(New York) In Quebec politics, the term “mother-in-law” is no longer well known, but has long been used to identify a former prime minister who embarrasses his former party with criticism or controversial statements.
In the United States, no previous president has really deserved this or the similar term “platform manager.” In 2021, George W. Bush has certainly lamented what the Republican Party has become in the age of Donald Trump and disinformation. An “isolationist, protectionist and, to some extent, nationalist” party.
But his words had little effect on Republicans.
In 2019, Barack Obama criticized young people for their tendency to succumb to the excesses of “condemnation culture” and “wokeism.” But since leaving the White House, he has directed sharp criticism at Donald Trump and Republicans. Same for Bill Clinton.
We cannot say the same about David Axelrod and James Carville, two former Democratic strategists, for whom the term “stepmother” fits like a glove.
One became famous serving Barack Obama, and the other advised Bill Clinton. If Joe Biden loses, they can say: “We told you so.” » If he wins, they will prove it… Let's go no further.
In fact, for Joe Biden, David Axelrod is much worse than “stepmother.” He's a “crook” (according to Politico's Jonathan Martin), the president used the word tingling In English to discredit the former strategist).
Axelrod received this insult last November. Then he dared to state publicly that the Democratic president should seriously ask himself whether seeking a second term was the right idea. He was concerned not only about his age, but also about opinion polls that placed him behind Donald Trump in key states, and about the limitations imposed on him as an interviewer.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
David Axelrod
Despite the insult, David Axelrod continues to criticize Joe Biden's campaign. And there is no shortage of forums to do this. In addition to his role as a frequent commentator on CNN, he hosts or co-hosts two popular podcasts and conducts numerous interviews. One of his favorite targets is Mike Donilon, a member of the triumvirate of advisers who have surrounded Joe Biden for decades (and who, some say, have isolated him).
Everyday worries
According to David Axelrod, Mike Donilon is wrong in his estimate that voters' concerns about the survival of American democracy will be decisive in the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
“I think the people sitting around their kitchen table talking about this are people who don't care what they paid for the food on the kitchen table,” the former strategist told CNN last April.
“If you live with inflation fears and everyday concerns, you probably don't talk about this topic.”
Since then, he has linked the dissatisfaction of a certain number of black and Latino voters in favor of Joe Biden to the latter's difficulties in understanding the reality faced by less fortunate Americans.
When an NBC personality asked him on Easter Monday what he would say to Americans who are concerned about their economic situation, the president replied: “I would tell them that we have the strongest economy in the world…”
He gave a similar response last May to a question about Americans' dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy. David Axelrod's review was quickly followed up.
“I think he’s making a huge mistake,” the former CNN strategist said. “If he doesn’t win this race, it may not be Donald Trump who beats him, it may be his ego.”
Perhaps the “idiot”'s opinion fell on deaf ears. In his recent messages, Joe Biden has been quick to recognize that Americans are still suffering due to the high cost of living. But we're too late?
“Very old,” according to Carvel
As far as we know, James Carville has yet to inherit a derogatory title from the Oval Office. But he is no less harsh in his criticism of Joe Biden than David Axelrod.
“I thought President Biden should have considered not running, but that's not the choice he made,” the former strategist said on New York radio station WABC two weeks ago.
Photo by Lily Brooks, New York Times Archives
James Carville
Carville fears that the octogenarian president will not be able to mobilize young people, a key constituency in Democratic presidential election victories over the past three decades. This is not his only fear of Joe Biden, but it is important.
“If you create a focus group, the first thing out of everyone’s mouth is the word ‘old,’ so how can you say we’re going to pretend it doesn’t exist?” he asked during an interview with the columnist. The New York Times Maureen Dowd last March.
The word “old” can also be applied to Donald Trump. But where are the Republicans who are willing to harshly criticize their party's presidential nominee and vote for him anyway, like David Axelrod and James Carville?
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