Joe Biden is getting it done
One admirable quality about President Biden is that he has no desire to dance near the line where autocracy thrives as democracy dies. On the contrary, Biden’s first half-year as President of the United States has provided a stark contrast to the despotic and corrupt aspirations of the prior administration. Among other achievements, Biden has shown a serious commitment to ensuring that America’s hard-fought democracy is here to stay.
Speaking at a CNN town hall event Wednesday evening, Biden reminded the audience that, while on the campaign trail, he promised “to restore faith in government.” At another point, Biden also spoke of the need “to restore America’s faith in science.” Biden offered a clear contrast to his demagogic predecessor by saying that we must “literally listen to the scientists and not interfere.” Biden then drew applause when he tied this to restoring faith in government, asserting, “I do not tell any scientists what they should do. I do not interfere.”
Biden’s town hall comments followed another critical example of how his administration is working hard to regain America’s faith in government. Attorney General Merrick Garland just issued a memorandum that outlines numerous restrictions in the way the Justice Department may communicate with the White House, aimed at avoiding all political interference.
In the memo, obtained by USA Today, Garland tied the Department’s success to the trust of the American people, insisting on adhering to “long-standing departmental norms of independence from inappropriate influences, the principled exercise of discretion and the treatment of like cases alike.” Along with the memo, the White House also issued guidelines identifying “prohibited contacts” with the Justice Department and other parts of the government.
Last month, Biden issued a formal statement in which he underscored why his administration is so devoutly determined to restore America’s trust in government. “Fighting corruption is not just good governance,” Biden explained. “It is self-defense. It is patriotism, and it’s essential to the preservation of our democracy and our future.”.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month