Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s chosen deputy chief of staff trashed Republican senators as “a bunch of f***ers” after claiming Biden’s White House will promote unity between Democrats and Republicans.
During an interview with Glamour magazine, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Biden’s former campaign manager, claimed Biden was able to win the 2020 election because of “this sense of unity.”
“In the primary, people would mock him, like, ‘You think you can work with Republicans?’” Dillon said.
“I’m not saying they’re not a bunch of f***ers,” she continued. “Mitch McConnell is terrible. But this sense that you couldn’t wish for that, you couldn’t wish for this bipartisan ideal? He rejected that. From start to finish, he set out with this idea that unity was possible, that together we are stronger, that we, as a country, need healing, and our politics needs that too.”
Dillon then claimed compromise will be essential if the U.S. is to move forward.
“Which is not to say it is easy,” she said. “It is like a relationship. You can’t do politics alone. If the other person is not willing to do the work, then that becomes really hard.”
Biden likewise put the onus on Republicans to “get on board” during a recent speech following the meeting of the Electoral College.
Using coded dog-whistle language from the Obama era, such as “fair share” to signal “wealth-redistribution,” Dillon also explained that there was a strong appetite for bipartisan compromise—as long as it ultimately advanced a radical leftist agenda.
“I think, more than not, people want to see impact. They want to see us moving in a path forward.” she said.
“They want to do their work, get paid a fair share, have time for themselves and their family, and see each other as neighbors,” she continued. “And this overhang of this negative, polarized electorate that politics has created is the thing that I think we can break down.”
Republicans immediately blasted Dillon for insulting an entire political group while preaching about unity.
Unite you F*ckers! https://t.co/N8YQY0VIJ6
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) December 16, 2020
I was hoping @JoeBiden your new administration would understand that starting any Interaction with name calling and aspersions does not encourage conversation and problem solving. Maybe a little chat with your deputy chief? https://t.co/WRLgTUS5hQ
— Rep. Paul Mitchell (@RepPaulMitchell) December 15, 2020
Some Democrats are reportedly upset with Dillon over the comments, according to Axios. Several donors even want her to apologize.
“For those of us who, from Day One, bought into Biden’s calls for civility and a return to normalcy, this isn’t just beyond the pale—it’s plain stupid,” said one Biden donor.
Biden’s team, however, defended Dillon and the comments she made.
Dillon “would be the first to tell you her mom doesn’t approve of spicy language” but that “the point she was making … unity and healing are possible—and we can get things done,” claimed Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield.
