Staff Reports
Due to his differences with the party's support for Joe Biden, Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips quit his job as co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Caucus (DPCC). Phillips has been very open about his disagreement with the Democratic Party's decision to support Biden as their presidential candidate for 2024. He will still be in Congress.
Scoop: Rep. Dean Phillips steps down from Dem leadership https://t.co/l7AUrNNupS
— Axios (@axios) October 2, 2023
Phillips said in his statement that he didn't agree with all Democrats, which is supposedly the worst thing that can happen in the party. He said that he resigned voluntarily, saying, "My beliefs about the 2024 presidential race are different from those of most of my caucus, and I thought it was appropriate to step down from elected leadership to avoid unnecessary distractions during a critical time for our country." He also thanked his coworkers and praised their willingness to listen to different points of view.
I have decided to step down from the DPCC & Democratic Caucus leadership. While politics & official work do not mix, it’s clear my convictions about 2024 are incongruent with the position of my colleagues & that was causing discomfort. I was not pressured or forced to resign. 1/2
— Rep. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@RepDeanPhillips) October 1, 2023
One can't help but wonder if Phillips was fired because he didn't agree with Biden's running for office. It's no secret that Biden's mental health has been getting worse. He's also being criticized for the economy and his policy on the border, which has caused an unprecedented immigration problem. Even though these things are worrying and Biden's support is falling in the polls, the top Democrats are still fully behind him. It looks like they need a "safe" option badly, even if it means ignoring his weaknesses.
Reports say Phillips was criticized in a meeting with Democrats behind closed doors. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, one of Phillips' colleagues, got cheers for calling him out for not agreeing with the party's message about President Biden. Phillips even thought about running against Biden, but given how things stand now, that doesn't seem likely at all.
Philips says he wasn't forced to leave, but the facts make it seem like he was forced to "kiss the ring," so to speak. It worries me that the Democratic Party rules with an iron hand and puts down any opposition within its ranks. If this is how they run their party, just think what they would do to the country if they got the full power they want.
