On Day #1 of his campaign, Joe Biden got under Trump's skin about Charlottesville. What could he do on the debate stage? A Biden candidacy might mean a final meltdown by the bully-in-chief.
48
What Biden should really apologize for is Clarence Thomas.
26
Nurtured a Principled Family
1. Joe Biden, a plagiarist who once cited his ability to navigate the linguistic challenges of buying coffee at a 7-Eleven as evidence of his good relations with the Indian immigrant community.
2. Hunter Biden, son of Joe Biden created an international private equity firm that formed deals with foreign governments, including an investment fund in a joint venture with the Bk of China, at the same time his father was working with those governments on highly sensitive political matters.
3. The Secret Service paid VP J. Biden $2,200/month, to rent out a cottage next to his home.
4. His son, Hunter, was booted from the Navy Reserve for cocaine use. His drug abuse was certainly no surprise to the Navy, which issued him a waiver for a previous drug offense before commissioning him as a public-affairs officer at the age of 43. The Navy also bent over backward a 2nd time with an age waiver so he could secure the cushy P/T job.
Joe Biden appears to pull strings.
5. Joe Biden obtained a multimillion-dollar house with the help of an MBNA executive. Joe then voted for MBNA favored legislation.
7. Hunter also was an official at Paradigm Global Advisors, a hedge-fund holding company founded with Joe Biden’s brother, James, and marketed by convicted finance fraudster Allen Stanford.
8. Hunter joined Ukrainian natural-gas company Burisma Holdings — owned by a Russian-government sympathizer who fled to Russia. We are told he won't be lobbying.
21
I for one am really glad he's running. I don't expect he'll get the nomination but will be able to throw his considerable wisdom and experience in with the candidate that will challenge the big orange one.
14
Whoever can defeat Deranged Donald is my candidate. No progressive policies can be enacted unless we get rid of him and the republican senate.
38
Thank you for this, Mr. Brooks.
25
No doubt about it.
Joe Biden is a really good guy.
And I am doing all I can to send Pete Buttigieg to the White House.
19
Boy oh Boy is Joe Biden ever white and old, straight and middle of the road, and wow, a lot of people want to pat him on the back for being a nice guy.
Please get that out of your system and look at candidates who have ideas.
32
He’s at least 100 and hopelessly out of touch. His time has come and gone. He’s making a fool out of himself and it pains me to watch.
17
Brooks’s piece is a meditation on the nature of charismatic leadership. But the differentiating qualities Brooks lists in his final two paragraphs well-describe Hitler’s relationship to Nazis, Mussolini’s relationship to fascists, and Kim Jong Un’s relationship to his mesmerized subjects.
Trump’s MAGA slogan is just another version of Brooks’s “a restoration of the values that bind us as a collective.” Trump’s Presidency is underwritten by a strategic collective that fantasizes the man as the vehicle to realize its nostalgic thralldom to an image of pre-Civil Rights America.
Joe is not “average.” He may not be a member of the one percent, but he belongs to the political elite and is wealthy by any measure—a “limousine liberal” as they say. But his affability enables him to “connect” with people he has very little in common with—farmers, tradesmen, laborers.
Biden’s values are decidedly conservative, not average. He did, however, prod Obama toward supporting gay-marriage legislation.
Given Brooks’s track record, it is not surprising Biden is his pick. Biden is the most Republican among the Democratic candidates. Last October Biden successfully campaigned for Michigan Republican Fred Upton—for a fee of $200,000—against the wishes of his own party. Credit card Joe.
I only wish Brooks would lend the same support to Elizabeth, Tulsi, and Pete, other “average Joes” who are Biden’s equal—if not superior—in achievement.
Joe can call Clarence and ask him to retire.
13
If Joe Biden was 15 yrs younger and more demographically acceptable (ie anything but a white guy), but had the same experience and record, none of this would be an issue. Why is it okay to be ageist and misandrist? He’s a good man. A qualified man. Joe 2020.
37
You can't go home again.
12
When a dyed in the wool conservative like David Brooks pens a column about a potential Democratic nominee for president with nary a negative word to be found, be extremely suspicious as to what his underlying motives are. Because columnists like Brooks and Ross Douthat can't write an article without slipping in a snarky paragraph or two about any of the following, which have typically been been subject to intentional contortions of their true definitions by them and their Republican shill peers.
