Why Biden is keeping Bernie close

[JoeOtterbein]

Politico

The president and the Senate’s most recognizable progressive have made sure to work constructively together, even under stressful policy battles.

By LAURA BARRÓN-LÓPEZ

03/02/2021 05:01 AM EST

As Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) fought to include a minimum wage increase inside Democrats’ coronavirus relief package, he made sure to keep the White House in the loop.

And as the administration prepared a video of President Joe Biden backing an effort by Amazon workers to unionize in Alabama, the White House made sure members of Sanders’ team knew about it too.

The collaboration has paid off. In the hours after the video’s release, Bernie World heaped praise on Biden. And as Sanders explored different options for getting a minimum wage hike into the final bill — only for his Plan B to fall apart on Sunday — there was no massive blow up or notable friction between the senator’s office and the White House.

“Those are good productive conversations, quite frankly, between [Sanders] and [White House Chief of Staff] Ron Klain,” said Faiz Shakir, a political adviser to Sanders. From raising the wage floor to Amazon unionization efforts, “the relationship has generally been one of respect,” Shakir added. “We have felt an open door where, if we have something that might be good policy and politics for them, we’re going to raise it and they’re going to entertain it in a serious way.”

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more at link

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. This is great. They have discovered the benefits of being allied. n/t

[lagomorph777]

2. Now, is there any way to turn Manchin into an ally?

How about a gigantic public works project in WV? Wind farms? Gravity storage for energy?

[WhiteTara]

4. Joe just heaped money onto Manchin's district

and it should make him be a bit more grateful and pliant.

[lagomorph777]

5. We'll see.

[WhiteTara]

7. I think I did use the word "should"

because he is a difficult person to be in Congress to reach consensus.

[lagomorph777]

8. Oh, I know. My annoyance is not aimed at you!

[musclecar6]

3. How

Refreshing to see a president and a progressive senator come out strongly for unions and minimum wages at a decent level. It’s great to see them not apologising for taking those stands.

[theneworiginal]

6. The cranky drum beat of Bernie Sanders will resonate with the masses.

The fact that he is not being marginalized and called a communist and the fact that the merits of his platform are being shown respect will erode much of the hardened anti-working-class rhetoric which has gotten so much traction in recent years.

[lagomorph777]

9. +1 I found the old curmudgeon to be very invigorating.