Joe Biden gets it. And therein lies our salvation.
The impact of debate performances, it has been noted by many, is overrated in terms of election outcomes. If winning debates was the metric of success, Hillary Clinton would have become President in 2016. In fact, it has become somewhat of a tradition down the decades for the more policy-obsessed Democratic Party candidate to “win” numerous debates but go down to defeat to a Republican candidate coached to appear more “folksy” and “down to earth.”
Reagan was the past master at such impersonation. Many working-class Americans felt Reagan was “one of them,” despite being a movie star and trained actor whose poses were the result of finely honed tradecraft. Then you had the several Bush family members — scions of Yale and East Coast bluebloods — who managed this somewhat less successfully, purposely mangling their English to make it sound like they were born on a cracker barrel. Trump has taken this to a parody-level, to where it has become a schtick, a breaking of the 4th wall that surveys suggest has run its course outside his core support.
Biden never had to pretend. Although the “Kid from Scranton” angle sometimes get overdone, he did in fact come from somewhat humble roots. So did Hillary Clinton, for that matter.
Apparently, whether as the product of political advisors, or from drawing on his own inner depths — I prefer to think the latter — today Biden did something that showed he not only understands where he is in this election race, but that he knows how to win it.
He owned being old. He owned not performing that well yesterday. And he showed why that is not what matters in this election.
Political consultants often urge their candidates never to admit wrong. Never to admit failings. Shift blame, shift the focus, attack, attack, attack. Trump, again, is at the parody level of this, but it has deep roots as gospel among the practitioners of political witchcraft.
Today Biden didn’t do that. He admitted to what he is - a guy who is not a youngster anymore.
In a youth-obsessed culture, where we are constantly told the older generations are “out of it” (OK — Boomer!) and need to step aside for those with clear complexions and a lively step, shouldn’t that be the death knell? Biden sends a clear message otherwise.
Be honest with the American people. Lay out what you stand for. What you believe in. And how you will carry out these policies.
Trump, by contrast, is of the Vladimir Putin school of leadership. Beat your chest about your invincibility, riding around bare-chested on a horse (in Vlad’s case) or claiming to shoot ludicrously low golf scores (DJT). The classic “strong man” who, as history has repeatedly shown, it actually a weak man compensating by inflicting atrocities on those around them.
People will know the difference.
Folks need to recall that Hillary won the 2016 popular vote by a substantial margin. Political errors were made then, that were not repeated by Biden in 2020, that could have moved a relatively few votes in a few states and reversed that result. Biden remains in a strong position in 2024.
The “old guy getting up and fighting on” is going to resonate with a key demographic that has high turnout rates — the old farts (I can say that because I am one!). Trump has been using the “Biden has dementia” angle for years now. If it were true, it might mean something, but it isn’t.
Biden is just dealing with the realities we will all face, if we remain long enough on earth.
Today, he smartly — and honestly — embraced who he is. And leaned beyond that into what really matters. Defending a woman’s right to choose. Fighting climate change. Building a more just economy. A humane approach to immigration. Protecting the right of LGBTQIA+ to live as who they are.
People know a fighter when they see one.
Joe gets it. And he’s going to win. Now let’s stop wringing our hands and help him do it.