What we are seeing in the Democratic party and the anti-Trump coalition since Joe Biden’s debate fiasco is truly atrocious. It is cleaving the party at a time when it needs to be united to take on Trump. Democrats are attacking Democrats viciously — and Trump may well slide into the White House again, just as he did in 2016. Lightning appears ready to strike twice.
I saw this exact kind of dark and gloomy moment when Obama was running for President in 2008. Videos surfaced of the pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where Barack and Michelle Obama had been worshippers for years. The videos were viewed as anti-American and virulent on the topic of race — just too strong for a Presidential candidate. It was a political firestorm that appeared headed in the direction of getting Obama to drop out of the campaign. Media figures, pundits, and some politicians clutched their pearls and asked Obama to withdraw.
And then, Obama did something few politicians do. He took on the most intractable issue in America directly: RACE. In a widely heralded speech the National Constitution Center, he started an adult conversation on race with America. It was the first time that anyone had seen a politician that is running for President explicitly address these themes. The speech brought his campaign back from the brink — and he went on to win.
Biden is at a similar moment — the issue he needs to address: AGE in America.
The collective pundit meltdown about Biden is that he’s old and, increasingly, shows his age in his gait, his speeches, and his general performance. Aging affects every one of us. We all experience aging in how we look, feel, function, and perform. We deal with seniors in every walk of life — personal and professional. Watching an old person have difficulties in real-time, especially if you have not been around seniors or seen that person in a while, is very unsettling and induces anxiety. Only Biden’s inner circle knows if this was an unexpected glitch in an otherwise healthy, slowing but functioning old man. I trust that he’s not in dementia and that there is a full cover up.
My suggestion: Have Biden hold a large TOWN HALL on the issue of AGING. NO MEDIA or ANCHORs and definitely NO ELITES / PUNDIT. The people are your base of support — go around all the nonsense and go directly to regular folks who have legitimate concerns about what they say but also deal with old people in their families all the time. Make this like a family discussion around age — make it personal!
Let the good folks in the audience ask questions for an hour related to the President’s health — NO HOLDS BARRED. Share with them what it’s like to age — how do you feel differently now than 20 years or 10 years ago. Reassure them that, yes, you had a public embarrassment but that you have it in you to lead the American people for another 4 years. And, yes, if they ask about what happened in the debate (which they will) just be honest. The point is, Joe Biden’s been doing the job of President amazingly well for 3.5 years, and he can reassure people that he’s aware of his age, the demands of the campaign and the job ahead. Be frank about the adjustments you are making.
America is ready for the conversation on AGE in America. Joe Biden can win if he seizes this moment by catapulting the vulture media and talking directly to the America people about the issue that is on everyone’s mind.