The growing calls for President Biden to step down from the 2024 race are putting Democratic lawmakers in a difficult position. While publicly expressing support for the president, many privately harbor concerns about his fitness for office. Their reluctance to speak openly about these concerns echoes the silence of Republicans during the Trump era, highlighting a common political tactic in dealing with sensitive issues.
For years, Republican House and Senate members avoided answering questions from the press about former President Trump’s controversial statements and actions. They would offer boilerplate responses, deflect questions, or simply avoid the press altogether. This strategy has now become commonplace among Democrats, as they grapple with the growing sentiment that Biden may be too old and too frail to effectively lead the country.
It is significant that two Democrats with major foreign policy portfolios, Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, and Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, have both publicly called on Biden to step down. However, many other Democrats remain silent, caught in a state of political purgatory. Even if their own political future might depend on it, they choose to give opaque statements or avoid endorsing Biden’s bid directly.
This reluctance to openly criticize the president is evident in the recent actions of Democratic leaders. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, despite being asked about issues unrelated to Biden’s candidacy, repeatedly used the phrase “I’m with Joe” in an attempt to deflect questions about the president. Meanwhile, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse completely avoided discussing the president’s health and the growing concerns surrounding his 2024 run, refusing to answer any questions about the matter.
The recent meeting of Democratic senators at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) further highlights the anxieties surrounding Biden’s candidacy. While many senators attended the meeting, their reluctance to make the short walk from the Capitol to the DSCC speaks volumes. Some opted for private transportation, while others simply slipped into the DSCC through a side entrance, clearly avoiding any public display of support for the president.
The notable absences of Senators Tester, Brown, Casey, and Baldwin, all facing potentially difficult races this fall, further illustrate the Democrats’ delicate situation. Their choice to avoid the public trek from the Capitol to the DSCC suggests they are hesitant to openly endorse Biden’s campaign, fearing the potential political repercussions.
The Democrats’ current predicament mirrors the situation Republicans faced during the Trump era, where party loyalty often trumped personal convictions. The current silence from Democrats, however, is less a sign of loyalty and more a reflection of the growing anxiety surrounding Biden’s ability to win re-election. While Democrats may publicly stand behind the president, their actions suggest a growing concern about the potential consequences of his continued candidacy.
The timing of the Congressional recess, which allows for more than a week without sessions, provides a brief window of opportunity for Democrats to publicly express their concerns about Biden’s candidacy. This break allows them to avoid the scrutiny of the press corps and to make statements from the safety of their own districts or home states. However, at least one Democrat, Rep. Mike Levin, has already taken a more direct approach, openly calling for the president to step down during a conference call with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Whether President Biden will heed these calls remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Democrats’ silence, while politically strategic, reflects a growing concern about his ability to lead the country in 2024.
