ranking Democrat in the House and an appropriator said that it was mathematically impossible for McCarthy to fulfill all his demands while protecting funding for veterans.
Aguilar stated that “it makes it increasingly hard to achieve the budget numbers he wants.” It will lead to over 30 percent cuts in everything from Head Start and Meals on Wheels.
