Remember how no one in the Credentialed Media had any problem with Democrats saying that Dick Cheney was George Bush’s puppet master? Now they seem pretty upset
GOP says Ron Klain pulling Biden strings
Republicans are attacking White House chief of staff Ron Klain as “the guy behind the curtain†and “Prime Minister Klain†as they try to push back on someone they see as formidable opponent in the battle over President Biden’s agenda.
The GOP blames Klain for Biden’s refusal to negotiate the price down on his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, an approach they say conflicts with Biden’s campaign pledges.
“We’ve gotten the impression from our members that have been in meetings down there that he’s kind of the guy behind the curtain,†said Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D.).
Aides to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have taken to describing the White House chief of staff as “prime minister Klain,†an effort aimed at hurting Biden.
A Republican aide said the point of focusing on Klain is to undercut public perception of Biden as a leader who is totally with it.
“It plays into the theme of Biden’s not really running the show here,†said the aide. “It plays into the theme is he’s the figurehead and jovial and needs permission from this unelected guy to make any decision.â€
The aide acknowledged that Biden has a high approval rating and that the public has embraced the president’s personality, but said there’s an opening for Republicans to argue “he’s not really running the show over there, whether it’s Ron Klain or [Speaker Nancy] Pelosi [D-Calif.] and [Senate Majority Leader Charles] Schumer [D-N.Y.]†who’s really in charge.
Ah, yet another anonymous aide, so absolutely no one can verify this. Besides, we’ve seen Biden in action, and he does not seem mentally all there. But, hey, he’s got a great personality, no mean tweets! He’s just doing all these hardcore leftist things when he campaigned on unity and bipartisanship.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who led a group of 10 GOP senators who met with Biden at the White House earlier this month, says Biden is being penned in by Schumer and Klain. Republicans also say Pelosi is pushing Biden to the left.
“The problem is that what appear to be productive talks seem to be countermanded by the Democratic leader in the Senate,†Collins told reporters.
If you’ve lost Squishy Susan, well…..
Biden allies call the attacks on Klain silly, particularly the suggestion it is he and not Biden who is in charge. They say Republicans are covering up for their own unwillingness to meet Biden halfway on COVID relief and other Democratic priorities with broad popular support.
“God love Ron Klain, but Joe Biden does what Joe Biden wants to do,†one adviser said. “He certainly takes the advice and processes it. Ron is one of the best advisers the President has but he knows what he has to do.â€
Yeah, but does Joe Biden actually have any idea what he wants to do?