Liberals, progressives, socialism, universal health care, affordable higher education, consumer protection, right to choose, living wage, corporate taxes, Pentagon budget, decline of religiosity/manners/civics (evangelical hypocrisy noted?), and so on until the cows come home.
I'm willing to bet there won't be another column about a Democratic contender for the nomination without some negative put downs. So either Brooks wants Biden to win the nomination and lose to Trump, or he wants him to win the whole thing because he's the Democratic candidate closest to the GOP tenor. The "centrist" valiantly attempting to salvage the donkey party from the idealistic younger progressive wing that's way too far to the left for his palate. Buyer beware when the likes of Brooks write pieces like this.
15
Let the centrist coronation begin. Again.
Pre-ordained candidates do not inspire.
14
I would prefer a younger, more progressive candidate, but right now Biden is clearly the candidate that Trump fears most. So I’m wondering: shouldn’t that tell us something inescapably important about Biden’s formidability as a potential nominee? Because, for me—and I hope for the Democratic Party—the single most important goal is to defeat the Charlatan in Chief currently occupying the Oval Office. And we should achieve this goal by nominating whichever Democratic candidate has the best chance of doing just that.
28
To Joe or not to Joe, that is the question.
Just one criticism today, Mr. Brooks. Your crack about Adlai Stevenson and Harry Truman is so reflective of one of the major problems in this country. "Decency, loyalty, practical sense": Good. "Education": Bad. This is so commonly thought, and so terribly damaging.
We are such an anti-intellectual country. Stevenson, famously, was an "egghead," and that may have been the reason he lost (although compared to today's Republicans, he lost to a saint). Still, we would put on a pedestal a supposed "common guy" and vilify a smart, educated thoughtful person; even Brooks is doing this.
What we NEED is a smart, educated, thoughtful, and yes, even "elite" or extraordinary president; we had a great one in President Obama. You want "common guy?" You get President George W. Bush. You want someone who appeals to our uneducated classes? You get a conman like Trump.
Let's start getting a better attitude about this education and intelligence issue; it will be for the good for the country, even if it means we have to have a beer on our own.
14
Joe Biden seems to be a nice man but he is superannuated (read obselete) as far as the current values of his own party are concerned. Incidentally, his behavior at this debate with Paul Ryan in 2012 was more juvenile than It was aggressive.
Let the Democrats nominate a real socialist, politically correct, identity/diversity politics-obsessed collectivist, so that we political junkies safely can fall asleep by 10PM, EST on election night.
7
"Average Joe" spent 36 years in the Senate representing the interests of the Delaware banking and credit card industries. He sponsored the repeal of Glass-Steagall, which led to financial collapse. He sponsored "bankrupcy reform" which made it easier for banks to re-possess people's houses and cars. He sponsored a draconian Crime bill targeting African-Americans--so awful that even the Koch brothers wanted it repealed. And he's not shy about telling everyone how smart he is. How very proletariat.
19
Gee a person who was a senator for decades and VP for eight years is just an average Joe. Seems like that is impossible. He is not average, but in my view far below average. An average person would not touch females as he has done, nor suggest using a shotgun to deter those thought to be invading your home. In fact that justifies them firing back at you.
7
What is important here is that Biden connects in a very personal way to Everyman, the laborer, the regular people out there, many of whom voted for Trump.
I can visualize a Biden-Harris team, a winning combination.
7
Maybe many GOP fans like Biden. He'd be a welcome change from the worst pres in history, but still won't challenge the big money power in our politics.
Clips from article in The Intercept:
"Joe Biden launches Presidential bid with fundraiser filled with corporate lobbyists and GOP donors."
By Lee Fang, April 25.
"OVER THE LAST few months, David Cohen, a Comcast executive who oversees the telecom giant’s lobbying operation, has cut big checks to Republican candidates while pushing to advance his company’s regulatory agenda.
On Thursday, however, Cohen will open his Philadelphia home to host Joe Biden, helping him kick off his bid for the White House. In 2016 he donated to Clinton. This year over 90 percent of Cohen’s political spending has gone to Republican groups,
Biden....has depicted himself as the party’s standard bearer. But he’s planning to roll out his campaign at an event filled with others like Cohen, namely GOP donors and corporate lobbyists."
