{"html":"\t\n\t\u003C!-- Advertisement Script --\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022postid-376528 scrolltrace textContainer_Truncate\u0022 articlelisttitle=\u0022Republicans Have the Biden Presidency Caught in a Unity Trap\u0022 articlelistlinks=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/biden-gop-unity-trap\/\u0022 article-post-id=\u0022376528\u0022 article-keyword=\u0022\u0027donald-tru\u0027, \u0027joe-biden\u0027\u0022 article-subject=\u0022\u0027congress\u0027, \u0027democrats\u0027, \u0027republican\u0027\u0022 article-authors=\u0022\u0027jeet-h\u0027\u0022\u003E\n\t\n\t\t\u003Carticle id=\u0022url-title\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\u0022tn_pixel_376528_1\u0022 style=\u0027height:0px; width:0px;\u0027\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cdiv id=\u0022tn_pixel_376528_2\u0022 style=\u0027height:0px; width:0px;\u0027\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u003Cheader class=\u0022article-header\u0022\u003E\t\n\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022article-header-content\u0022\u003E\t\t\n\t\t\u003Cul class=\u0022article-info\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022category\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/subject\/congress\/\u0022 class=\u0022anchor_subject\u0022 subjectlink=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/subject\/congress\/\u0022\u003ECongress\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022subcategory\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/keyword\/joe-biden\/\u0022\u003EJoe Biden\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022subcategory\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/content\/morbid-symptoms\/\u0022\u003EMorbid Symptoms\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022issue\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/issue\/february-22-march-1-2021-issue\/\u0022\u003EFebruary 22\/March 1, 2021, Issue\u003C\/a\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch1 class=\u0022article_title hide\u0022\u003ERepublicans Have the Biden Presidency Caught in a Unity Trap\u003C\/h1\u003E\u003Ch1 class=\u0022title\u0022\u003ERepublicans Have the Biden Presidency Caught in a Unity Trap\u003C\/h1\u003E\u003Ch2 class=\u0027subtitle\u0027\u003EWhile fake unity just means doing whatever Republicans want, authentic unity requires marginalizing the promoters of lies and racism in the interest of creating a more genuinely equal society.\u003C\/h2\u003E\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022byline\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Ch2 class=\u0022author_name\u0022\u003EBy \u003Ca class=\u0022author\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jeet-heer\/\u0022\u003EJeet Heer\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca class=\u0022author-twitter\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/@HeerJeet\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ETwitter\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch4 class=\u0022time is_date article_pub_time\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 5, 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class=\u0022article-share\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share fb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Efb\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share tw\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Etw\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share mail email\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Email\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share tn_print\u0022 onclick=\u0022tn_print_fn()\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EPrint\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share msg\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Emsg\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share wa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Ewa\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share sms\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Esms\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 class=\u0022social-share bookmark tn-sfg-add-to-list hide\u0022 onclick=\u0022tnAddToReadingList(this, 376528)\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBookmark\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E \t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\t\t\n\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/header\u003E\n\n\u003Csection class=\u0022tnpaywallcontent article-body  abody-376528 keep-reading \u0022\u003E\n\t\u003Ctime class=\u0022tn_publish_date hide\u0022\u003EFebruary 5, 2021\u003C\/time\u003E\n\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022article-body-inner\u0022\u003E\n\t\u003Caside class=\u0022left full-width-mobile image wide indent\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca class=\u0022gallery imgHover\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/biden-meeting-republicans.jpg\u0022 title=\u0022President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with 10 Republican senators in the Oval Office on February 1, 2021. (Doug Mills-Pool \/ Getty Images)\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/biden-meeting-republicans.jpg?scale=896&compress=80\u0022 alt=\u0022Biden meets Republicans\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EPresident Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with 10 Republican senators in the Oval Office on February 1, 2021. \u003Cspan class=\u0022credits\u0022\u003E(Doug Mills-Pool \/ Getty Images)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/aside\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv style=\u0022clear:both\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: -5px; line-height: 20px;\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 35px;\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u201cThe crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\u0022font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 38px;\u0022\u003Ein this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.