On Friday, November 22, 2019, Democrats in the House of Representatives were left fuming after former Vice President Joe Biden withdrew his threat to veto a proposed amendment that would stop the Pentagon from funding President Donald Trump’s border wall. Sources say that while the former vice president has always been a strong advocate for border security, he did not want to alienate his progressive supporters in key swing states, who have been calling for the government to end its disastrous immigration policies.
Biden’s decision to back down on the veto threat was met with frustration and anger by House Democrats who saw his move as a betrayal of their shared values. Many of them quickly took to Twitter to express their disappointment and called on the former vice president to reconsider his position.
“Joe Biden has just given Donald Trump a big win and betrayed the values of the Democratic Party,” tweeted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “His decision to support funding for Trump’s border wall sends a message to immigrants and refugees that Democrats are not serious about protecting their rights.”
Other Democrats, including Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Veronica Escobar, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, issued similar statements, criticizing Biden for his stance and pledging to fight against the amendment.
The proposed amendment, which was introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee, would have prevented the Pentagon from using its funds to build the border wall. The amendment had already passed the House with a 226-203 vote, but the Senate had rejected it.
Biden’s reversal came as a surprise to many members of Congress, particularly progressives who had been counting on the former vice president to stand firm against Trump’s controversial policies, including his border wall. Some analysts have suggested that Biden’s move was intended to shore up support among more moderate voters in key battleground states ahead of next year’s election.
However, the backlash from Democrats has made it clear that Biden’s decision has backfired, and he may have lost some of the support he had hoped to gain. Many progressives now view him as a weak candidate who does not have the courage to stand up for the principles he claims to uphold.
In recent weeks, Biden has faced increased pressure from progressive activists to take a stronger stance on a range of issues, including climate change, police brutality, and immigration. The former vice president has tried to address these concerns by releasing a series of policy proposals aimed at appealing to younger, more progressive voters.
However, his decision to back down on the veto threat has called into question his commitment to these policies and has led some in the Democratic Party to question whether he is the right candidate to lead the party into the 2020 elections.
For many Democrats, the question is not just whether Biden is the right candidate, but whether the party itself is ready to take on Trump and the Republican Party in 2020. The party has been grappling with a range of internal tensions and divisions in recent months, which have been exacerbated by the impeachment inquiry and the ongoing primary race.
Some progressives feel that the party leadership is too focused on winning over moderate voters and is not doing enough to energize the base. They argue that the party needs to take a more aggressive stance on issues like immigration, healthcare, and climate change if it wants to win back the White House in 2020.
On the other hand, some moderate Democrats worry that the party is moving too far to the left and may alienate the very voters it needs to win over. They argue that the party should focus on building a broad-based coalition that includes voters from across the political spectrum.
Despite these divisions, most Democrats agree that the party needs to present a united front if it wants to take on Trump in 2020. Many see Biden as a candidate who can help bring the party together and appeal to a broad swath of voters, including moderates, African Americans, and working-class Americans.
However, his decision to withdraw his veto threat has raised questions about his ability to lead and has called into question his commitment to the party’s core values. Some progressives now see him as a weak candidate who is not willing to take a stand on controversial issues like immigration, while others worry that he is too focused on appealing to moderate voters at the expense of the party’s base.
As the 2020 election cycle heats up, Democrats are increasingly divided over the best way to take on Trump and the Republican Party. Some believe that the party needs a strong, progressive candidate who can energize the base and take on Trump’s divisive rhetoric head-on, while others argue that the party needs to appeal to moderate voters if it wants to win.
For now, it remains to be seen what impact Biden’s decision to back down on the veto threat will have on his candidacy and the broader Democratic Party. Some Democrats are already calling on him to reconsider his position and take a stronger stance on the issues that matter most to the party’s base.
Others see his decision as a sign of weakness and are worried that he may not have what it takes to take on Trump and win. Whatever happens, it is clear that the Democratic Party is facing a pivotal moment in its history, and the decisions it makes in the coming months could have a profound impact on the future of American politics.