Americans from all walks of life are struggling to purchase necessities like food and gasoline as inflation continues to skyrocket.
Most analysts at least feign concern about the situation, but CNN’s White House correspondent took a different approach.
Instead of expressing empathy and compassion, John Harwood sounded off in a tone-deaf article and a series of tweets this week.
As Fox News reported:
In the piece, Harwood claimed the political conversation surrounding inflation was “largely a charade,” and that families, rich and poor, still had more money than they did before the pandemic because of the checks issued as part of the coronavirus relief packages in 2020 and 2021.
“They have not been ‘crushed’ badly enough to prevent them from spending at a steady pace,” he added, before citing economist Mark Zandi who, according to Harwood, said “American households are for the most part in a good financial place.”
Despite later claiming the White House didn’t have much power when it came to the ability to bring down the price of goods, and describing the inflation debate as “largely phony,” he admitted that presidential policies did have the ability to make inflation worse.
He pointed to the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Biden not long after taking office, as something economists agreed “exacerbated inflation somewhat by over-stimulating consumer demand,” and that because of that, Republicans “had a point” in their criticism of the administration’s role in rising inflation.
Here’s one of the tweets that caused widespread backlash on social media:
in Washington debate, inflation is "crushing" families
in real life, pandemic relief has eased the pain
Moody's economist: "excess saving cushioned the impact, even for lower-income households
"households are for the most part in a good financial place" https://t.co/jpqJvuYYKn
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) May 23, 2022
The remarks prompted critics from across the political spectrum to call out Harwood’s take on the issue.
John Harwood doesn’t think inflation is hurting American families because he’s personally doing fine.
And he’s thankful for the very spending that helped create this inflation crisis. https://t.co/BTrf1j1nZ2
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) May 23, 2022
Tool de Force: CNN’s John Harwood Defends Biden, Insists Inflation Pain Is a GOP ‘Charade’ https://t.co/PXUt6nvrTg
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 23, 2022
John Harwood is a horrible person. (Seriously, look up his marriage and Senator Cantwell https://t.co/QamjwxYpIS)
He's really pushing the idea that inflation isn't a big deal because people can eat into their savings to cover the Biden price hikes. https://t.co/N8PyThhOCE— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) May 23, 2022
I've never spent over $100 to fill my gas tank before, and I was pretty upset about it until a CNN correspondent informed me that I could afford it & I'm *in a good financial place*
Thanks for making me feel better. I hope it lasts until I have to fill up the car again this week pic.twitter.com/spwIufRqA2
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) May 23, 2022
Of course, Joe Biden is also trying to diminish the effects of inflation, apparently in hopes of saving the Democratic Party from annihilation in the upcoming midterm elections.
According to the New York Post:
President Biden on Monday admitted that the United States’ economy has “problems” and that it will be “a haul” before Americans see total relief from inflation and soaring prices.
During a press conference in Japan following his meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden insisted that he does not believe a recession is inevitable, pointing to key economic growth in the US compared to other countries.
“Does that mean we don’t have problems? We do,” the president said. “We have problems but less consequential than the rest of the world has because of our internal growth and strength.”
On recovery, Biden said “this is going to be a haul. This is going to take some time.”
While Biden simply said “No” to whether he believes a recession is inevitable, other members of his administration have not ruled out the possibility.
Here are some of Biden’s other outrageous remarks about inflation:
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