A 'dangerous dereliction': Why some Democrats are pushing Biden to focus on Trump
Although seemingly not #1 on his to-do list, some Democrats and progressive activists are encouraging President Biden to take a bolder stance and speak out more forcefully against former President Donald Trump, writes McClatchy.
Biden has, thus far, "largely avoided attacking Trump by name," even while criticizing individuals upholding his baseless claims of voter fraud. And while some Democrats agree with this no-name approach, others think its time Biden ups the ante ahead of the 2022 and 2024 elections, per McClatchy.
Democratic strategist Fernand Amandi argues that by not positioning Jan. 6 and its assault on American democracy as the focus of the administration, "we dilute and diminish the very existential nature of what that threat represents."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ian Bassin, co-founder of nonprofit Protect Democracy shared a similar message, suggesting Biden will be unable to "run the same election as last time" because of what McClatchy calls "Trump-inspired efforts" to replace key state and local election officials that certified Biden's win. "If the exact same election were held in 2024, with the exact same attempts to overturn it, the people who stood up and protected us will no longer be there with them," Bassin said. He added that, although it is "reasonable" for the White House to want to avoid brawling with Trump, it is a "dangerous dereliction" to forget about the insurrectionists.
Biden's "number one priority is not protecting American democracy," argued Bassin. It's "passing an infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better plan."
That said, however, centering Trump at the center of the Democrats' campaigning might help energize their base, said Sarah Longwell, an anti-Trump Republican strategist.
"That is a recipe for juicing Democratic turnout," Longwell told McClatchy. "It's the one thing that really unifies their coalition, is opposition to Donald Trump."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Sitting in judgment on Trump
Opinion Who'd want to be on this jury?
By Susan Caskie Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Republicans want to silence Israel's opponents'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?
Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published