\u201d\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\u0022font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 291px;\u0022\u003E\u2014\u003Cem\u003EAntonio Gramsci\u003C\/em\u003E, Prison Notebooks\u003Cem\u003E (1930)\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E1\u003C\/span\u003E\t\t\t\t\u003Caside class=\u0022ad right most-popular-plus-ad grey_back\u0022\u003E\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv align=\u0022center\u0022 id=\u0022thenation_right_rail_376528\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t  \u003Cscript data-cfasync=\u0022false\u0022 type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\tfreestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplacementName: \u0022thenation_right_rail\u0022, \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tslotId: \u0022thenation_right_rail_376528\u0022,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttargeting:{\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_author: [\u0027jeet-h\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_articleid: [376528],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_ptype: \u0027article\u0027,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_keyword: [\u0027donald-tru\u0027, \u0027joe-biden\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_subject: [\u0027congress\u0027, \u0027democrats\u0027, \u0027republican\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_pos: \u0027rectangle_1\u0027,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_loc:\u0027atf\u0027\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t});\n\t\t\t\t\t  \u003C\/script\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003C\/aside\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022wpsdc-drop-cap\u0022\u003ED\u003C\/span\u003Eelivering his inaugural address in a garrisoned city where more than 20,000 troops from the National Guard were stationed only two weeks after Donald Trump egged on thousands of his followers to attack Congress in order to overturn the election, Joe Biden naturally organized his speech and the day\u2019s festivities around the theme of \u201cunity.\u201d Not that he needed to be nudged in that 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btn_5000b2 para_one_button\u0022 name=\u0022submit_sailthru\u0022 value=\u0022Donate\u0022 style=\u0022\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground-color:#dd9933;color:#000000;\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003C\/aside\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Caside class=\u0022left indent indents email-signup-module para-one-6\u0022 style=\u0022display: none;\u0022 data-section=\u00225\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022emailetext-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch4\u003ESign up for our Wine Club today.\u003C\/h4\u003E\r\n\u003Cspan data-sheets-value=\u0022{\u0022 data-sheets-userformat=\u0022{\u0022\u003EDid you know you can support \u003Cem\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/em\u003E by drinking wine? \u003C\/span\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022cta\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenationwineclub.com\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cinput type=\u0022button\u0022 class=\u0022btn btn_5000b2 para_one_button\u0022 name=\u0022submit_sailthru\u0022 value=\u0022LEARN MORE\u0022 style=\u0022\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground-color:#dd3333;color:#ffffff;\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003C\/aside\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003Cscript\u003Eparagraph_module[376528] = [{\u0022order\u0022:\u00222\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-subscribe\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u00221\u0022},{\u0022order\u0022:\u00221\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-subscribe\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u00221\u0022},{\u0022order\u0022:\u00224\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-subscribe\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u00221\u0022},{\u0022order\u0022:\u00225\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-donate\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u0022\u0022},{\u0022order\u0022:\u00223\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-donate\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u0022\u0022},{\u0022order\u0022:\u00226\u0022,\u0022event_name\u0022:\u0022paragraph-1-wineclub\u0022,\u0022user_logged_in\u0022:\u0022\u0022}];\u003C\/script\u003E \n\u003Cp\u003ETrump\u2019s aborted putsch\u2014a sinister event, no matter how clownishly executed\u2014made these pleas more urgent and heartfelt. \u201cThis is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward,\u201d Biden \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/01\/20\/us\/politics\/biden-inauguration-speech-transcript.html\u0022\u003Einsisted\u003C\/a\u003E. He pointedly alluded to a previous moment of national discord by decrying the current \u201cuncivil war.\u201d The president who led the Union during the actual Civil War was recruited as a model by Biden as he stressed these words:\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E3\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv id=\u0022ConnatixPlaceholder\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnity. Unity.\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E4\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn another January in Washington, on New Year\u2019s Day 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E5\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen he put pen to paper, the president said, \u201cIf my name ever goes down into history it will be for this act and my whole soul is in it.\u201d\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E6\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022inline-counter\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMy whole soul is in it.