Posted on 06/06/2019 7:57:56 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
Former Vice President Joe Biden’s embrace of the Hyde amendment, prohibiting federal funds from being used for abortion, combined with a new plagiarism controversy have created the most challenging week for the Democratic front-runner since he entered the race for the White House earlier this spring.
Biden has led public opinion polls by double-digits since announcing his campaign but will now face new questions about whether he can retain his lead.
Democratic rivals who slammed Biden’s support of the Hyde amendment on Wednesday will be looking to use his remarks and position on abortion, in particular, to close the gap while casting the former vice president as out of step with the party.
And while the story that Biden’s campaign took lines from outside sources for his climate plan may not damage him as much in the Democratic primary, it does raise the specter of his 1988 presidential run — which ran aground after it was revealed that Biden plagiarized speeches from a British politician.
“Biden has had a bad week,” said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon, summing up the double whammy of stories that had been the talk of cable news for much of Wednesday.
“His support of the Hyde amendment is a serious problem,” Bannon added. “Women will make up about 60 percent of the Democratic primary electorate and they are energized because of the draconian new abortion laws in Alabama and Georgia.”
The former vice president did not back away from his past support of the Hyde amendment on Wednesday, and he may see a danger in shifting away from a long-held position. A source close to Biden said it’s a deeply complicated issue for him, one that is tied to his faith.
“Whether you agree with it or not, it seems to be on brand for Biden — having long held a position and not changing it,” said Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau. “That being said, if I was a Democratic presidential primary candidate, this is not the conversation I would want to be having right now.”
Several Democrats said Biden will have to explain why he has taken the position.
“He needs to break it down for voters and explain it,” one strategist said. “If he doesn’t do some explaining fast, that could be a turning point because the Democratic Party has clearly moved in the other direction and Democrats feel like there’s a growing assault on women’s rights.”
Advocating for the Hyde amendment wasn’t a terribly controversial position for a Democratic politician to take just a decade ago.
But the Democratic Party’s platform in 2016 included getting rid of the restrictions on federal funding. And in 2007, former President Obama campaigned against the Hyde amendment.
The real Biden crises are not being reported by the MSM. They would be his and his son’s relationships with Ukraine and China. It leaves ammo for Trump and his campaign, I suppose.
Just a bump in the road on the way for the coronation of the last old white man in Democrat politics.
Yeah, I know Bernie Sanders is older, but he is a “Democrat Socialist”, which is somehow independent of the Democrats themselves.
Nearly 50 years of looting the republic.
The lying, POS scumbag should’ve been in prison long ago. Veep to the most corrupt president in the history of the country is another reason.
Whatever he says or does, the Media, like they did with Hillary, well step and fetch it and carry him over the finish line.
I humbly disagree.
The rank-and-file in the media are Bernie and AOC fans. They’ve concluded that NOW is the time to go full-on Socialist and the time for doddering old white moderates has passed.
My sense is that the Democrats want to win so badly that they’ll probably overlook a lot of these revelations about Joe Biden. It’ll get interesting because the other Democrat candidates are going to get increasingly desperate.
“Biden faces first crisis as front-runner”
What? Did he have to make a coherent sentence with a subject and predicate?
I’m amazed that Plugs continues to support the Hyde Amendment. He has been BFF’s with Big Abortion all along.
Wouldn’t surprise me if he flipped on this, I think he’ll do or say anything to get elected.
Yeah, he’s as consistent as the weather.
He finally found something which he holds “dear?”
I don’t think so. The man is a walking pile of mush.
I hate to do this...but, I will do this. Folks, read my lips: I told you on this very sight Democrat, Joe Biden is going nowhere, politically,...period!!! I said he would last about four weeks or so, and then he will splinter away to forever obscurity, never to be heard from again.
The “Not-too-bright” gent, Joe Biden is the dullest knife in the drawer and he owns the honor of being the number one person in the universe for being “DUMB, DUMBER & DUMBEST”!!! Case closed!!!
I hope you are right. I actually think Biden can peel off Trump voters. The rest—no way.
Biden faces first crisis as front-runner when he looks in mirror to shave each morning.
“DUMB, DUMBER & DUMBEST”!!! Case closed!!!”
WELL,,he did get a billion or so for his druggy kid...from the Chinese....
I suppose you are correct and he will reverse course after several days of pounding on Twitter.
The demon cat party is so deprave didn’t evil these days did nobody with any conscience good nature or any kind of conscience will ever win the primary
Not saying that Biden has any of these characteristics I think he’s a total scam
This will be a real beauty of a primary process to watch as the leftist Marxist nincompoop uneducated morons try out to each other on who can screw up the country or bankrupt it the fastest
Yes...he did...you can thank Criminal, Obama for that gift to moron face, Biden!!!
Smart move by Biden. Separates him from the bloodthirsty pack.
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