Thursday’s fundraiser will be rife with lobbyists — but not those registered in the federal system."
The NYT should do regular reports for voters on who is funding all our candidates, their histories, and what these donors may expect to get for their investment. Go on TV news with this.
That's the function of a proud free press in a democracy, to inform voters on who the candidates will be working for if elected. The majority, or the elites?
Representation for our taxation? Otherwise, why have voting?
12
Biden will defeat Trump. I doubt the others can.
If the liberals run to the left on principle, it will mean four more years of the Donald.
14
He seems like a genuinely nice man. He could restore dignity to the office. I would vote for him. However.
He refuses to take responsibility for what he did to Anita Hill. So where exactly is this sterling character? (And, no, he didn't just witness it; there were corroborating witnesses and he would not allow them to appear--he quite literally threw Anita to the wolves, no doubt because, as Brooks says, he is a member and a joiner and a go-alonger (in this case, of the Senate) and he wanted to keep the dirt under the rug.
He did everything he could to expand our prisons and lock people up and make us arguably the worst carceral state on the planet.
He eagerly supported Iraq, by far our greatest and costliest, in lives and dollars, mistake since at least Viet Nam.
And he loves big banks.
And some of the pictures of him with women of all ages really are creepy. (Do we really want another president who doesn't understand personal boundaries?)
So I hope we chose someone better.
11
He might be a person of character but we need a younger person in office
3
Our average Joe is not my first choice, or my second, but oh my how much better off we would be with him rather than the current office-holder as president.
10
Biden spent last night at the home of a Comcast executive. Per the NYT, "A roster of prominent Pennsylvania politicians were listed as hosts of the event, as well as, among others, Daniel J. Hilferty, the chief executive of the major health insurer Independence Health Group, the parent of Independence Blue Cross."
Need I say more?
9
the bar is set so low that almost anyone can take to Dem Pres to be spot
sad state of affairs
blame the many who did not even vote..not just the electoral system
biden would be fine.....we need some decency in the leadership role....
but will people come out and vote ?
3
Biden tried twice before. He was Vice-President for 8 years. A repeat of Hillary Clinton. Why can't people STOP while they're ahead!?
6
Electing Trump in 2016 was emblematic of the rise of coarseness and the loss of decency in our political discourse. Hopefully, we can reclaim some of the lost grounds by electing Average Joe.
9
I've been very interested in the predominance of media interest in white men running for president. The emphasis on them is striking. Every once in a while somebody makes mention of that, but it doesn't change. I have decided that white males fit best into the political-reporting-as-sportscasting habit. That way we have a parade of guys who have various looks to them, like cartoons or snapshots or instagram pics. And we can report on what happens, like fundraising, with phrases like "Biden killed it." We need not look beneath the characteristics of those snapshots because we all know it's just a sports contest and we're more comfortable if they're all one kind of person. Mixing the genders or races would complicate things too much.
4
Whatever Biden's shortcomings, his character is basically sound. Now is not the time for the Democratic Party to demand perfection. Decency and competence will be a welcome change.
19
Joe Biden is a good, decent, love giving, caring and thoughtful human being.
We desperately need a man of his character in the White House.
I will vote for Joe when he becomes the Democratic candidate for the presidency.
18
George W Bush, by all accounts, is a nice guy in person. He also presided over an illegal war, laid the groundwork for the largest financial crisis since the Depression, fought against women's reproductive health, and ushered in the era of mass surveillance. Being a nice person, going to church, being a good listener, and having middle-class roots doesn't make you suited for the presidency. There are millions of those people in this country, most of whom we wouldn't want anywhere near the Oval Office.
12
Yeah, Joe's a great guy, but Bernie is much more in tune with the needs of a nation/planet, both near the tipping point.
Mayor Pete is possibly better than both, but probably not acceptable to the masses.
My dream ticket is Bernie with Pete as VP.
8
Is Biden a caring, warm, and decent man? Seems so. Also seems a pretty low bar. I’m not looking for someone who “feels my pain.” I’m looking for clear, intelligent, non-compromised progressive policy proposals and the skill and experience to make them reality. Elizabeth Warren fits that bill.
