The Democratic Finger-Pointing
The Democratic finger-pointing set off by a buzzy new book on former President Joe Biden’s declining fitness during his presidency is now sloshing into the California governor’s race.
Accusations Against Harris and Becerra
Antonio Villaraigosa, the former Los Angeles mayor, tore into two other home state Democrats — former Vice President Kamala Harris and former health Secretary Xavier Becerra — after the Tuesday release of “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, accusing the two Biden administration officials of being complicit in a “cover up” about the then-president’s mental acuity.
Challenging the Cover-Up
“Voters deserve to know the truth, what did Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra know, when did they know it, and most importantly, why didn’t either of them speak out?” Villaraigosa said in a statement. “This cover up directly led to a second Donald Trump term — and as a result, all Californians are paying the price.”
Insights from the Book
The book examines Biden’s health during his four-year term and the lengths taken by the president’s inner circle to bat down any speculation that the octogenarian would not be up to the task of a second term.
Harris’s Role
Harris’s role as his vice president is a recurring subplot in the book as Biden world’s grim assessment of her political capabilities was a major motivator for Biden to run for reelection.
Challenges Faced by Harris
The account delves into the uphill climb Harris faced in running a truncated campaign after the president finally opted to step aside last July, weeks after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.
Response from Becerra
Becerra, in a statement, said he met with the president “when needed to make important decisions and to execute with my team at HHS.”
Republican Criticism
The salvos against Harris were not limited to intra-party spats. Steve Hilton, the GOP television personality also mounting a bid, aimed his ire squarely at Harris in a social media post on Tuesday, alleging that the vice president “totally failed to do her duty. She knew that Biden wasn’t fit, but she went along with it anyway.”
Implications for Harris
Harris should expect to get more incoming from Republicans after the revelations in “Original Sin,” said Kevin Spillane, a California-based GOP strategist.
Conclusion
Republicans will have a lot of fun going after her because she was at the heart of what a lot of people believe — not just Republicans — was one of the biggest scandals in American history, which was the cover-up of President Biden’s decline.
Jeremy B. White contributed to this story.
