The Point: Why Joe Biden should go all-in on vaccine mandates

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September 20, 2021 | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski

Why Joe Biden should go all-in on vaccine mandates

Ten days ago, I wrote that Joe Biden had gambled his presidency on his decision to mandate Covid-19 vaccines for upward of 100 million Americans.

That's looking like a very smart bet -- as poll after poll shows clear majorities supportive of the vaccine mandate.

* A Fox News poll released over the weekend showed almost 6 in 10 Americans (58%) saying they support the federal government requiring all federal workers to be vaccinated. The same poll showed near-identical support (56%) for the government to compel all businesses with more than 100 employees to have their people vaccinated (or tested weekly).

* A CNN poll released last week showed that a majority of Americans support vaccination requirements to return to the workplace (54%), kids attending in-person classes (55%), and concertgoers and people attending sporting events (55%).

*And this from a Monmouth University poll released last week: "Most Americans support vaccine mandates for key groups mentioned in Biden's announcement last week. This includes requiring Covid vaccines for health care workers (63%), federal employees (58%), and private contractors working for the federal government (55%)."

The simple fact is that in a deeply divided country on, well, almost everything, vaccine mandates are a clear majority winner in poll after poll.

Why? People want things back to normal -- and the Delta variant has scared plenty of people straight about the dangers of not being vaccinated.

Now what? Expect President Biden -- and Democratic leaders in Congress -- to push hard on their vaccine mandate messaging, knowing, without a doubt, the bulk of the public is behind them. That will put Republicans in a bind, because while their base is skeptical of mandates, they, too, see the polling on the issue with the general public.

The Point: Biden's presidency will be defined by how he is perceived to have reacted to the coronavirus pandemic. And with his vaccine mandate, he's on very solid ground.

-- Chris

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"But then something happened. It was called 2020."

-- Former Nevada Sen. Dean Heller announced his GOP bid for Nevada governor on Monday, saying that "after my last race, I thought I was done with politics," but claiming that social unrest and pandemic policies motivated him to return.

MONDAY'S MUST-SEE TWEETS

1. YES YES YES

2. A good 🧵on the guy leading the Arizona "audit"

3. John Yarmuth, off message

4. Roy Kent!!!

5. Disney characters. That you can eat.

CHRIS' GOOD READS

Joe Manchin is going to be in charge of shepherding President Biden's climate agenda. As The New York Times points out, he's got a lot of friends in the fossil fuel industry. And The Washington Post has a good look at which lobbyists Manchin listens to.

To the surprise of no one, false claims of election fraud aren't going away. In fact, they're spreading, reports Politico.

Kevin McCarthy has gone full MAGA. This Rolling Stone profile documents his evolution.

The New York Times got a sit-down with first lady Jill Biden, where she talked about how hard achieving unity actually is.

I'll read anything The Ringer's Claire McNear writes -- especially if it's about the latest "Jeopardy!" super-genius.

It's Ryder Cup week! ESPN asks the critical question: Can the US team just get along?

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

Of late, I've been getting way into José González. The guy just writes amazing songs. His brand-new album is called "Local Valley."

-- Chris

AN IMPORTANT UPDATE AT THE VA

The Veterans Affairs Department issued guidance Monday stating that military service members who were discharged because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy are now eligible for all Veterans Affairs benefits.

Who this affects: 100,000 American service members have been discharged because of their sexual orientation or gender identity -- including more than 14,000 under "don't ask, don't tell," according to President Biden. Many received what are known as "other than honorable" discharges, excluding them and their families from the vitally important services and benefits.
What kinds of benefits: Readiness and employment benefits, home loan guaranty, compensation and pension benefits, health care, homeless programs and burial benefits.

ONE BIG SCOTUS HEARING

December 1

The Supreme Court will hear a case concerning a Mississippi abortion law on December 1, the court announced on Monday, teeing up one of the most substantial cases of the term, in which the justices are being asked to overturn Roe v. Wade.

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