Biden’s not taking Baker
All that baggage is just too heavy
Yep, we’re stuck with him. Like it or not.
So if you’re unhappy with Gov. Charlie Baker, don’t go celebrating just yet.
While Baker no doubt would be thrilled to get out of Dodge and take a Biden administration Cabinet post — no matter what he says publicly — he’s not going to get it. Biden advisers floated Baker’s name and other Republicans out there, but probably just as a trial balloon to attract moderate voters.
For starters, Baker — while making it clear he won’t be voting for President Trump — has declined to endorse Joe Biden, which would be a prerequisite for getting a top job in a Democratic
administration.
There are plenty of other Never Trumper Republicans out there like John Kasich who have publicly backed Biden and would jump at the chance to serve in a BidenHarris regime.
But the main reason Baker won’t be packing and leaving anytime soon? Way too much coronavirus baggage.
Seems fitting that the somewhat thinly reported story about Baker being considered for a Biden Cabinet position came the same day that families of coronavirus victims who died at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home gave heartbreaking testimony to a legislative panel investigating the abuse.
Biden is not going to give someone a job whose record handling the COVID-19 pandemic is just above President Trump’s. Massachusetts has been among the worst states when it comes to coronavirus cases, and the numbers now are going up again.
“Both the lieutenant governor and I said when we ran for re-election two years ago … that we were gonna serve our terms, and I intend to do that and you’re going to be stuck with me for at least the next two years anyway,” Baker said on Tuesday.
“I’m flattered to be considered but I like the job I have.”
No chance, Charlie. And there are plenty of other problems with a Baker-Biden partnership.
Baker’s elitist, corporate attitude wouldn’t fly with the influential Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wing of the party, which is already plotting to take over the Bidencontrolled government. Baker doesn’t support the most strict police reform proposals out there, which would make him a likely target of the left wing. He doesn’t even support the Green New Deal. Baker has endorsed Kevin O’Connor, the Republican running to unseat Sen. Ed Markey.
And what about the state police scandals? Think those wouldn’t come up during a Baker confirmation hearing?
Let’s face it, there’s only one reason why Biden would even consider giving Baker a job — and that’s to get rid of him from the Corner Office. Baker’s removal from Massachusetts and a possible third term would likely pave the way for Democrats to finally take over the governor’s office, a post they’ve coveted for years.
Democrats can’t beat Baker on their own, so they’d need help from Joe Biden. But how far is Biden willing to go to say that he’s being bipartisan? Not as far as taking Charlie Baker.