Democrats Used To Run From Big Government Label; They're Now Embracing It

After years of avoiding words like redistribution and labels like socialist, the core of the Democratic Party is embracing big government.

The coronavirus pandemic, a changing party makeup and a softening approach to debt and deficit have combined to give Democrats the space to embrace expensive policies and federal government expansion that would have been unheard of just a few years ago. President Biden is leading the charge and many Democrats, not just progressives, are eagerly jumping on board.

In less than 100 days, Biden and congressional Democrats have passed the second-largest stimulus bill in U.S. history and launched an infrastructure plan that would spend trillions to remake the economy over the next decade. Polls show significant public support, even as Republicans in Congress have uniformly opposed the president's plans.

It's a dynamic Biden is facing without apology.

"I haven't been able to unite the Congress," Biden told reporters at the White House. "But I've been able to unite the country, based on the polling data."

Democrats are betting that the majority of voters, including many Republicans, actually want the federal government to step in and help heal the social and economic wounds caused by the pandemic.

Republicans argue that voters may like checks and support today, but the policies Biden is advocating, particularly changes to oil and gas production and an expanded focus on climate change, are far too progressive for average Americans.

Republicans called Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package a trojan horse for left-wing policies as they voted against it. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has repeatedly referred to Biden's plans, particularly on infrastructure, as a liberal wish list.