U.S. President Joe Biden pictured in front of the Capitol. (Getty Images)
Such was the case in recent days when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., deployed that phrase three times in less than a minute. Even when asked different questions which didn’t pertain to "who" Schumer may "be with."
Art of the deflection is one tool.
Another option is to not respond to questions at all.
Such was the case when Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., strolled from the Capitol to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Thursday. That’s where aides and officials close to President Biden huddled with panicked Democratic senators about the state of the race and the campaign.
I asked Whitehouse what he needed "to hear" in the session.
"I’m not going to discuss the meeting," replied Whitehouse.
"Are you concerned about the president?" I followed up.
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"I’m not going to discuss the issue until I’ve had the meeting," responded Whitehouse.
"What’s the level of tension you’re hearing from Democrats right now? I queried.
"I can’t respond to that either," said Whitehouse.
I continued peppering Whitehouse with questions as we walked in the punishing, sun of a 95-degree day in Washington with nary a cloud.
"Why are members being so elusive on this? Are they worried? If they were foursquare behind him, would people be more willing to talk?" I asked.
"Oh yeah. That’s what you say," said Whitehouse as he crossed the street near the Supreme Court.
Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., speaks to Roll Call in his office in the Rayburn House Office Building on Thursday, December 7, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The House and Senate are now out of session for more than a week, so Republicans can attend their convention in Milwaukee. On this occasion, the schedule works in the favor of Democrats. It’s better for Democrats to make critical statements or call on the president to bow out when they are back in their districts or home states with constituents. Releasing a paper statement or posting something to social media builds a firewall between them and pesky scribes.
Lawmakers view this as so serious that they don’t want to air their grievances with President Biden via the press corps. But at least one took a more direct approach. That’s why Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., told the president what he believed he should do on a conference call with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Levin told President Biden to withdraw. Levin then published a statement saying it was time to "pass the torch."
It's unclear if President Biden will pass the torch.
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But lawmakers can certainly bypass the press corps on this nettlesome question now that Congress is out of session.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
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