Not even Joe Biden knows what Joe Biden supports.
On Wednesday, hours before the vice-presidential debate, the 2020 Democratic nominee promised that, as president, he will implement “nationwide mask mandates.” For those playing at home, this is Biden’s second flip-flop on the issue.
“As president,” the Democratic nominee’s account declared, “I will: Implement nationwide mask mandates, ensure access to regular, reliable, and free testing, accelerate the development of treatments and vaccines.”
It adds, “I won’t waste any time getting this virus under control.”
The first promise, to “implement nationwide mask mandates,” marks the latest in Biden’s ever-evolving position on the matter.
In August, Biden favored imposing a national mandate, telling reporters in Delaware, “Let’s institute a mask mandate nationwide, starting immediately, and we will save lives.”
Biden later promoted the idea during his acceptance speech.
“If I’m president, on day one, we’ll implement the national strategy I’ve been laying out since March,” said the Democratic nominee. “We’ll have a national mandate to wear a mask … I will do what we should have done from the very beginning.”
However, shortly after the Democratic National Convention, Biden amended his position on the matter, saying a federal mandate would be unconstitutional and that he would only recommend that governors institute mask guidelines.
“There’s a question whether the president, under the Constitution, could mandate everyone wear a mask,” he told reporters in early September. “I’m a constitutionalist. You know, you can’t do things the Constitution doesn’t allow you the power to do.”
Biden added, “What I would be doing is putting as much pressure as I could on every governor … every mayor, every county executive, every local official. And everyone in business, putting pressure on them to say, ‘What you’re doing is irresponsible.’ Make sure you wear a mask and maintain social distancing.”
Later, in September, Biden argued again that a federal mask mandate would be unconstitutional.
“The federal government, there’s a constitutional issue whether the federal government could issue such a mandate. I don’t think, constitutionally, they could,” he said in an interview with an Arizona CBS News affiliate.
“So, I wouldn’t issue a mandate,” Biden added, “but I’d plead with, I’d carry my mask with me everywhere I go, I’d set an example, I’d make sure that — and I understand what’s happening, you see what’s happening in your state.”
More recently, on Monday, the Democratic nominee reiterated his supposed position that mask mandates ought to be left to the governors.
Biden promised to “go out and talk to all the governors,” he said, “and call them all to the White House — some of them probably wouldn’t come. And I’d call all of the governors, and I’d say to all the mayors as well as the county executives: ‘Take responsibility and lay out the guidelines.’”
He added that the “president should take responsibility, and the federal government has an obligation to lay out basic guidelines.”
Now, we are back to Biden promising to “implement nationwide mask mandates.” So, that is a flip-flop of a flip-flop.
By the time we get to Election Day, the former vice president will likely change his mind a few more times on the issue, for good luck.
