Experts think that President Joe Biden's blame on Putin as an approach to inflation is severely misguided because assigning blame absolves Mr. Biden and congressional Democrats of responsibility for addressing the problem.
With the midterm elections just over six months away, Biden is hoping that people would accept his explanation that rising gas and food costs are due to Russian President Vladimir Putin, not him.
Joe Biden Seems Powerless To Handle Inflation
Nicknamed inflation "Putin's price hike" is the topic that he has been pounding since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started in February. According to experts, the action makes President Joe Biden and other Democrats appear impotent to address the issue.
On Wednesday, Joe Biden conceded that inflation was unacceptably high, citing a Labor Department data showing that inflation increased in April. It will be a top economic priority, according to the president, as per the Washington Times.
The White House's first response to inflation was to reassure Americans that rising costs were a temporary issue brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
However, when inflation reached a 40-year high, President Joe Biden is attempting a two-pronged strategy, promising Americans that rising prices are the administration's top concern. Republicans are to blame for failing to present a strategy to help Americans.
The difficulty with that strategy is that in Washington, Democrats, not Republicans, are in power. Political observers say that blaming the outgoing party for the current condition of events is rarely a winning approach.
US Inflation Hits 40-Year High
Biden received some good news on Wednesday when the Labor Department revealed that, while inflation remained high in April, it fell short of its 40-year high, indicating that the recent spike in consumer prices may have crested. Despite this, total consumer prices rose 0.3 percent in March. Record-high gas costs, according to AAA, the average price per gallon was $4.40 on Wednesday; and a baby formula scarcity adds to the anxiety many American families are experiencing.
Biden said inflation remains unacceptably high in a statement released after the latest figures were released on Wednesday and that lowering prices is his administration's top economic priority. He cited an initiative to partner with businesses to make high-speed internet more affordable for some low-income Americans as one example of what he's doing to combat inflation.
Biden's pledge that raising costs is his administration's top objective presents a conundrum for Democrats, who control not only the White House but also the House and Senate with razor-thin majorities. Inflation is anticipated to be a major topic in the midterm elections as voters frequently penalize the ruling party for poor economic performance.
Given the stakes, Biden had little choice but to attempt to assuage Americans' fears, according to Howell; but in doing so, he ensured that Democrats retain control of the issue. Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said it's critical to connect with people on the issues that matter most to them, which is the economy right now.
Republicans understand that Biden's blame-the-minority-party policy will backfire, according to Bonjean. It was tested in 2006. George W. Bush was president, and Republicans controlled both the House and the Senate. Republicans, on the other hand, attempted to blame Democrats for the economy, immigration, and other concerns.
That autumn, Republicans lost their House and Senate majority because voters regard the people in authority as the ones who are meant to handle the problem. They were elected for that reason, USA Today reported.
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