\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E7\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EToday, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together.\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E8\u003C\/span\u003E\t\t \u003Caside class=\u0022left indent indents related-newarticle author-modules\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022author-img\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jeet-heer\/\u0022 class=\u0022no-target-blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jeet-heer-300.jpg?scale=60&compress=80\u0022 alt=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch4\u003E \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jeet-heer\/\u0022\u003EMORE FROM Jeet Heer\u003C\/a\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/h4\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022newrelated-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/capitol-riot-aoc-accountability\/\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch5\u003EAOC\u2019s Stirring Call to Reject Insurrection Amnesia\u003C\/h5\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022author\u0022\u003EFebruary 3, 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022newrelated-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/biden-gop-bipartisan-stimulus\/\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch5\u003EBiden Should Reject the Latest GOP Bipartisan Fantasy\u003C\/h5\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022author\u0022\u003EFebruary 1, 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022newrelated-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/biden-executive-order-times\/\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ch5\u003EBiden\u2019s Executive Orders Are Essential to Restoring Democracy\u003C\/h5\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022author\u0022\u003EJanuary 29, 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022newrelated-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cp class=\u0022author\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jeet-heer\/\u0022\u003EAuthor page\u003C\/a\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/p\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u003C\/aside\u003E\n\t\t\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe problem with unity is that by itself, unconnected to a meaningful political agenda, it is a vacuous concept. Unity is as easy to affirm as motherhood or national greatness\u2014precisely because it makes no specific demands. Upholding unity by itself, paradoxically, produces conflict, since it opens the door to competing ideas of the terms of union.\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E9\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Civil War and Reconstruction illustrate the divisiveness of unity politics. Even those who agreed on the goal of unity fought mightily over the terms: Was the nation to be reunited by a return to the status quo ante, with slavery once again confined to the South (as many Doughface Democrats and moderate Republicans wanted)? Or was the abolition of slavery a prerequisite for true national restoration, as the abolitionists insisted? And after the war, was unity to be achieved by securing democracy for the formerly enslaved, as the Radical Republicans demanded? Or did a reintegration of the white South into the Union require abandoning Black Southerners to second-class status, as a bipartisan political elite decided in the Compromise of 1877 that ended Reconstruction?\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E10\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Caside class=\u0022right hidden-on-mobile most-popular-plus-ad\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022most-popular hover_b_remove thenation-single-article-most-popular\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/aside\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBiden had the right instincts in thinking back to Lincoln, for the same question faces America today: On what terms will a broken nation be made whole?\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E11\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBiden\u2019s inaugural address was itself a divided document, articulating two incompatible ideas of unity. On the one hand, he spoke of unity as comity. \u201cWe can treat each other with dignity and respect,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature.\u201d\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E12\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is a Kumbaya unity, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inthesetimes.com\/features\/joe-biden-bipartisanship-nostalgia-centrism-2020.html\u0022\u003Ea backward-looking call\u003C\/a\u003E for a return to the days of elite cooperation, when everyone talked in their indoor voice in the back rooms where the deals were hammered out.\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E13\u003C\/span\u003E\t\t\u003Caside class=\u0022ad-300\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cdiv align=\u0022center\u0022 id=\u0022thenation_article_indent\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t  \u003Cscript data-cfasync=\u0022false\u0022 type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t  freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ \n\t\t\t\t\tplacementName: \u0022thenation_article_indent\u0022, \n\t\t\t\t\tslotId: \u0022thenation_article_indent\u0022,\n\t\t\t\t\ttargeting:{\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_author: [\u0027jeet-h\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_articleid: [376528],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_ptype: \u0027article\u0027,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_keyword: [\u0027donald-tru\u0027, \u0027joe-biden\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_subject: [\u0027congress\u0027, \u0027democrats\u0027, \u0027republican\u0027],\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_pos: \u0027rectangle_4\u0027,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttn_loc:\u0027atf\u0027\n\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \u003C\/script\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\t\n\t\t\u003C\/aside\u003E\n\t\t\n\u003Cp\u003EBut Biden also voiced a radically different and more substantial vision of unity as democracy: the idea that unity requires marginalizing the promoters of lies and racism in the interest of creating a more genuinely equal society. In that spirit, he warned of \u201ca rise in political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.