I was right, but also wrong. Let me explain.
A little over a year ago, I mentioned that if Trump were to win, the inevitable post-election blame game among Democrats would be quite entertaining.
The blame part? Spot on. It’s entertaining in a way. But, I misjudged who would bear the brunt of that blame.
I thought Kamala Harris, who had stepped in for her predecessor just a few months before the election, would take the heat the hardest. Why didn’t she? Sure, the fault for Trump’s second term lies with Joe Biden, but Harris was the candidate who lost decisively.
I figured Biden would find a way to pin the blame on Harris, the one who allowed Trump to stay for another four years. Let’s face it, this is a man who’s been entrenched in D.C. for decades, probably has a wealth of connections for blame-shifting, and would somehow repair his image after a loss.
Biden, entering politics way back before Roe v. Wade, could lean on years of goodwill and insider knowledge to convince his party to scapegoat women—those who perhaps hadn’t built the necessary political connections in D.C. I was mistaken.
Biden’s downfall, it seems, began when former President Obama remarked, “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to work things out.”
I’m not sure how he did it, but Biden seems to have taken ownership of everything that transpired last year. Meanwhile, the candidates who actually were on the ballot escaped much of the fallout. Harris’s lack of consequences tells us as much about the party as it does about Biden’s impressive ability to be a failure.
Harris only served half a term before becoming vice president, so she wasn’t really entrenched in American politics. It would have been so easy for Biden to throw her under the bus after the 2024 disaster. No one would really miss her; she has no robust support or established connections. She could easily fade back to California, becoming just a minor detail in the larger narrative of Trump’s impact on politics.
But that hasn’t happened yet. The criticisms are largely directed at Biden, and fewer people in the Democratic Party seem willing to defend him.
Back in October, Democrats weren’t seeing Biden’s actions as beneficial for the party, nor were they holding him accountable. I can’t comment much on Harris as a candidate, but I believe she’ll be a loyal team player. Both leadership and the base recognize this.
On the flip side, Biden has elevated himself above the party by deciding to run again. He prioritized himself even when it was clear he was struggling, and then embarrassed the party during a debate, making them all look foolish.
He went even further, self-serving again by pardoning his son Hunter, against his own promises. This move not only undermined the party’s “no one is above the law” stance but also painted the administration’s supporters as if they were dishonest.
To be frank, Biden has consistently put his interests ahead of the party, and that’s not something the party will stand for. Harris might have lost, but she wasn’t selfish or deceitful. Though not strong enough as a candidate, the party recognizes she faced unfair treatment.
What they won’t accept is egotism or negligence.
Now, there’s a constant stream of negative news about Biden. For instance, he’s struggling to land speaking gigs or profitable opportunities that ex-presidents usually snag. It’s partially because of his age, but mostly because he lacks popularity in key circles. One organization even attempted to negotiate a lower speaking fee for him.
Perhaps most telling is that Harris is currently securing speaking engagements to promote her new book, which is critical of Biden.
This speaks volumes about Biden’s standing in the party. The vice president, who previously faced a tough loss to Trump, is now openly critiquing his predecessor without fear of repercussions.
The blame doesn’t rest with Kamala; it’s squarely on Biden. If he had been more gracious, perhaps things would have turned out differently.
