In a fascinating display of political gymnastics, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, appeared on CNN recently, tossing out some mildly lukewarm criticism of President Biden’s comments regarding supporters of Donald Trump. In a world where a Democrat recounting a gaffe from a fellow Democrat is as rare as a unicorn sighting, Shapiro managed to balance his party loyalty with a hint of integrity—if only for the sake of appearances.
The incident occurred during a segment of “The Source,” where Shapiro stated that Biden’s remarks were not ideal and he would have chosen different words. It seems the governor was attempting to put on a statesman-like facade, emphasizing the need to focus on the contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump instead of jabbing at regular Americans for their political choices. Who would’ve thought a Democrat might actually acknowledge that it’s not polite to insult half the country?
Biden is trying to walk back his "garbage" comment from yesterday but we all heard what he said. It's just more of the same, demonizing and denigrating Conservative voters to divide the country and polarize their base. They don't want unity, they chose division.… pic.twitter.com/wxOHeQ0WdV
— 🇺🇸🇺🇸Red White and True News🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@RWTNews) October 30, 2024
Shapiro was quick to assert that he would never insult the good people of Pennsylvania, which raises the question: does this mean he doesn’t consider Biden’s comments insulting? The man musters up some unnecessary empathy for the average voter, claiming that they should not be belittled, even if they happen to support someone he doesn’t. It’s a nice thought, even if it feels more like a Democratic version of “I’m not mad; I’m just disappointed.”
When prompted by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about whether Biden should clarify his outburst, Shapiro served up a nice plate of political ambiguity. He wisely chose to let Biden make his own decisions on the matter. This certainly has the potential to create a newfound ripple of tension within the Democrat Party. It’s almost as if Shapiro is trying to gently guide his fellow Democrats back to reality while not upsetting the proverbial apple cart.
Meanwhile, one can almost hear the collective sigh of relief coming from Republicans across the nation. While Shapiro’s faint praise of civility is commendable, it’s hard to overlook that it feels more like a hollow sentiment than a solid strategy. For Republicans, it’s a delightful reminder that even members of their opposition are perplexed by the current administration’s tactics. After all, when a Democrat feels the need to backtrack on the president’s comments, the narrative about who is truly leading the charge in American politics becomes a topic worth watching.