Despite their devastating defeat at the hands of President-elect Donald Trump in the last election, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris recently gathered their faithful followers, the financial backbone of the Democratic Party, to express their gratitude. Taking center stage during the Democratic National Committee holiday event, the defeated duo took turns in peddling a message of consolation to their affluent supporters.
Biden employed worn-out platitudes in his attempt to inspire and encourage the dispirited crowd. Employing an overused mantra, he said, ‘We all get knocked down. My dad would say when you get knocked down, you just got to get up.’ Such words, drawn straight from a cliché well, were geared towards assuaging their followers’ disappointment.
Building on this, Biden made clear that he believes the resilience of a person or a party is demonstrated by how swiftly they bounce back. With the Democrats’ swift loss this past election, it’s hard to say when or even if this rebound will occur, especially considering the comprehensive blow dealt by Republicans; they not only secured the White House, but also maintained control of both the Senate and the House.
Following Biden on the stage, Harris, who emerged in the role of the party’s presidential nominee after Biden’s major debate debacle in July, offered words of praise for the generosity of the donors. Echoing a familiar political tale, Harris praised donors for investing their resources, both in terms of their time and finances, in the party they believed in.
In what might be seen as an attempt to draw attention away from their crushing defeat, Harris pointed out that Democratic supporters, super PACs, and related groups had managed to raise approximately $2.9 billion, compared to the $1.8 billion Republicans garnered. The Democrats’ fundraising efforts, rightly or wrongly, were painted as a herculean achievement. $700 million of the total Democratic funds were generated over the course of just 700 events held by the Democratic finance committee.
Harris spoke with overt sentimentality about the unwavering support of die-hard Democrat backers who, according to her, opened their homes, rallied their friends and families, and put their personal capital on the line. However, one might question whether such a strategy led to little more than relationship strain as opposed to any tangible political progress.
Always quick to make an attempt at crafting inspiring narratives, Harris turned the defeat into a platform to stir up emotions among her supporters. While pouring heart and soul into a campaign can be a noble cause, the reality of the Democrats’ decisive defeat is a harsh reminder that passion doesn’t necessarily equate victory.
Biden, apparently caught up in the same narrative, tried to ease the sting of the electoral loss by insisting that the party should take pride in what it had supposedly accomplished. Ironically, his highlights included a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act for semiconductor manufacturing boost, and a federal environment spending surge through the Inflation Reduction Act – all of which, however, have yet to bear any significant fruit.
Riding on a wave of thankfulness and attempting to downplay the defeat, Biden continued his address, suggesting that their collective achievement stands on the effort of every person who donated or lent their reputation to the campaign. Despite the loss, Biden still aimed to paint this as something significant, a clear indication of the desperate state of affairs within the Democratic Party.
In a heartfelt confession, Biden acknowledged that these contributors did more than just donate. They, he claimed, risked their names, their reputations, and their characters in the grand, yet ultimately failed, Democratic endeavor. It’s certainly a commendable effort, but an effort that fell noticeably short, as indicated by the resounding victory of their political adversaries.
As he looks towards his future departure from politics, Biden made sure to relay his intention of remaining connected with party politics. Whether or not the Democratic Party would benefit from continued involvement by someone who presided over such a significant loss is a matter for debate.
In what could be interpreted as a mix of damning praise and backhanded compliment, Biden suggested that Harris would remain an integral part of the Democratic Party’s future. Of course, the party would have to assess whether having Harris at the helm would bring them closer to or push them further from regaining their lost footing.
Soon-to-be-former President Biden then made a somewhat cryptic statement, hinting at Harris’ permanent presence within the Democratic realm. Outwardly, Biden seemed to offer hope when he said ‘You’re not going anywhere kid. We aren’t letting you.’ It remains to be seen how this could affect the trajectory of the Democratic Party, given the recent failure of their leadership.
All in all, this staged event reeked of desperation and forced inclusivity as Biden and Harris made an attempt to placate the very donors who had seen their large investments go down the drain. Disguising their political failure behind such superficial show of strength, they tried their hardest to present a façade of optimism, hope, and resilience.
Bearing the weight of a heavy defeat, the Democratic leadership appears to believe their strength lies in persistence and perseverance. Nevertheless, the stark reality of their situation is inescapable. With drained wallets and a significant loss of trust among Democratic donors, the future of the party looks bleak.
Thus, the haughty displays of defiant optimism and painted victories cannot conceal the stark reality: the Democratic Party took a massive hit under the leadership of Biden and Harris. Only time will tell if they are able to rise again, or if the legacy of the Democrats’ crushing defeat becomes an insurmountable obstacle.