Joe Biden cited the pandemic to explain why he campaigned for the nation’s highest office largely from the shelter of his basement.
So what, exactly, is Xavier Becerra’s explanation?
The would-be governor seems to believe that running as a Democrat in overwhelmingly blue California is enough to carry him straight to Sacramento, with minimal effort and no public-health emergency required as cover.
That assumption is not only misguided; it is weak politics and shows a striking lack of respect for California voters.
Becerra is overdue for a serious accounting. He should face voters directly, answer questions from the press and explain a record that critics view as uneven at best — from his handling of COVID policy, to years in public office with limited accomplishments, to episodes that remain deeply questionable.
The scandals are varied.
Xavier Becerra’s former chief of staff, Sean McCluskie, pleaded guilty in October 2025 — not even a year ago — to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud.
Prosecutors said McCluskie and Dana Williamson, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s disgraced former chief of staff, conspired to grab $225,000 from a dormant Becerra campaign account and pump it to McCluskie, effectively supplementing his government salary.
Becerra has said he didn’t know about the illegality. So was he simply clueless? Out to lunch? An incompetent manager with poor skills of delegation and oversight?
What does choosing a No. 1 aide (and friend of 20 years) with compromised ethics say about his ability to judiciously hire, select and assess talent?
Does Becerra have any explanation, beyond that he was “betrayed”?
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We’re waiting.
Another issue Becerra should answer for: As Biden’s health and human services secretary, he lost track of more than 130,000 migrant children who’d crossed the border solo under Biden’s lax immigration policies.
After Becerra & Co. waived them through with poor safeguards, some united with family. But others were exploited, trafficked or forced into labor.
What happened to all those kids? How did Becerra let this humanitarian mess happen? Again: Was he incompetent? Clueless? Indifferent?
His top aide’s poor ethics, the illegal conduct on his own staff, tens of thousands of missing children: Does Becerra take responsibility for any of it?
Has he learned anything from it?
How, exactly, does he merit a promotion?
Can we somehow expect better judgment from Becerra going forward, if he’s elected to run a state of 40 million people? If so, why?
He’s been hunkered down, entitled — hoping to glide to the governor’s mansion based on the D beside his name.
It’s pathetic.
We need a robust exchange of ideas, of policy plans, of visions to transcend the failing status quo as thousands flee the state due to malgovernance, overtaxation and regulation, lack of affordability, crime and chronic homelessness, struggling schools and a litany of other crises.
Instead, we get Becerra as hiding Biden 2.0.
Note to ‘Basement’ Becerra: Find some courage. Show up. Face your record, the press, and the voters.