The President’s reputation as a dealmaker will be tested as he tries to broker a massive spending bill
(CNN)If you asked President Joe Biden to sum up his life — and political career — in a single term, he would probably say “deal-maker.”
While Biden tends to be self-deprecating about many things, his unique ability to make deals is not one of them.
“Give me a break,” Biden told Politico when questioned about his ability to makes deals a few years back. “I’ve been doing this my entire career. I’m going to say something outrageous: I don’t know anybody who counts votes better than me in the Senate.”
In 2019, Biden sounded a similar note in a speech to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
“My whole career I’ve been able to get a lot of things done,” he said at the time. “I know I am being criticized by some on the far left that I … actually think we should work with Republicans. But how do you get something done [without that]?”
Then this in 2020: “I’m going to say something outrageous. I’m not bad at this because people know whatever I tell them, I will do. I’ll keep my word.”
And even in his victory speech after winning the 2020 election, Biden referred to his desire to bring people together.
“I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify,” he said. “Who doesn’t see red and blue states, but a United States.”
Joe Biden, meet the most important week of your life.
If ever there was a man for the moment — the moment being more than $4.5 trillion in government spending that congressional Democrats are trying to pass this week — it’s Joe Biden.
If you believe Biden that the work of his life has been deal-making — and there’s ample evidence in deals he cut with then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell during his years as vice president — then now is the time for him to show and prove that he can do it on the biggest stage with the biggest stakes.
(Sidebar: McConnell himself has openly acknowledged Biden’s deal-making capacity. “There is a reason ‘Get Joe on the phone’ is shorthand for ‘time to get serious’ in my office,” McConnell said back in 2016.)
Yes, the task is significant — trying to thread the needle between liberals and moderates within his own party to find a way to get almost the entirety of his first-term agenda done with these two pieces of legislation.
But that’s what Biden asked for — and what he has long told us he is uniquely suited to do.
The Point: It’s put up or shut up time for Biden. And the success or failure of his administration may well be riding on it.
Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_topstories/~3/74CxGsjSsw8/index.html
