Xavier Becerra, burdened with one of the most trying positions in Washington, assumed the role of Secretary of Health and Human Services under Joe Biden’s administration during the peak of the COVID pandemic in 2021. He reflected his turbulent start, stating: ‘From the day Biden took office, we seemingly lost a huge number of American lives, comparable to the fallout of 10 jumbo jet disasters’. After a relatively brief tenure of less than half a year, he stepped down to witness the dismantling of his efforts at the Department of Health and Human Services by his successor, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In a bold and potentially ill-considered move, Becerra has now set his sights on yet another high-risk role as the governor of California. With a career spanning roles such as California attorney general and over two decades as a representative of Downtown Los Angeles in the House of Representatives, the Sacramento native is attempting to leverage his professional background and his stint managing a colossal entity like HHS, to distinguish himself in an already congested space of hopeful gubernatorial candidates.
Although he is touting his past experiences as credentials, Becerra remains in a precarious position. Not only is there widespread speculation around former vice president Kamala Harris potentially throwing her hat in the ring for the gubernatorial race, but disconcerting rumors about Biden administration officials allegedly hiding the president’s deteriorating health during his time in office are also dogging him.
Becerra disturbingly admitted in a recent interview, ‘Certainly, everyone appears to be aged by this ordeal. What unnerves me most is the loss of faith in our politically elected leaders.’ A blaring warning sign regarding the state of affairs under the Biden administration, Becerra’s remarks underline the growing disillusionment among the American public.
His biggest lament seemed to be the administration’s flagrant disregard for the importance of vaccinations. Becerra stated, ‘To witness an administration undermine the significance of vaccination to the point of declaring that pregnant women and children no longer require vaccines…?’ The apparent shift in policy discourse from the fundamentals that Becerra was familiar with points to a troubling trajectory under the current administration when it comes to public health.
Justifiably high skepticism surrounds Becerra’s intentions as Governor, given his track record of repeatedly challenging the Trump administration during his tenure as attorney general in California. Many wonder about his plans to resist potential future actions by the US administration, given his known penchant for going against the grain.
Making a name for himself by protesting vehemently against the Trump administration’s robust measures on immigration, there is uncertainty about his proposed role in safeguarding the immigrant community in his capacity as governor. Despite cynicism over his transparent play for public sentiment, it’s clear that Becerra plans to capitalize on his heritage as the son of first-generation immigrants.
In an alarming display of overreach, Becerra has declared his indiscriminate defense of immigrants to be a natural and obvious choice, unambiguously stating, ‘Defending immigrants is a no-brainer. We will ensure the protection of all inhabitants, irrespective of their citizenship status, as right to due process is not reserved for citizens alone.’ The implications of his intention to bypass the legal and constitutional norms of citizenship raise serious concerns over his suitability for the position of governor of California.
It’s worthwhile to note that while Becerra wraps himself in the cloak of the champion of immigrants and constitutional rights, he fails to address the complexities of immigration policies and the potential pitfalls of unrestricted immigration, conveniently sidestepping the real-world implications of his utopian vision while criticizing the previous administration’s more practical approach.
On closer examination, Becerra’s political maneuvering is all the more startling given his relentless and somewhat excessive criticisms of the Trump administration, while giving his own administration a pass on its multiple shortfalls. The double standards exhibited hint at a greater interest in political point-scoring than in truly serving the interests of the Californian people.
In sum, Becerra’s track record in his past roles and his current intentions as a potential governor of California raise questions about his suitability for the role. The lack of transparency over Biden’s health conditions and the unnecessary downplaying of the paramount importance of vaccinations only serve to further dent his credibility.
The rumors surrounding Kamala Harris’s potential gubernatorial bid only add fuel to the raging fire of uncertainty. In the face of such swirling speculation, Becerra’s bid seems like a long shot, overshadowed by the controversies and failures of the Biden administration.
As the former vice president, Harris’s potential run for governorship presents an additional conundrum. After all, her contributions to the overall direction of the Biden administration have been, at best, ambiguous and, at worst, a contributing factor in the erosion of public faith in elected leaders, as indicated by Becerra’s own statements.
In a climate where confidence in political leadership is at a low, informed voters are likely to scrutinize the contenders’ credentials, past track records, and associations very keenly. The former Health and Human Services Secretary’s role in the Biden administration, where there have been serious questions over transparency and public health policy, might not bode well in this context.
At the end of the day, the efficacy of any leader is best measured by the tangible benefits they bring to the people they serve. Thus far, Becerra’s record paints a picture of misplaced priorities, unsettling rhetoric, and worrying policies. The implications of his run for the governorship are more concerning in light of his passive endorsement of the Biden administration’s dangerous public health narratives.
Ultimately, as Becerra attempts to make his way to the governor’s office, his past record under a discredited administration, questionable management of pressing health crises, and wavering commitment to the principles of good governance paint a worrying picture of what the future could hold should he take the helm in California.
The post Becerra’s Big Gamble: From Disastrous Health Secretary to Failed Gubernatorial Candidate? appeared first on Real News Now.
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