“Getting Pressed by the Press”—The Sunday Political Brunch March 28, 2021

Sunday, March 28, 2021

 

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President Joe Biden

It’s been another wild week in the world of politics. From two more mass shootings, to an immigration crisis at the border, and President Biden finally holding his first press conference more the two months into his term, there is plenty to “brunch” on here.

 

“The Pressing Issues” – There are a lot of important issues on the table these days, not the least of which is the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. When I was in DC as a reporter, there was no more affable, approachable lawmaker than Senator Joe Biden (D) Delaware. He’d pretty much talk about anything, any time. That’s why I am stunned it took him 65 days to finally hold a formal press conference at the White House. Reporters pressed him on it, and he promised to be available more often. He also promised more press access to events going on at the Southern Border. As a reporter, I admit I am very biased about having a free press with unrestricted access to issues of public concern. I hope we see him in front of reporters more often. We keep hearing leaders promise “transparency.” Well, it’s easy. Make it happen.

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“Some Funny Moments” – I thought there were some funny moments but heard no audible laughter from the White House press corps, which can be a dour group sometimes, (I used to be part of it). Biden was asked about whether he supported elimination of the filibuster in the U.S. Senate. He said, “With regard to the filibuster, I believe we should go back to a position of the filibuster that existed just when I came to the United States Senate 120 years ago.” He was kidding of course, as he joined the Senate 49 years ago, but it’s been quite a stretch! And I’m sure to his opponents it seems like he’s been around 120 years!

 

“Thumping Trump” – One of the big headlines of the news conference was Biden announcing it was his intention to run for reelection in 2024, which prompted this exchange with PBS White House Reporter Yamiche Alcindor asking, “Then, on a related note, have you decided whether you are going to run for reelection in 2024? You haven’t set up a reelection campaign yet as your predecessor had by this time.” Mr. Biden responded, “My predecessor needed to. My predecessor, oh God, I miss him. No, the answer is yes, my plan is to run for reelection. That’s my expectation.” I thought the, “Oh God I miss him line” was a hoot! Look, from my vantage point Trump “generated copy” as we say in the news business, (for better or for worse)

 

“The Blame Game Begins” – Much of Biden’s news conference was centered on questions about who was at fault for the Southern Border crisis. Biden blamed Trump. “The way to deal with this problem, and I started to deal with it back when I was Vice President putting together a bipartisan plan of over $700 million to do the root causes of why people are leaving. What did Trump do? He eliminated that funding. He didn’t use it. He didn’t do it,” said Mr. Biden.

 

“The Other Side of the Coin” -- Senator Shelley Moore Capito, (R) West Virginia told me this week that Biden essentially “invited” the problem by suggesting the enforcement measures of the Trump administration would be relaxed in his first 100 days. “There’s a real mess down there. And I hope that the administration realizes that the signals they are sending, is encouraging traffickers to traffic children through Mexico. Who knows what happens to them on the way in?” Capito said after visiting the border at El Paso, Texas last week.

 

“King Joe Manchin” – I’ve written and speculated about it a few times in this column, and now it is starting the bear fruit. My fellow political analyst Tom Susman even said, “If the Senate ties at 50-50, Senator Joe Manchin will be the most powerful politician in Washington.” In theory, with the two parties split 50-50, Vice-President Kamala Harris would be the most powerful, as the tie-breaking vote. And I am sure she will probably break the record for how many times a VP does that. But Manchin (D) West Virginia, is the Senate’s most conservative Democrat (or as he puts it, the Senate’s most bipartisan member). He is wielding his considerable clout.

 

“Manchin’s March” – His power plays have been unreal. First, he torpedoed the nomination of Neera Tanden to be Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, when he announced he would vote no on confirming her. He’s announced he is opposed to eliminating the Senate filibuster, so that’s done. In the wake of the Atlanta and Boulder mass shootings the House passed a bill with stricter rules for gun background checks. But, Manchin, who has ardent supporters of the Second Amendment in a state where that is critical to getting elected, says he can’t vote yes. He’s also the key swing vote opposing the Green New Deal. Expect this to be a recurring theme over the next two years, until one party takes firm control of the Senate in 2022.

 

“The Gun Fight” – After every mass shooting, people ask me, “Will something get done?” My short answer is no. No matter how egregious and tragic as these events are, I don’t think there is enough unified support in Congress to tighten background checks or pass any gun control measures. Whether it’s right or wrong is not the issue. It’s a question of, “Do they have enough votes?” And the answer, for now, is no.

 

How would you solve the illegal immigration problem in the United States? Add a comment below.

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Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for the seven Nexstar Media TV stations serving West Virginia, its five neighboring states and the entire Washington, DC media market. He is a MINDSETTER contributing political analyst for www.GoLocalProv.com and its affiliates.

 

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