Staff Reports
Rep. Jason Crow has found himself in the awkward position of defending a president who seems to be his party’s own worst enemy. After the release of notes from a recent call between President Biden and fellow House Democrats, it became clear that some Democrats might be getting a little too cozy with the idea of a new nominee. Biden’s sudden decision to step aside has apparently left Crow in the uncomfortable role of cheerleader for a president who seems to have run out of gas on the campaign trail.
During a lively Zoom call that could be best described as a political wrestling match, Biden seemingly lashed out at Crow over his Bronze Star, a medal that some might argue is more relevant to national security than the president’s own tales of family heartache. One can only imagine the look on Crow’s face when he was told to compare his wartime service with Biden’s deeply personal musings about his deceased son. It’s almost as if Biden was trying to turn a conversation about policy into a tear-jerking lifetime movie pitch.
.@juliaioffe reports.
A recording of Biden telling Rep. Jason Crow: "Name me a foreign leader who thinks I’m not the most effective leader in the world on foreign policy. Tell me! Tell me who the hell that is! Tell me who put NATO back together!"https://t.co/5KJ3rEiAOp pic.twitter.com/HXn694T664— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) July 17, 2024
Crow, now in damage control mode, praised Biden for his self-sacrifice in withdrawing from the race, claiming this was a truly “remarkable act of love” for America. One wonders how Crow really feels about Biden’s decision, considering it was likely less about patriotic sacrifice and more about realizing he simply couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for a re-election. But hey, in the world of politics, it’s all about optics, and Crow is doing his best to paint a rosy picture of a presidency that seems to be melting like an ice sculpture at a summer barbecue.
As Crow sings the praises of his leader, one can’t help but notice the growing chorus of dissent among his fellow Democrats, some of whom are calling for Kamala Harris to be immediately installed as acting president via the 25th Amendment. If Biden isn’t fit to run, one has to wonder how he’ll manage to finish the remaining months of his term. Is Crow throwing himself on the tracks for a train that’s already gone off the rails?
And when Crow isn’t busy fawning over Biden, he’s found time to promote Harris as a pragmatic solution to the Biden predicament. This should raise red flags among conservatives who remember Harris’s track record. Even though she might come off as a friendly coalition-builder on TV, GovTrack once reported her as the most liberal senator in 2019. This brings into question how genuine her supposed pragmatism really is. It’s easy to call oneself a compromiser when your version of compromise looks like expanding government and doubling down on failed policies.
As if to poke a sleeping bear, Crow has also taken swipes at former President Donald Trump, calling him a “demagogue” and a danger to democracy. However, calling someone out while your own party grapples with an internal crisis paints a rather ironic picture. After all, it seems that Crow’s party is engaging in the latest round of political tug-of-war rather than Trump's party.
It looks like Crow might want to reconsider where his loyalty lies. If he continues on this path of hybrid admiration and critique, it might not just be his call with Biden that needs some serious reevaluation. With Democrats set to shake up their leadership at a crucial time potentially, this circus is bound to keep providing unending entertainment. Buckle in, folks. The political drama is only just heating up.