\u201d\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E14\u003C\/span\u003E\t\t\u003Caside class=\u0022left indent indents current-issue\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Ch4\u003ECurrent Issue\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022current-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/issue\/february-22-march-1-2021-issue\/\u0022 class=\u0022no-target-blank\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/cover0222.jpg\u0022 alt=\u0022\u0022\/\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/a\u003E\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022current-blocks\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/issue\/february-22-march-1-2021-issue\/\u0022 class=\u0022textred-highlighted\u0022\u003EView our current 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\u0027#dd3333\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( magazine_text_376528 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#magazine_text_376528\u0022).html(magazine_text_376528);\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( magazine_button_text_376528 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#magazine_button_376528\u0022).html(magazine_button_text_376528);\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( magazine_button_url_376528 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#magazine_button_376528 a\u0022).attr(\u0022href\u0022,magazine_button_url_376528);\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( magazine_button_bg_color_376528 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#magazine_button_376528 a input\u0022).css(\u0022background\u0022,magazine_button_bg_color_376528);\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\u003C\/script\u003E\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\u003Cp\u003EAlthough he was careful not to mention his predecessor by name, the intent of this call for unity-as-democracy was clearly to divide the Republican opposition. It is an injunction for moderate Republicans to reject the Trumpist wing of their party and work with Democrats on bolstering democracy and fighting racism.\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E15\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe problem Biden faces is that unity-as-comity and unity-as-democracy are not just distinct but are actually at odds with each other. Republicans have quickly and shrewdly figured this out and realized that unity-as-comity offers them a language to sandbag Biden\u2019s agenda. After all, if the goal is to get the two parties working together, then all the Republicans have to say is that any effort to push a Democratic agenda forward is anathema to Biden\u2019s stated goal of unity.\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E16\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA day after the inauguration, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton used \u201cunity\u201d to attack Rob Malley, a potential Biden foreign policy appointee whom he regards as insufficiently hawkish on Iran. \u201cAppointing radicals like Malley gives the lie to all of President Biden and Tony Blinken\u2019s rhetoric of unity,\u201d Cotton tweeted. The following day Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted, \u201cA radical leftist agenda in a divided country will not help unify our country, it will only confirm 75 million Americans biggest fears about the new administration.\u201d Utah Senator Mitt Romney even complained that Biden\u2019s push to restore the size of two national monuments in Utah \u201cwill only deepen divisions in this country.\u201d\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E17\u003C\/span\u003E\t\t\u003Caside id=\u0022inline_cta_1_module_376528\u0022 class=\u0022inline-cta-1\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022inline-cta-blocks\u0022 id=\u0022inline_cta_376528\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022cta\u0022 id=\u0022inline_cta_btn_376528\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\u003C\/aside\u003E\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\u003Cscript \u003E\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tvar inline_cta_text_376528            = \u0027\u0027;\n\t\t\tvar inline_cta_button_text_376528     = \u0027\u0027;\n\t\t\tvar inline_cta_url_376528             = \u0027\u0027;\n\t\t\tvar inline_cta_bg_color_376528        = \u0027\u0027;\n\t\t\tvar inline_cta_font_color_376528      = \u0027\u0027;\n\t\t\tvar cta_1_check_376528  = false;  \n\t\t\tvar is_user_logged_in = getCookie(\u0027SESSname\u0027);\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tif( is_user_logged_in != null ){\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tinline_cta_text_376528 = \u0027\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupport Progressive Journalism\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you like this article, please give today to help fund \u003Cem\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/em\u003E\u2019s work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tinline_cta_font_color_376528 = \u0027#000000\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tinline_cta_button_text_376528 = \u0027\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022\u003E\u003Cinput type=\u0022button\u0022 class=\u0022btn btn_ffcf0d\u0022 name=\u0022submit_sailthru\u0022 value=\u0022Donate\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tinline_cta_url_376528 = \u0027https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/donate-website\/?sourceid=1020084\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tinline_cta_bg_color_376528 = \u0027#ffcf0d\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t}else{\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tinline_cta_text_376528 = \u0027\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupport Progressive Journalism\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you like this article, please give today to help fund \u003Cem\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/em\u003E\u2019s work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tinline_cta_font_color_376528 = \u0027#000000\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tinline_cta_button_text_376528 = \u0027\u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022\u003E\u003Cinput type=\u0022button\u0022 class=\u0022btn\u0022 name=\u0022submit_sailthru\u0022 value=\u0022Donate\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tinline_cta_url_376528 = \u0027https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/donate-website\/?sourceid=1020084\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tinline_cta_bg_color_376528 = \u0027#ffcf0d\u0027;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( inline_cta_text_376528 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#inline_cta_376528\u0022).html(inline_cta_text_376528);\n\t\t\t\tcta_1_check_376528 = true;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( inline_cta_button_text_376528 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#inline_cta_btn_376528\u0022).html(inline_cta_button_text_376528);\n\t\t\t\tcta_1_check_376528 = true;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( inline_cta_url_376528 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#inline_cta_btn_376528 a\u0022).attr(\u0022href\u0022,inline_cta_url_376528);\n\t\t\t\tcta_1_check_376528 = true;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( inline_cta_bg_color_376528 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#inline_cta_btn_376528 a input\u0022).css(\u0022background\u0022,inline_cta_bg_color_376528);\n\t\t\t\tcta_1_check_376528 = true;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tif( inline_cta_font_color_376528 !=\u0027\u0027 ){\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#inline_cta_btn_376528 a input\u0022).css(\u0022color\u0022,inline_cta_font_color_376528);\n\t\t\t\tcta_1_check_376528 = true;\n\t\t\t}\n\n\t\t\tif( cta_1_check_376528 ){\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\u0022#inline_cta_1_module_376528\u0022).addClass(\u0022tn-inline-cta-module\u0022);\n\t\t\t}\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\u003C\/script\u003E\n\t\n\u003Cp\u003EThe consistent message from Republicans was: Unity means \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/congress\/biden-wants-unite-america-republicans-have-different-idea-what-means-n1255005\u0022\u003Egiving us everything we want\u003C\/a\u003E. This cynical cooption of unity talk should lead Biden to junk the counterproductive unity-as-comity rhetoric. He needs to stop his invocation of elite cooperation as soon as possible, since it will make it impossible for him to govern or to fulfill the agenda that won him the election.\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E18\u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EInstead, Biden needs to flesh out the idea of unity-as-democracy that he voiced at his inauguration. This means making explicit that the problem with Trump was not that he was divisive; after all, any healthy politics entails a battle of competing agendas. The problem was that Trump sowed division in the service of maintaining white supremacy by agitating racist groups, defining the nation along racial lines, pursuing voter suppression, and ultimately sparking a bungled coup. Until Republicans are made to confront and renounce this legacy, there can be no unity.\u003Cspan class=\u0022paranum hidden\u0022\u003E19\u003C\/span\u003E\n\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/section\u003E\n\n\u003Csection class=\u0022aside-wrap\u0022\u003E\u003C\/section\u003E\n\u003Cfooter class=\u0022article-footer narrow new-article-footer\u0022 id=\u0022article-footer-376528\u0022\u003E\n\n\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022footer-module narrow author-bio\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\n\t\t\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jeet-heer\/\u0022\u003E Jeet Heer\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca class=\u0022author-twitter\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/@HeerJeet\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ETwitter\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EJeet Heer is a national affairs correspondent at \u003Cem\u003EThe Nation\u003C\/em\u003E and the author of \u003Cem\u003EIn Love with Art: Francoise Mouly\u2019s Adventures in Comics with Art Spiegelman\u003C\/em\u003E (2013) and \u003Cem\u003ESweet Lechery: Reviews, Essays and Profiles\u003C\/em\u003E (2014).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\t\t\n\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022footer-module narrow contact-us\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cp\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTo submit a correction for our consideration, click \u003Ca target=\u0022_blank\u0022 href=\u0022\/corrections?title=Republicans+Have+the+Biden+Presidency+Caught+in+a+Unity+Trap&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenation.com%2Farticle%2Fpolitics%2Fbiden-gop-unity-trap%2F\u0022\u003Ehere.\u003C\/a\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\u003C\/p\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cp\u003EFor Reprints and Permissions, click \u003Ca target=\u0022_blank\u0022 href=\u0022http:\/\/www.thenationreprints.com\/services\/reprints\/\u0022\u003Ehere.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003C\/div\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022footer-module comments\u0022\u003E\n\t\t\t\t\u003Ca class=\u0022click_comment\u0022 href=\u0022\u0022 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