5
Joe Biden is a flawed human being but also a very decent, kind, generous person. He has made mistakes during his long career in public life. However he has a list of significant accomplishments that have made our nation a better place. While he is not as glib, charismatic or youthfully attractive as many of the other Democratic presidential candidates he speaks his mind, keeps his word and has a track record of collaboration, realistic expectations and tangible results. Compared to the likely Republican candidate he is a man of values, with empathy for his fellow citizens and a life of sacrifice dedicated to improving the world not one dedicated to improving his own personal fortune. Today our country needs Joe Biden.
9
This 60 something woman prefers a candidate with new ideas and plans, not old baggage. He may be a great guy, but that doesn't mean he should be president. He lacks judgment, and clearly must deliberate for months over decisions. No one is perfect, and I can forgive him for his ineffective 'leadership' on Anita Hill. But his decision to run took months. He voted wrong on Iraq. He still does not own responsibility for saddling us with Clarence Thomas. He is sorry for what happened, repeatedly. He is no leader. He follows the polls, the crowds, the latest thing. We have several better candidates from Booker to Buttigieg to Sanders and Warren, who speak out clearly and bravely to offer solutions, not just trite phrases from the past. We all want to remove Trump, but suggesting the way is to "take him behind the gym" shows his complete lack of understanding about how adults establish themselves at the top of the pack. Stooping to Trumpism is the wrong way.
14
Joe may have warts, but anyone who's been in politics since Roe v. Wade was published will. Joe recognizes that things change, and he's changed with them. He may not be perfect, but he's likely to be acceptable to more voters than our current "president", especially in WI, MI, PA & VA - and I'll take that.
9
Joe's bankruptcy bill made it impossible for "average Americans" to take advantage of having a fresh start - something corporations take for granted.
He's no working class hero.
16
Joe Biden has a record and a history and it does not recommend him as the leader of an increasingly black and brown and Progressive Democratic Party. I look at Biden's career in total not just the 8 years he was at Obama's side. A couple of highlights or lowlights depending on your point of view is his treatment of Professor Anita Hill during the Thomas hearings which was reprehensible. The fact that it did not occur to him to apologize to Professor Hill until 28 years later about an hour and a half before he announced he was running for President does not help his case with Progressives or Black women. Also that crime bill which was a nasty piece of business racist in it's intent and execution and mostly directed at Black and Brown young men it has been pivotal in continuing to keep America the worlds largest penal colony. Yes Biden has been around a long time and he has had much tragedy in his personal and family life and for that he deserves empathy and respect. But he has on numerous occasions used his power to harm and not help. This has often been directed at those in our country that have little or no power. Struggling Black people who had brushes with the law and women that simply want to work get paid and be treated with respect.Joe Biden may have some qualities that recommend him for the position he is seeking but he also has much to explain and atone for.
4
Thanks to David Brooks for this very succinct take on Joe and why we need him now. He ain’t perfect, but who is?! He’s about as decent of a person as they come. I’m with Joe in 2020!
9
My husband is a very decent man who is open about his feelings and treat every individual with tenderness and respect. However, this does not qualify him to be president.
10
Has your husband been in public service his entire life and a two term VP?
7
Was your husband a senator for many years or better still,
the Vice President for 8 years?
If so,you can make comparisons
8
Biden-Buttigieg 2020.
Put those two together you have both experience and connections, and youth and passion. Both are compassionate, intelligent men of character who can connect with a broad range of Americans, and Mayor Pete could gain experience and be ready for 2024 or 2028.
7
Enough of this hangup with age. Biden is 76; Trump turns 73 in June. The age difference is minor. Why isn't the press talking more about Don as Joe's fellow septuagenarian? If one really wants to compare them, require that they both pass a rigorous physical exam, an in-depth mental competency test and a series of polygraphs to determine if they are telling the truth about past indiscretions. Hands down Joe would put his opponent to shame and his age would no longer be an issue.
13
Biden will stand up for the Dreamers; the workers and those whose human rights have been abused. He won't sell arms to slaughter Yemenis and he won't unilaterally walk away from carefully crafted initiatives like the Paris Climate Accord. He may err on the side of the greater public good or the Allies we have stood beside through two World Wars who subsequently supported us in Korea; Vietnam and our endless Middle East wars. He is not Everyman. Joe Biden is a seasoned leader who has done well on the world stage . We could use that come 2020.
