Even in victory, Democrats seem intent on undermining their own political agenda. The imminent passage of President Biden’s massive $1.9 trillion stimulus represents many …
Even in victory, Democrats seem intent on undermining their own political agenda. The imminent passage of President Biden’s massive $1.9 trillion stimulus represents many potential wins: for American workers, for small businesses, for the battle against COVID-19 — and for Biden’s administration. So naturally, this being the Democratic Party in 2021, the White House has decided to cast all of that aside and focus on – what else? – selling the one part of the bill that really matters to voters: its hyper-progressive street cred. The American Rescue Plan is “the most progressive piece of legislation in history,” declared White House press secretary Jen Psaki. It’s the “most progressive domestic legislation in a generation,” proclaimed the president’s chief of staff Ron Klain. Not to be outdone, Biden himself got in on the action: “Bernie Sanders said this is the most progressive bill he’s ever seen passed since he’s been here,” he said. Well then. What could possibly go wrong? Surely, the problem isn’t the merits of these claims. A nearly $2 trillion stimulus – packed to the brim with federal spending, and a bevy of Democratic wish-list items – probably is the most progressive bill since at least the Johnson administration. The problem is that Biden’s team doesn’t need to advertise it that way.
