The ex-governor of California urged far-left members of the Democratic Party to “get a good joint” and calm down about President-elect Joe Biden’s administration picks.
In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Jerry Brown offered advice to Biden, but not before giving some to the wing of his party that has become the most vocal about the need to push their economic agenda.
Brown, 82, said Democrats can “be as progressive as you want” but reminded that “Biden was the last man standing” after the primaries, not Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“Maybe they should, in the states where it’s now legal, get a good joint and just chill. Just chill,” Brown said.
His comments come after some left-wing groups and lawmakers expressed opposition against some of Biden’s choices to fill his administration. Among those who have drawn scrutiny from the Left include Neera Tanden, the nominee to become the director of the Office of Management and Budget, who was accused of “belittling progressive ideas.”
Others who drew criticism include Rep. Cedric Richmond and Steve Ricchetti, both selected for roles within the White House. The two were labeled as being too “corporate friendly” by Justice Democrats, a liberal group dedicated to electing firebrand lawmakers such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep.-elect Cori Bush.
Brown has spent five decades in public service, including serving four terms as California’s governor. He left office in 2019 to begin retirement, passing the baton to current Gov. Gavin Newsom after serving a record tenure as governor.
Brown advised Biden to focus on jobs, especially as 20 million people still struggle to find work amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The former governor expressed discouragement of ideas such as “defunding the police” and said not every congressional Democrat will be “asked to join the Squad,” the group made up of Ocasio-Cortez, along with Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley.
While Brown said he admired Ocasio-Cortez’s “charisma” and sense of “urgency,” he said there have to be some practicalities to working with people who don’t always think the same.
“Let’s be as left as we want in California, but the difference between having 47 Democrats and independents (in the 100-member Senate) and having 51, or 52, is moderates,” he said. “So therefore, being in the real world, you’re gonna have to deal with that.”