16
To restore values we have to have a plan. Our current president promised to make America great again. He has no plan and we don’t even know what he means by great. Biden has to have a plan. Being Joe is not a plan.
9
I'm pleased that Biden is in the mix as he represents a unique candidate among the others who have already declared. More choice is a good thing and so far he's near the top with Harris and Buttigieg as as candidates I'm leaning toward. There are many who claim that Biden is out of touch with evolving politics but I believe the opposite is true; those pulling policy further to the left have grown out of touch with the American electorate.
10
So, two "restoration" candidates. We should have a coronation.
The guy who says he will restore us to what we voted against in 2016 will run against the guy who would make America great again the way it was in the 50's.
Wake me in 2024.
4
Any Democratic candidate who is sane, intelligent,decent and well-informed is already light years ahead of the horror we are stuck with now. Joe Biden definitely fits that bill, but as far as I know, so do all the other announced Democrats. Sure I would prefer someone more progressive--and younger--but you know I don't really care. I will vote for Joe--or whoever else wins the nomination--with gladness and singleness of heart. The "coalition of the decent," as Steve Schmitt has called the anti-Trump majority in this country, must stick together. May the candidates do the same.
13
Biden may not be the right candidate from a policy perspective, but if nothing else, hopefully his participation will serve as a reminder to the other candidates that if they want to win, they should take some lessons from him about connecting with regular, middle class Americans. If the Democratic nominee can't do that they won't win.
12
Thank you, Mr, Brooks. No one could ask a better tribute than this to Joe Biden. The phrase 'suffering — that great equalizer..."reminds me of the saying, Great wisdom only comes from suffering.
doug reilly
12
Plagarism. Anita Hill. No and no. We have plenty of other great candidates.
4
If Joe Biden was a Republican and was nominated for the Supreme Court every liberal in these comments, every writer for this paper, and every Democratic lawmaker in D.C. would be screaming Anita Hill non-stop. No one would call him decent or Average American. Not one of you and you know I am speaking the truth.
But, Joe is on your side so now he is Uncle Joe, Average American Joe, decent, etc.
This is no different than Evangelicals claiming that God put Trump into office. Or turning a blind-eye to 33,000 deleted emails calling it a witch hunt.
Rank and file Republicans along with Democrats have two standards. One for themselves and one for members of the other party.
8
I would like to see Biden declare he would serve only one term. I like Pete Buttigieg as his running mate.
5
Joe is a decent guy, but his lunchbucket is empty. Can't win this job without fire for the belly and food for the brain. Plus, his lunchbucket is rusty.
6
Joe Biden - " The Road to Character" Candidate. He triumphed over personal tragedy and is best equipped to help Americans of all political persuasions get through our unfortunate government of the present. RUN JOE, RUN.
10
It really worries me when conservative Republicans-- who have kept their integrity by rejecting Trump-- tell us what a good candidate they think Biden would be. On the flip side, I'll bet a lot of conservatives felt the same way about the way liberals felt about John McCain. I think Biden would have a good chance of defeating Trump, and that is very, very important. But the Democrats have been played by this idea of moderation over and over again, only to find that they are the only ones coming half-way, as in the case of Obamacare. Given the structure of the U.S. government, it wouldn't really hurt very much to have a Warren or Sanders as president for a while: it takes legislation to make drastic changes.
10
A moving piece. A reasurance. Refreshing. Character. Compassion. Empathy!
Biden has his share of mistakes. The Anita Hill thing is awful and gave us a despicable Justice of the Supreme Court. Of course, few will be able put themselves in the position of opposing a black qualified man for the position in that decade. The context of that time is lost to most. Me Too was not even a fantasy and while some efforts at correcting sexual harassment were in motion, Thomas's behavior was not unusual and might get a slap on the wrist.
When you find the perfect candidate who has more solid experience and better values, let me know. For now I'll go with Joe. Maybe Kamala or Pete as VP.
5
Biden, on the GOP trashing of Anita Hill: "I wish I could have done something." Golly, Joe, she does too.
