Joe Biden: No Federal Solution to COVID?

WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 27: U.S. President Joe Biden listens throughout a video name with the White House Covid-19 Response workforce and the National Governors Association within the South Court Auditorium on the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 27, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Biden spoke to governors about their considerations over the Omicron variant and the necessity for extra COVID-19 assessments. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden made a somewhat out-of-character admission on Monday, December 27, throughout a telephone name with the National Governors Association about how to battle the unfold of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the decision moved from congratulatory backslapping to concrete realities, Biden acknowledged that there isn’t any one federal resolution to stopping the unfold of COVID-19 and that state governments are the first entity chargeable for coping with the difficulty. Indeed, the assertion was a notable departure from his typical strategy to addressing the virus. But it raised an necessary query: Is this an genuine change of coronary heart, or did he simply wander aimlessly off script for a minute?

Biden Touts COVID Federalism?

During the assembly, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson cautioned the president in opposition to imposing federal measures which may make it tougher for states to put options into place. “One word of concern or encouragement for your team is that as you look towards federal solutions that will help alleviate the challenge, make sure that we do not let federal solutions stand in the way of state solutions,” Hutchinson provided. “The production of 500 million rapid tests that will be distributed by the federal government is great, but obviously, that dries up the supply chain for the solutions that we might offer as governor.”

Biden responded, “There is no federal solution. This gets solved at the state level.” The president continued, noting that it “ultimately gets down to where the rubber meets the road and that’s where the patient is in need of help, or preventing the need for help … My message to the governors is simple: If you need something, say something — and we — we’re going to have your back in any way we can.”

But, Wait a Minute…

Biden’s remarks sound properly and good to those that perceive how the Republic is meant to work. States ought to take the lead in addressing conditions like COVID-19. But his feedback may make one marvel if the president has forgotten what he has been up to over the previous yr, as a result of his actions don’t match his phrases.

Under Biden, the federal authorities has taken middle stage within the quest to defend the general public from the coronavirus and subsequent Delta and Omicron variants. Fox News reported:

“The Education Department opened civil rights probes into several states for banning school mask mandates. The president continues to mandate masks in airports, airplanes and on public transportation – and his administration increased fines for those who don’t comply.

“And the administration is currently going to the Supreme Court to defend its vaccine mandate for any private businesses with more than 100 employees.”

(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

While the White House has had a tough time imposing its vaccine mandate due to quite a few challenges within the courts, it’s abundantly clear that this president is gung-ho about wielding the facility of the federal authorities in opposition to the virus even when it means overriding state energy.

Recently, the Biden administration used the emergence of the Omicron variant as an excuse to prolong masks mandates in airports and on airplanes to March 2022, despite the fact that the CEOs of American Airlines and Southwest Airlines defined throughout testimony earlier than Congress that it isn’t mandatory.

Operation Save Joe Biden from Himself

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Fourth Estate was fast to clarify away the president’s assertion by insisting that he meant the “next stage” within the COVID-19 battle could be fought at state stage. However, the commander-in-chief’s personal phrases didn’t mirror such a supposition.

Judging from his actions, it appears clear that Biden will not be turning over a brand new leaf, so to communicate. It sounds extra like he briefly forgot how massive a fan he’s of overreaching. But don’t fear. Once once more, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki will little question take to the stage to “clarify” the president’s statements into an appropriate format.

~ Read extra from Jeff Charles.