Often the news is about the news; reporters and editors can’t help themselves. The month of March has been crowded with stories about President Biden not holding a news conference. And then it happens, and the only real story was that it happened.
President Biden specializes in anesthesia. When necessary, he administers a blend of words that force and then smooth the transition. He is, for example, transitioning from filibuster supporter to opponent, having absorbed a simple truth. A 50-50 split in the US Senate will preclude a historic presidency unless the filibuster goes or is modified.
Not surprisingly, he cares mostly about being leader, not whether the absence of the filibuster will at some point help the other side. And that is the greater truth. He believes or is forced to believe by the Left of his Party that foundational changes made during his time in office will change America for the better and not be completely rolled back. To me, that is the headline from the news conference.
The President was a caring parent when asked numerous questions about the rush to, and often through, the southern border. He was a moralist when talking about a federal takeover of voting procedures in the States. He was indignant with China, and he constantly returned to an overarching theme of helping working families. In short, what he might have missed in specifics, he more than made up for with tone. Ronald Reagan frequently wrong-footed a press horde that faulted him for being, let’s say, out of touch.
I do think at some point, President Biden is going to have to find a common cause with some of the ten or so Republicans who seem to want to find areas of compromise. When the rhetorical fabric includes threads of unity, it will begin to fray if the only reconciliation occurs within your own political party. And especially if the compromise forcing filibuster is, for all intents or purposes, eliminated because you cannot get votes from the other side. The President should remember that almost half of the American electorate is more conservative and much more conservative than his Party’s left-wing.
Finally, let me return to my “news is about the news” opening. Our representatives in Washington just assured us that we will borrow $1.9 trillion to fund a so-called Covid relief bill. And stories have appeared in the last several days suggesting that an announcement is imminent on a multi-trillion dollar infrastructure package. Maybe there should have been one set of questions that probed for the President’s thoughts about extreme deficits and sources of additional tax revenue.
The press also let the President evade answers on gun control even though there were two horrendous mass shootings within days of the news conference.
President Trump, for the most part, faced a belligerent press. In part, that was his fault because variations on his charges of “fake news” were delivered almost daily. But, the reporters of the day, whatever day, should not let the carefully prepared words and phrases (talking points) of a President, any President, go unchallenged.
Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al recently published Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.
Stephen Schaare says
Mr. Sikes, Thank you for a truly thoughtful, balanced essay on a complex issue.
Susan Diane Gilbert says
Balanced? The caption to the article hardly suggests that it is balanced, but rather written to be alarmist.
Michael Davis says
Mr. Sikes, thank you for your thing. You show an uncanny ability to read Biden’s mind. I’m amazed to read you know so much about what he is thinking. Can you apply that same skill to ex-President Trump and tell us what he’s thinking about his next media platform. There may be an investment opportunity if you can read his mind.
One other minor request: You call the Covid relief bill, “the so-called Covid relief bill.” Please let us know what all of us should be calling it. This is personal as my very broke student daughter considered it wonderful, but I want to straighten her out.
David Tull says
Biden is a socialist puppet being managed by Deep State socialist we need to eradicate these cancer cells from our Republic.
Lk says
I miss a strong President who actually stands (no pun intended)for truth and keeping us safe! I am sad that people actually voted for this party!
Bob Parker says
Mr. Sikes, while I, too, am concerned that a Senate w/o a filibuster will result in a tyranny of the majority, what we have now is a tyranny of the minority. There is no reason to believe that if McConnell once again is the Senate majority leader that he would not end the filibuster if he felt such a move would be to his benefit. If you have doubts, I suggest you ask Justice Garland or whomever Pres. Biden selected to fill Justice Ginsburg’s seat on the Supreme Court. Pres. Biden has been clear that he would prefer a modification in the filibuster rules returning it to it’s original purpose of increasing debate and not of merely giving a bill an early burial. The calls for “bipartisanship” by the Republicans ring false as their idea of bipartisanship requires that their position is accepted by the Dems w/o debate or compromise. If they are so certain that their ideas will hold sway over their Dem colleagues, they are welcome to provide appropriate amendments on the Senate floor during debate. However, they seem unwilling to do so. As pointed out by the President, his positions do have the bipartisan support of American voters. Biden was elected by those center-right voters who recognized Biden to be a significant upgrade over the previous occupant of the WH, your attempts to paint him as being too left of the electorate are belied by the electoral results, and do a disservice to your image as an even-handed political commentator.