How Biden's firm line with Republicans draws on lesson of Obama's mistakes

[DonViejo]

Joan E Greve in Washington
@joanegreve

Sat 1 May 2021 03.00 EDT

The president has sought bipartisan support but not at the cost of delay and dilution of his bold policies

Joan E Greve in Washington
@joanegreve
Sat 1 May 2021 03.00 EDT

Joe Biden started his presidential campaign with promises to be a unifying force in Washington who would help lawmakers come together to achieve bipartisan reform. But over his first 100 days in office, Biden’s message to Republicans in Congress has been closer to this: get on board or get out of my way.

This willingness to go it alone if necessary appears to be a hard-won lesson from the early years of Barack Obama’s presidency, when Democrats negotiated with Republicans on major bills only to have them vote against the final proposals.

It has also prompted some – especially on the left of the Democratic party – to make early comparisons between Biden and Obama that favor the current president as a more dynamic, determined and ruthless political force for progressive change than his old boss.

Just three months into his presidency, Biden has already signed the $1.9tn coronavirus relief package, which did not attract a single Republican vote in Congress. Delivering his first presidential address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, Biden signaled he was willing to take a similar approach to infrastructure if necessary.

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/01/how-bidens-firm-line-with-republicans-draws-on-lesson-of-obamas-mistakes