Democratic lawmakers hailed President Joe Biden’s historic decision on Sunday not to seek reelection, praising him as putting his country and his party before himself. Republicans called on him to resign from office, saying that if he could not run for another term, office, then he’s unable to serve as president.

Biden’s announcement came after more than two weeks of Democrats urging him to withdraw from the race. Nearly three dozen lawmakers had publicly called on him to end his reelection bid. Others had voiced concerns privately about what the ramifications would be for down-ballot Democrats if he remained in the race. When the president heeded those concerns, Democrats called it a selfless move.

  • solrize@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    25
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    5 months ago

    If he had resigned that would have put in Harris as the incumbent and given her a big boost. Do they really want that?

    • superkret
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      14
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      5 months ago

      They are currently in the position to force through their pick of a VP.

    • ganksy@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      5 months ago

      It would give them time to pin a bunch of shit on her and to keep her off the campaign trail.

    • apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      5 months ago

      As a leftist, I would prefer this and think it would give her a boost as well. And it would also invalidate the right’s new mission to keep Biden on ballots.

      • ShepherdPie@midwest.social
        cake
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        5 months ago

        I saw this idea posed here recently and someone pointed out that this would put Mike Johnson as first in line for the presidency behind Harris, which isn’t a good idea especially considering recent events.

          • ShepherdPie@midwest.social
            cake
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            5
            ·
            5 months ago

            And that nominee is going to be approved by the Republican controlled House a few months before the election? Do you not remember what happened when Obama tried to appoint a Supreme Court justice an entire year before he left office?

              • ShepherdPie@midwest.social
                cake
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                4
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                5 months ago

                Who, Republicans? They have no power over the DNC’s nominee nor are either party even required to have a primary. The DNC convention to choose a nominee isn’t even until next month so who’s fucking with the ballots?

                • Pandemanium@lemm.ee
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  ·
                  5 months ago

                  I just looked it up. Normally the DNC can pick any VP candidate and run them. IF, however, there is a vacancy in the Whitehouse (if Biden steps down, Kamala does not have an elected VP) THEN Congress does have to approve the VP nominee. So yeah, do NOT let Biden resign the presidency. That would be a disaster.