Joe Biden Should Call His Black Friend(s)
And women friends, and queer friends.
Maybe I want to wade into the Biden waters since all the cool kids are doing it…or I just want to share my thoughts on an important issue and one that seems to be lacking so much context and thoughtful discussion.
Sure, there are a lot of ‘conversations’ happening but not many discussions going on. I am not an insider or anything of the sort, but this outsider sees enough flags to make Martha-Ann Alito …nvm but the lady likes some flags.
The debate was a disaster. No sugarcoating, dude sounded and looked old. No shade, at all, but he IS OLD. It happens to the best of us if we are lucky. Immediately following the debate, people began to speculate as to whether he would step aside or WHO would be the nominee.
I get it. I got it. Good.
Biden, however, didn’t get it. He followed up with a letter to elected leaders —on what looked to me like parchment paper— stating his intention of staying in the race.
Aside from the really bad optics— a semi strong letter he then doubled down on with an interview on Morning Joe. (it just clicked to me that Joe called in in the morning but…)
He lastly did an interview with George Snuffleupagus (of Sesame St. fame) where he gave the most frustrating answer to the very real question Stephanopoulos asked about Trump possibly winning and all the things he feared coming true—
Basically, he downplayed the chances, invoked ‘the Lord Almighty’ and said if he lost he’d at least know he did his best.
At this I wanted Joe to have a swift kick of the ice cream cone out of his hands and use them to dial his Black or woman—or queer friends. Talk to them. See how these groups feel about 'doing your best’ when there may be other options that —idk—don’t help elect an authoritarian dictator wanabee who wants to ensure those same groups have zero rights and are not treated with humanity. Also umm Project 2025 is terrifying.
Personally, I’m terrified of another Trump term. Each day we legitimize their brand of hate, is years of progress chipped away. The terrifying scenes from Nashville and Boston this week where white supremacists marched—unsurprisingly aided and protected by cops— carrying confederate and other white nationalist flags was a wrench in my poor Black heart.
These things are on the rise. Hate is on the rise. And some groups are the target. Both physically and legislatively, people are under attack here and a Trump presidency will just further ignite the flames.
Biden, who spoke like someone who knows they won’t live to see full repercussions, should know this. If he doesn’t, he needs to talk to someone who does.
I don’t know WHO the best option is or if Biden can’t beat Trump. I do know that whoever is out there needs to be the BEST OPTION for protecting what little of a democracy the unsupreme court allows us to currently have.
Also frustrating is the complete disregard he, and the pundits, have shown to our sitting Vice President who happens to be both Black and a woman— so she kinda knows the stakes and articulates them well. (see: her speech at Essence, or post debate) It also would work with campaign finance and ethics rules but that is boring stuff.
Further, who else is a better choice to go up against a habitual and 34X convicted felon than an actual longtime prosecutor and so-called ‘cop.’ That could be a FUN debate.
Look, I think Biden has done a lot of great things as a president. He also set his ego aside to learn from some progressives on climate policy and student debt. He has had a long career of laudable public service. A new candidate could move things forward and allow an opportunity to show commitment to country. And a new candidate also would have a cleaner slate to finally do something right by Gaza and maybe bring youth and people of color back into the fold (also the human thing to do.
I do think his view is clouded by legacy and not by what is actually ahead. Father time is undefeated for a reason (excluding LeBron) you know.
A few years back I wanted to see if I could still get above the rim and dunk. I’m not 19 anymore. Did I make it? Yeah— then I was sore for a week.
Biden can dunk sometimes but can he be consistent? Or is it going to be more days like the debate? Could he pull it off? Maybe. Will I, like other dems, vote for him in November, yeah. But for the good of all of us— maybe he can call his friends who will be impacted most by him losing when making decisions.