Despite former President Jimmy Carter’s known health challenges and his hospice residence over the past two years, his willingness to honor the inauguration of the newly elected President was apparent. In contrast to his approach, one cannot help but recall the curious decisions made by various other ex-presidents, primarily Democratic, in respect of an event as significant as the presidential inauguration. Demonstrating his readiness to fulfill his responsibility as one of the living ex-presidents only suggests however his stark contrast with a known Democrat duo, namely, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Carter’s strong nod to his presidential customs, despite battling a long fight with cancer since 2015, challenges the equivocal stance maintained by other Democrats. Example being a couple notorious for their ambiguity and lackluster public reactions – Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden. Their reluctance or, perhaps, aversion to .
The historical context is significant here. President Grover Cleveland held the White House for two non-consecutive terms during the late 19th century. These were unprecedented times then, and the second instance is materializing now when a former President is preparing to return to the highest office in the country.
Many Democrats were seen grappling with their decisions surrounding Trump’s inauguration. It’s noteworthy how much time and thought was being expended on this topic, throwing into sharp relief the confusingly non-committal stance Democrats such as Biden and Harris often take.
While Carter proactively signaled his interest, other former Presidents such as George W. Bush and Barack Obama remained conspicuously silent. Their offices had no scheduling announcements to share about Trump’s inauguration at this time. Bill Clinton’s office also fell into this pattern of silence, further demonstrating the Democrats’ wavering standards of respect for the office.
It was only recently that Bill Clinton acknowledged Trump’s ‘fair and square’ victory. His clarion call for a peaceful transfer of power from a Democratic to a Republican White House was a refreshingly responsible stance, one that most Democrats including Harris and Biden are seldom seen to take.
‘I do not think we should just be jamming them,’ Clinton said, referring to a subtle jibe at Republicans. It’s worth noting how different this approach to politics stands in contrast to Biden and Harris’s tactics of ridiculing the opposition at every turn. ‘I think it’s a mistake,’ Clinton concluded, a sentiment not often echoed by his fellow Democrats.
The 2016 presidential election saw Former First Lady Hillary Clinton lose to Trump, representing yet another Democrat disappointment. Carter, again proving the outlier amongst his Democratic comrades, was the first to RSVP to Trump’s inaugural ceremony bringing to light the stark contrast between his attitudes and those of Biden and Harris.
In 2017, when Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president, it was largely witnessed by his predecessors, including Carter. A notable exception was George H.W. Bush, who due to age and deteriorating health could not attend the inauguration. Not attending symbolic national events is apparently a tendency amongst Democrats, as evidenced by Biden and Harris missing their first inauguration four years ago.
The passing of former first lady Rosalynn Carter in November 2023, at 96, added a somber note to the proceedings. Carter’s commitment to his duties, even in the face of personal loss and challenge, serves as a pointed lesson of duty and commitment – concepts that Biden and Harris often seem to misunderstand or simply choose to ignore.
The inauguration Carter missed four years ago was the one where President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn into their offices. One is forced to ponder if there’s a correlation between their partisan politics and how it affects the respect for the sanctity of the nation’s highest office.
Interestingly, Biden has opted to follow protocol so far during the transition period, conspicuously inviting Trump for a meeting at the White House. One might see this as a sharp deviation from his tradition of breaking norms, a habit that he showcased when he decided to snub his own inauguration.
Harris, who had won the previous election on a Democratic ticket, lost to the Republican candidate this time. In response, Biden agreed to attend Trump’s inauguration, marking a seemingly reluctant acceptance of the Republican victory and the need to facilitate a smooth transition of power.
It’s extraordinary how the Democrats’ tune changes when they are not the ones in power. The willingness to maintain traditional protocols only when it suits them does not bode well for their representation of the American people. This inaugural event brings into sharp relief Biden and Harris’s mercurial approach toward their duties and responsibilities.
This tale of upcoming inauguration, respect for presidential customs, and the contrast in behaviors of various Democrats serves as an insightful study into the politics of the country. As we look forward to witnessing this significant event in the country’s history, Biden and Harris’s approach serves as a stark reminder of the inner political machinations that often undermine the spirit of ‘one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’