Liberal journalist Jill Filipovic warned President Joe Biden’s budget proposal would cost Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections.
In an op-ed published by CNN, Filipovic argued Biden’s proposed budget “makes one thing clear: Despite progressive hopes that the President might be a secret Franklin Delano Roosevelt capable of ushering in an ambitious domestic agenda, Biden is exactly the timid moderate he always appeared to be.”
She suggested the president “seems to be hoping that an agenda of the same old tacking-right policies will benefit vulnerable Democrats in the midterms.”
Filipovic continued, “Instead, he may simply be depressing Democratic enthusiasm and helping to consign the party to a red wave.”
The op-ed noted Biden’s proposed budget increases “military spending by about 10% to a whopping $773 billion — more than the combined spending of the next 11 countries.”
She explained, “With Ukraine in turmoil thanks to a Russian war of aggression and the world’s stability threatened by an ascendant China, it makes sense that Biden would need a well-funded military. What makes less sense, though, is such robust military spending coupled with claims that the country can’t afford robust and necessary social welfare programs — a claim we often hear from Republicans and conservative Democrats alike.”
Filipovic went on to point out Biden’s budget focuses more on policing than community efforts. Still, she recognizes the budget addresses other issues, including climate change.
“And while the budget does mention child care, the specifics are foggy, and it’s a far cry from the universal child care program that the country needs,” she wrote.
The journalist claimed Biden “seems more concerned with convincing the public that he’s a pro-police, pro-military tough guy and less interested in delivering the things that would materially improve the lives of average folks.”
According to Filipovic, with the midterms coming up, Biden needs to “not alienate the center while also keeping the Democratic base, which includes a sizable number of progressives, on board.”
Concluding her op-ed, Filipovic added, “Budgets are indeed statements of values. And Democrats would be justified in wondering if Biden’s values align with ours.”
