Is Joe Biden the Most Conservative Democrat in 2020?

The 2020 Democratic primaries saw a stark division, with one major candidate standing out among the rest. Joe Biden, often described as the most liberal candidate, might seem to defy this categorization. However, when examined closely, it becomes evident that Joe Biden fits a unique and often misunderstood position within the Democratic party.

The Landscape of the 2020 Democratic Primaries

The primary contests in 2020 were characterized by a clear ideological split. The Democratic party saw two main wings emerge: the progressive wing and the moderate wing. The progressive wing was spearheaded by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, advocating for transformative policies such as Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and a wealth tax. These candidates pushed for sweeping changes to the economic and social structures underpinning American society.

The Role of Joe Biden

In stark contrast, Joe Biden positioned himself as a unifier and a centrist. While often labeled as the most liberal candidate, he is also the only Democratic presidential candidate for the 2020 election. This unique position makes the categorization of him as the most conservative or moderate somewhat oxymoronic. However, a closer look reveals that he did hold more conservative views on certain issues.

Joe Biden is known for his support of the ’94 Crime Bill, which many saw as a “tough on crime” approach. Additionally, he supported the Hyde Amendment, a policy that restricts federal funding for abortion services. In both cases, he was criticized for taking stances that some saw as more conservative. Nevertheless, he did exactly these things, highlighting a complex and nuanced position rather than a simple ideological alignment.

The Role of John Delaney

John Delaney, a former Democratic primary candidate, perhaps better fits the description of the most conservative Democrat in 2020. As a lesser-known candidate in the primary, Delaney represented a more traditional and fiscally conservative approach. However, even Delaney's position in the primary was not definitively conservative, given the significant ideological divide within the Democratic party.

Andrew Yang: An Interesting Case

Andrew Yang emerged as an unique candidate in the 2020 primary. Often described as a libertarian-oriented Democrat, Yang's policy positions were indeed more conservative in nature. He supported policies such as a flat tax and the abolition of the minimum wage. These positions set him apart from the progressive wing and even some of the moderate candidates. His main policy, the Universal Basic Income (UBI), garnered support from various political thinkers, including Milton Friedman and Martin Luther King Jr.

An Analysis of the Candidates

If we examine the candidates more closely, they reveal a spectrum of policy positions and ideological leanings. Joe Biden may be labeled as the most liberal candidate, but his positions on certain issues reveal a more conservative aspect. Andrew Yang's platform was decidedly more conservative, with the UBI policy being a key component. John Delaney, while not a major contender, represented a more traditional and fiscally conservative stance.

The 2020 Democratic primaries highlighted a stark ideological divide, with no candidate being definitively labeled as the most conservative. Joe Biden's positions reveal a nuanced and sometimes contradictory set of beliefs, while Andrew Yang and John Delaney each represented distinct ideological stances.