The mood in the Democratic Party leading up to the convention in Chicago resembles less of a celebratory atmosphere and more of a tense summit among discontented party leaders. Despite the outward projection of unity, resentment resounds through the ranks of the Democrats, particularly in relation to the incumbent resident of the White House.
Powerful figures within the party crowded behind closed doors, conspiring on the best course of action to replace the current president, yet preserving their own self interests. Their choice had ultimately become a referendum on the president’s perceived inertia, fueled by his delusions that he alone could defeat Donald Trump.
A snap change in the party line saw Biden swiftly sidelined, with the culprits of this political switch appearing to be none other than Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Hakeem Jeffries. Up against these odds, the illusion of Biden’s competence came crashing down, an outcome he seemed reluctant to accept at first glance.
Emerging victorious from this toppling act was Kamala Harris. Nonetheless, her ascension to the nomination, while potentially offering the Democrats a lifeline, does little to mask the chaotic circumstances of Biden’s departure. Despite James Carville’s lamentations of a sorrowful convention, a newfound enthusiasm permeated the Democrats after Harris claimed the leadership mantle.
Yet, even in the face of this transformation, stalwarts of the party who were once Biden’s close allies couldn’t help but express sincere surprise in front of media at his absence. It was evident that the wounds of this internal power shuffle ran deep, with the former president isolating himself in the aftermath of the upheaval.
Even as Harris waxed in the limelight, the narrative of Biden’s hasty exit cast a long shadow over the party’s image. An effort to paint this tumultuous event in a more positive light was made, with key leaders trying to erase the unsightly image with poetic praises of Biden. Predictably, this hollow attempt found no solace with the discarded leader and his kin.
If Pelosi, one of the president’s long-standing allies, hoped for a reconciliation with Biden, it appeared to be a long shot. Afterall, the interests of Biden’s administration had invariably taken a backseat to the preservation of the House of Representatives. Pelosi’s seemingly innocuous attempt to solidify her legacy with ‘The Art of Power’ subtly hinted at her decisive part in Biden’s downfall.
In the course of Biden’s fall from grace, his long-standing relationships with the party’s core leaders were crippled beyond repair. Biden, left with the bitter taste of betrayal in his mouth, could hardly forget or forgive. Relationships once nurtured over years were swiftly falling apart.
Obama’s role, though surreptitious, in reducing Biden to a non-factor was evident to the latter. To make matters worse, Michelle Obama’s personal relationship with Biden took an unexpected hit owing to familial drama involving Biden’s son, Hunter. This sowed further discord in the party, with Michelle conspicuously absent from the campaign trail in support of Biden.
Harris might play the cards she’s dealt with a strong hand, but it’d be folly to assume she’s pleased with the way her endorsement was delayed, courtesy of Schumer, Pelosi, and Obama’s hesitations. The hesitations appeared to stem from a misplaced desire to offer a more center-leaning candidate a fair shot in the mini-primary.
While Harris may be gradually recruiting her own confidants, tensions between her and the personnel from Biden’s camp continue to simmer beneath the surface. Biden, despite the setbacks, maintains an unwavering belief in his own capability to have defeated Trump, which further complicates his acceptance of his sudden, undeserved ouster.
In a recent conversation with Anderson Cooper, Biden’s long-time advisor Ron Klain voiced the indignation felt by ‘Bidenworld’. Klain questioned the legitimacy of the political shake-up, arguing that the public calls for Biden’s withdrawal from the race were unjust and premature.
This act of political upending should not be seen as an accomplishment or a timely rescue of the party from possible obliteration against Trump, but rather as an unprecedented disregard for democratic ideals and will. Ironically enough, our despotic counterparts could use this divisive incident to throw the very essence of democracy under the bus. Biden’s hopes of carving out a presidential legacy have been brutally cut short.
Biden’s Unruly Exit: Democrats Violate Democratic Ideals appeared first on Real News Now.
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