A clear understanding of the situation in the United States today makes it clear why the Democrats need to commit to acting in union, once the way forward has been decided by a deliberative process in which the decision of President Biden must constitute the last word.
Here are the essential elements of the situation:
- The nation is damaged in a number of important ways.
- Facing multiple crises, the nation not only has the need, but also the opportunity to move the nation forward more than usual, just the way it did after FDR became President (in 1933) at an earlier time of national disrepair.
- If the Democrats remain united, they can execute the plan on which they agree. But if they are disunited, then the Republicans have the strength to prevent the nation from enacting whatever is needed. And the evidence is that this is what they will frequently choose to do.
- This therefore is a time when the Democrats need to act as a “coherent force,” like an army under a commander-in-chief. Even if there are disagreements, once a decision gets made those disagreements must be set aside in order to make sure that the decision gets effectively implemented.
- There are different ways of reaching decisions, where disagreements – among Democrats and potentially others -- get aired and considered. But it is in the nature of things that Presidential leadership will be essential to the optimal seizing of this opportunity.
- So, now being a time when bold and effective action would pay off mightily for America, it is morally imperative for Democrats to maintain whatever level of unity is required to make sure that the potential good steps forward get taken.
- We are fortunate that at a moment when we greatly need a commander-in-chief who has the necessary virtues to pretty well assure us that the implementation of the plans he’d propose would be an excellent: (Biden and his team have shown competence and caring and public spiritedness, and Biden himself has a long history of working cooperatively with other people with other points of view.)
- The alternative to helping Biden execute what he proposes will not be something better, but will be more like some disabling of the ability of the government to move us forward at all.
- Republicans must not be allowed to weaken or cripple the Biden Presidency, which they would do not for any principled reason but just as a strategy to make it easier for them to regain the power they have so ill-used in recent years.
- Although Party Unity is not usually of paramount importance, that is the case today for Democrats—not for the good of the Party, but for the good of the nation at a time when only one of America’s major parties is animated by constructive purposes.
- Given the balance of powers between the Parties, given the nature of the Republican Party of this era, America would be served best if all those on the Democratic side pledge their unity on every part of what Biden decides on, and not deal with agreement on an a la carte basis, issue by issue.
- “One for all” is the message of strength, and anything that erodes that solidarity on any issue undermines the capacity to hold together the power that America needs for the Democrats to wield.
- Senator Manchin’s announcement that he will oppose Biden’s choice to head OMB – Neera Tanden – has been interpreted as meaning that she won’t be confirmed. That means that Biden’s plans will have been thwarted by a Democratic defection. And that sends a dangerous signal.
- It should be recognized that the effects of Manchin’s opposing that nomination are not confined to the issue of who will head OMB, but ramify into opening the way for Democratic defections on other issues. The result of the opening of that door is the ability of Biden to get his beneficial proposal enacted will take a general hit across the board.
- America’s future will be better therefore if the Democrats enter into a mutual agreement that, so long as the nation is in serious crisis, and in every instance that the Republicans show they will not provide help in getting good things enacted, the Democrats will all stick together on every issue where any disunity would result in an outcome that diminishes Biden’s ability to lead the nation.
- And in the meanwhile, it would be good if Senator Manchin were to recognize these realities, and decide that whatever his reasons for not wanting Neera Tanden to head OMB, there are more important considerations, and he will cast the deciding vote for Ms. Tanden if no Republicans come forward to give President Biden the OMB head he wants.