I'm used to giving the 30-second elevator pitch about why I support Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination, but now I want to dig a little deeper into why I think he's the best candidate to replace Donald Trump as President, as well as the candidate most likely to beat Trump. For purposes of this blog, I'm focusing less on his specific policy plans and more on the intangibles. As we all know, what a candidate wants and what a President is able to achieve are not always the same thing, so arguing about free college vs. free community college is pretty useless at this point. I want to be clear; I will be voting for the Democratic nominee no matter who it ends up being. But of the two remaining options left in the race (sorry, Tulsi, you are invisible now), I prefer Joe Biden, and here are a few of the reasons why.
Ten current US senators and over 70 current US representatives have already endorsed Biden, and there's a reason for that. Lawmakers not only like Joe, they like working with him. And working with Congress, and having the trust of Congress, is crucial when it comes to getting things done. Also, 25 current and former governors and over 50 current and former ambassadors have endorsed Biden. Many people in government feel they that know Joe, and that he knows them, and that counts for a lot when it comes to accomplishing goals for the country, and undoing the damage that Trump and his cronies have done over the past three years.
Yes, Biden voted for the 1994 crime bill, parts of which turned out to be quite problematic. So did many others; it passed the Senate with a vote of 95 - 4. And many of them now realize it had very detrimental side effects. But you know what else he did? He cosponsored the Violence Against Women Act, which was part of that bill. And yes, Biden was for the Hyde Amendment - preventing federal dollars from paying for abortions - until recently, when he announced his change of heart. Biden has more than once allowed his views to evolve as society evolves. Remember, he came out in favor of gay marriage before President Obama did. Presented with facts, he is willing to adjust and modernize his thinking to better reflect his constituents. Having the same stance on everything for 40+ years is sometimes a bug, not a feature.
Joe Biden is NOT suffering from dementia. Sure, he's made some factual errors - heaven knows I've made my share, too - but his verbal gaffes stem largely from his lifelong challenge with stuttering. When you're making as many appearances as he does on the campaign trail, it's going to happen on camera more often. His debate performances have gotten stronger each time, and for the most part, he has his plans and his experiences at his fingertips when debating. We're electing a public official, not a public speaker, and I'm confident in his ability to take the actions needed to bring the federal government and the US back from the chaos in which we're now mired, whether or not he mixes up a word or two.
What Joe Biden has is the ability to collaborate with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to get things done in Washington. He has the temperament to work with government officials who may have different opinions or motives. He has the experience in international diplomacy to repair our relationships with our allies. And one last thing, a complete intangible that cannot be ignored. Joe Biden cares about people, and it's obvious. You can't fake empathy, and when it comes to talking to Americans one-on-one, he really is "Uncle Joe" who is worried about your problems and wants to help solve them. And I want to give him that chance.
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