Yesterday, during a conference call with President Biden and his fellow Governors, Arkansas Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson praised President Biden for his efforts to "depoliticize" the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hutchinson said, "I want to thank all of the White House team for being such great support to the governors. And I want to thank, Mr. President, [for] your address to the nation last week. Thank you for your comments designed to depoliticize our COVID response. I think that was helpful."
It is worth noting that Hutchinson is ineligible to seek re-election due to term limits. One must wonder if Hutchinson would have made such remarks had he been eligible to seek another term in office. Hutchinson's likely successor will be former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and I cannot imagine her acknowledging Biden as President much less offering him praise of any kind.
It is well worth remembering that Sanders' former boss demanded Governors be "appreciative" of him. Former President Trump publicly stated he would not call Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer whom he called "the woman from Michigan" who he deemed insufficiently grateful.
Perhaps Hutchinson was also indirectly praising Biden for his civility compared to that of his predecessor. Whatever the reason, given that Hutchinson is currently the Chair of the National Governors' Association, his remarks are a welcome breath of fresh air.
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