Letter to Joe Biden by Progressive Democrats Causes Huge Backlash in the Party
(RightWing.org) – Over the last two years, Democrats have struggled to get on the same page. It’s the primary reason President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better legislation failed in the Senate in 2021. Now, more division is cropping up between the party’s progressive wing and others over Ukraine. On Monday, October 24, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) forwarded a months-old letter to the president.
The note was signed by 30 members of the House’s staunchest Liberals and sparked a massive backlash among House Democrats. It called for Biden to engage diplomatically with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war against Ukraine. The pushback was so intense that CPC Chairwoman Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) retracted it less than 24 hours after it was submitted to the president.
Liberal Letter to President Sparks Democratic Backlash
The about-face came after numerous House Democrats expressed anger that the letter called on the administration to negotiate with Putin. Initially, the CPC drafted the letter in June, and a reminder wasn’t sent to those who signed before it was forwarded to Biden on Monday.
The document showed how the 30 lawmakers who put their signatures on it were pushing the Biden administration to engage in diplomacy after allegations of Russian war crimes and evidence Putin was escalating his war on Ukraine.
Complicating matters politically for Democrats, Ukraine is experiencing good fortunes in its countermeasures against the Russian army and isn’t prepared to enter any negotiations. It opposes a diplomatic path over concerns the country would have to concede territory to Russia. Conversely, Putin doesn’t appear willing to sit at the bargaining table either.
POLITICO reported that a source with knowledge of the situation said Jayapal approved the release of the letter on Monday. Still, many who signed the document noted they were surprised it went out after such a long time and criticized the move.
Democrats Lash Out
In politics, timing is everything. Some who signed the letter said it shouldn’t have gone out after Republicans suggested they would consider whether or not to fund Ukraine if they won the midterm elections. One said on condition of anonymity it was “Amateur hour” at the CPC. A Hill staffer called the entire situation a “disaster.”
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) said she signed the document last summer when conditions were different but stated she wouldn’t sign it now.
Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) labeled the letter an “olive branch to a war criminal” that’s losing. Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA) said it was beyond her that some believe the US could negotiate with Putin. Neither lawmaker put their signature on the document nor are members of the CPC.
Though the letter and its withdrawal may be highly embarrassing to Democrats, it may not impact the election. Recent polls suggested voters are laser-focused on the economy and inflation.
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