Democrats want Biden to change his style, but that’s not happening

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President avoiding the press

Why low-key Biden limits media access

Assuming that no one accepts Donald Trump’s offer for a "ratings bonanza" debate on what he calls the Big Lie — and what opponents call his Big Lie — we are stuck with a whole lot of pontification about Joe Biden.

Virtually every day, I see a headline along the lines of Democrats Say Biden Needs to Talk More About X.

Here’s one in the Washington Post: "Democratic Allies Press the White House to Focus More — And Say More — on Inflation Worries."

And another in Politico: "Democrats Want Biden to Start Swinging at Republicans. Allies Aren’t Sure He Can."

But when reporters (who double as frustrated political strategists) write so many stories quoting Democrats, they are often choosing to broadcast the advice or at least give it a broader platform.

And presidents with a strong standing don’t attract so many free political pointers — or such widespread skepticism in their first year that they’ll actually run for reelection.

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So this wave of here’s-what-Biden-should-do pieces is a flashing neon light that he’s in trouble.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the economy in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

One fundamental problem, which is now becoming conventional wisdom, is that the president doesn’t drive the news agenda, leaving a void that is happily filled by other partisan media and political voices. The ceding of his bully pulpit is unusual and hard to fathom, even if it fits Biden’s vision of a return to normalcy.

The president did give a short speech and take some press questions Monday on the new virus variant, trying to send a message that the government is prepared and people shouldn’t panic (and, as always, please get vaccinated). That was better than what Biden did Friday in Nantucket, when he took a few short questions on the street and did not project a sense that he was in command of the situation.

But beyond messaging problems, there is also substance. While underestimating the impact of rising prices, Biden spent months trapped in legislative hell, endlessly negotiating over two mammoth spending bills whose contents remain vague to many Americans.

With the president’s approval ratings in the low 40s, a New York Times analysis says the individual parts of Biden’s bills are far more popular than he is:

"In poll after poll, voters seem to give Mr. Biden no credit for his agenda. They say he hasn’t accomplished much. They even say he hasn’t helped them personally,  even though he sent direct stimulus payments to most households and even more to parents."

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts after his speech during a rally at the Iowa States Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., October 9, 2021 (REUTERS/Rachel Mummey/File Photo)

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The problem is that most people don’t follow politics that closely. They may "like" a policy without knowing the nitty-gritty details. Keep in mind that no ground has yet been broken from the infrastructure bill, though it will eventually create plenty of jobs and projects. And people are confused about the Medicare/child tax credit/pre-kindergarten/climate change bill, with a price tag that screams left-wing agenda and constantly shifting contents, courtesy of Joe Manchin.  

The Times concludes that "trying to get ordinary voters to back a party or a candidate based on a specific policy initiative is somewhat like trying to get someone to buy something they didn’t really ask for."

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 24: U.S. President Joe Biden (L) and Chief of Staff Ron Klain on March 24, 2021 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

I’ve been thinking about why Biden makes so little news, beyond his aversion to interviews and embrace of terse exchanges with reporters. A major reason is that he repeats the same broad themes — unity, bipartisanship, things are getting better, don’t bet against America, get those shots — that reporters have heard again and again.

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What generates headlines is a sharp jab, a provocative phrase, an attack — and Biden, unlike his predecessor, seems allergic to such rhetoric.

Politico says Ron Klain is among the top aides who want the boss to call out Republicans more often, but veteran Democratic hand John Podesta correctly notes "it’s not his style."

That’s why we keep reading articles on what Biden needs to do, and why he keeps on doing it like a senator working with his distinguished colleagues.