Joe Biden is old. He’s white, male, heterosexual, and Christian. He’s kind of boring — except when he’s making gaffes and stumbling over words. And I’m a progressive who would love to see a Sanders-style populist or a young woman of color ascend to the presidency. Nevertheless, I’ve decided that Joe Biden should be the Democratic nominee. I’d like to tell you why.
America needs a break. The last few years, with Trump in the White House, have frankly been hell for anyone who wants the government to be competent and reliable… who doesn’t want to have to check the news or social media several times a day to see what crazy thing has happened next… and who wants the bully pulpit of the presidency to be used for comforting and inspiring people, rather than bullying people and scaring the shit out of the world.
I admire Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and agree with their emphasis on economic justice. I hoped for Kamala Harris to rise to the top tier — and I felt the same way about Cory Booker — and I think we’ll be seeing much more of them in the future. I think Pete Buttigieg has a great political future as well, if he can first get himself elected to something in between mayor and president. I support some of the big ideas of Andrew Yang, and believe he will prove to be much more than a footnote in history.
But despite all of this, my hunch is that the country needs a few years of Biden. We need a president who can dial back the tension that is building to a fever pitch in this country. We are a country that increasingly feels like it’s on the brink of civil war.
Joe Biden is not especially impressive, and he’s not an ideologue; he’s just a regular guy with a calming demeanor, and common decency, and a lot of experience in government. He is popular among black voters, who are a key part of the Democratic base, which can help to ensure strong voter turnout. He has a folksy Midwestern appeal and can win crucial swing states like Pennsylvania. When I think of a Trump vs. Biden campaign, I do not feel a terrible fear that Trump could be reelected. I suspect that a bland and mainstream candidate like “Regular Joe” Biden — who feels like a comfortable old slipper — is exactly what a lot of Americans will be looking for when they enter the voting booth next November, after four years of the hair-raising drama of Donald Trump.
In short, I think there is a large “silent majority” in this country right now for normalcy, and a president who embodies it. Biden does. He can beat Trump easily, which is exactly what America needs to wash away the stain in the Oval Office, without excessive risk, drama, and controversy.
Do I think Biden is a exceptional candidate? No. Do I think Biden goes far enough in a progressive direction? Absolutely not. But he may stand the best chance of getting our country pointed away from the abyss, which is a great start, considering where we are now. And then, four years later, when Biden presumably retires after a single term, it’ll be time to build on that foundation with a more visionary candidate in 2024.
That’s how I’m feeling these days. I wonder if America will agree?