Biden’s Smartest Move

The one that the Republicans weren’t prepared for

In my last editorial, I wrote, “Joe Biden isn’t Backing out – nor should he be coaxed into not running for re-election.” I was betting on his tenacity and courage to fight to save our republic and like most of you I was surprised when he announced he was stepping aside and “ending my campaign.” And almost as suddenly, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. This may be the cleverest move a politician in our lifetime has ever made.

Putting the nation before party and personal political gain, Biden’s move was tactically smart and also an extremely patriotic act.  Remember, it took him his entire career to finally get elected President after attempting twice before. His third run for the presidency was only so he could defeat Trump because he knew he could do it ― and he did. And he has led the nation with courage and conviction to bring us back from the chaos of four years of corruption and pandering to foreign dictators and Saudi Royalty.

Ending his reelection bid was not only a selfless and humbling action but it totally threw the Orange Guy off script and eviscerated the campaign strategy the Republican party has spent years to plan–make the campaign about how old, feeble, and incompetent Joe is and keep the spotlight off of Trump’s crimes and convictions. Neither the 14th Amendment sec. 3, nor the justice system or the corporate media could be trusted to take down the narcissistic criminal bully. Easily, well over half this nation, and probably more, are terrified about what this man would do with the keys to the White House. We all should be terrified if anyone has been paying attention. 

In RawStory columnist Matthew Chapman’s analysis, he wrote: 

Former Pres. Donald Trump and his team were caught by surprise when Pres. Joe Biden ended his bid for re-election and threw support behind Vice Pres. Kamala Harris, in part because they had planned a whole campaign on highlighting Biden’s age and cognitive fitness. Harris is both younger and obviously cognitively bright. And she looks better than Trump.

Now this campaign kicks off on the other foot with the orange team off balance scrambling to figure out how to attack Harris. The headline in this edition of RLn is quite appropriate: “The Prosecutor vs. Convict.” That perspective could reframe the next four months because Harris is a trained prosecutor.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to interview Harris at the ILWU Labor Day picnic in Wilmington, and I came away thinking that this woman is going to be the most politically difficult person to beat­. She’s smart, well-educated, savvy, and good-looking.  She had everything going for her except experience on a larger stage, which she now has. Not only is the entire nation going to pay attention to her, but the entire world is going to be watching her beat the convict. And possibly be the one who puts him in jail. And she would be the first woman president, not to mention a woman of color. And remember her training is as a prosecutor, this makes her the most dangerous woman to oppose DJT and JD Vance.

I am still sad to see Uncle Joe Biden go because he’s actually done quite a good job in just three and a half years and accomplished more than a lot of other presidents have been promising for years: lower unemployment, investing in national infrastructure – highways, bridges, ports and investing in climate solutions at the same time. And yes, ending the war in Afghanistan. As tragic as the logistics of the pullout was, it was necessary. He brought the troops home from a war that long ago should have ended. 

So, the nation and the Democrats should honor his service, salute his allegiance to the country before politics, and his courage to stand up against Trump in 2020 and defeat him. He brought the country out of the pandemic, reinvested in America, and brought back trust from our allies abroad. He deserves the recognition and respect of the entire nation. Thank you Joe Biden, and thank you for knowing when to pass on the torch of leadership.

I suspect that the next few weeks before the Democratic National Convention will be a whirlwind of lining up key endorsements and that the media attention will be driven by the Harris campaign and much less by Trump’s. The best thing that could happen is if the convicted felon were to get even minimal jail time at his Sept. 11 hearing date in New York. That’s a headline I’d just love to read and print.

In the meantime, I have no other option but to endorse Kamala Harris for president and hope that the rest of the DNC delegates and all of organized Labor are smart enough to follow suit.