Following President Joe Biden's recent affirmation that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is now effective, controversy and humor erupted, with Vice President-elect JD Vance using a Pete Rose comparison to mock Biden's sudden proclamation.
The New York Post reported that during an address at the UC Conference of Mayors on January 17, 2025, Biden confidently announced the ERA as a formal addition to the U.S. Constitution. He cited agreement from the American Bar Association and prominent constitutional scholars supporting this stance.
However, the response from the National Archives was swift and contradictory, stating that Biden's pronouncement does not align with the legal status of the ERA within the constitutional framework.
The disagreement centers on whether the ERA, which addresses gender equality under the law, has indeed met all criteria for amendment, a process sparked by the Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization in June 2022.
Vice President-elect JD Vance took to social media platform X to express his cynicism regarding Biden's announcement. Vance used a pointed joke to highlight his skepticism.
“Hey Joe, if we’re doing fake s–t on the way out, can you declare Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame?” Vance posted, drawing a parallel between Biden's assertive stance on the ERA and the unresolved status of baseball legend Pete Rose.
The comparison to Pete Rose, who was banned from Major League Baseball (MLB) and remains excluded from the Hall of Fame due to a betting scandal, underscores Vance’s critique of the ERA's dubious official status.
Pete Rose, who passed away in September of an unspecified year, remains a polarizing figure in sports history. Despite being MLB's all-time hit leader and a three-time World Series champion, Rose's career ended in controversy.
In 1989, an investigation determined he had gambled on MLB games, including those involving his team, the Cincinnati Reds. Consequently, Rose was permanently banned from baseball, though he has made several unsuccessful attempts at reinstatement.
The mention of Rose in the context of Biden’s ERA declaration not only emphasizes the controversial nature of both subjects but also leverages a culturally resonant figure to critique the perceived arbitrariness of Biden's actions.
The reaction on social media to Biden's ERA declaration echoed themes of overreach, with some users branding the President a "dictator" for his unilateral assertion of the amendment's acceptance.
These comments reflect a broader skepticism regarding the process by which such significant legal changes are deemed effective, underscoring a divide in public opinion and understanding regarding constitutional amendments.
Legal experts and commentators continue to debate the implications of Biden’s announcement, questioning the practical enforcement of the ERA without widespread acknowledgment of its constitutional validity.
As legal challenges and discussions unfold, the focus will likely remain on the interpretative discrepancies between different branches of government and their respective roles in amending the Constitution.