5
Biden has his faults and has made his mistakes. Has he learned from them, grown from them and become a more complete human being. Perhaps this will become clear in the next few months. Meanwhile, how about a hat with MAAAA - Make America for All Americans Again.
5
Joe Biden is a decent man that is typically on the side of the rich and powerful. David Brooks likes Biden because Brooks is also on the side of the wealthy establishment.
6
Sanders supporters seem to think this race is only about attacking the "corupt establisment" beholden to corporations and the millionaire and billionaire class. (Oops, cut the millionaires.) It's much more complex than this simplistic world view. It's time, Sanders people, for self-reflection. Understand political history and look through other political lenses. Biden has done so much good in government. Senators are human and make mistakes. sometimes serious one. In Biden's case the good vastly outweighs the bad. There's no place for purity in this race.
9
In the best case scenario, 2020 is a transformational moment for this country. The Republicans in Washington have abdicated responsibility on all fronts. I am suspicious of moderate Republicans like Mr. Brooks who are urging Democrats to make the safe choice. I respect old Joe and I really want to move on from the disaster of a past two plus years but can't help but think that by endorsing Biden, moderate Republicans are looking for a safe landing for their lost party and not necessarily considering the potential of this moment to fulfill the desires of the newly energized Democratic Party.
3
I don't often agree with David Brooks' pieces, but this one is a slam dunk.
8
How many decades must it take for Democrats and commentators of this article to forgive Vice President Biden for the events and opinions expressed on these pages? Have we not all evolved and changed through our own imperfections and defects of character during the course of our own lifetimes? In stark contrast, regard the twisted "forgive and forget" playbook of the Republicans, the Evangelicals and common Trump supporters. They forgave him for the disgusting Access Hollywood tape and continue to forgive him for every egregious misdeed he has committed in his presidency. Joe's a saint in comparison. Thanks Mr. Brooks for dwelling on his decency as a human being as well as revealing his vulnerabilities and virtues. We all share at least some of them in our own lives.
14
Go Joe! We need the mojo!
4
Go Joe! You are what this country needs and we hope you are what it wants! Go Joe!
6
No one would dispute that Joe Biden thinks he is nice guy. But he is in a bubble of privilege and very old fashioned male dominance.
He seems to be on an apology tour for so many errors in judgement.
He railed about "taking back the streets" with more police, harsher laws and helped to write the Omnibus Crime Bill that laid a very solid foundation for mass incarceration - the ongoing and rarely written about shame of the nation. Now he's "sorry". But where or when has campaigned for correction of its draconian effects?
He "apologizes" for what Anita Hill endured without taking responsibility for allowing her to be ground into dust. And he participated with his own questions that were not based in dignity. Great that HE would not scramble for coins but I do not see his empathy for others whose dignity he has helped to damage.
He voted for every war put in front of him.
He voted against debt relief for ordinary victims of mortgage fraud while voting for bailing out big lenders.
Delaware has long been a state of preference for those credit card companies and other lenders wanting a friendly place to headquarter.
Go to opensecrets.com and see where his money comes from. Just notice that he and Buttigeig are the ones to beg for money from Big Money sources.
We don't get money out of politics taking it.
Joe is a facade. Another feel good guy for people who want vague image while giving lip service to change.
5
point of information: Buttigieg campaign has clearly declined money from lobbyists.
1
At this point, seeing how generically difficult it is to unseat a sitting president after four years, and with the prospect that the economy will still be decent in November 2020, Democrats need to nominate ANYONE who can beat Trump, simply to save our democracy. If that's Biden then have him run.
8
Why does this Union workingmen candidate think he SHOULD have a Fund Raising meeting with Comcast President . He also don’t do homework. His optics are horrible 2nd day into race . Don’t even mention the non apology to Ms Hill
From Comcast’s own company handbook
“Comcast does not feel Union representation is in the BEST interest of our Employees, Customers & Share Holders “
Can he , his staff or better yet anyone on the Uncle Joe train explain this behavior.
2
Whether he wins or not, let it be Joe Biden's legacy that he brought down Trump. We desperately need a moment when someone says to Trump, "Have you no decency at all?" That's the role Biden was born to play. We do, indeed, need to Make America great again.
10
That historic comment by Welch to McCarthy was based in part on Welch's decency, but also on his intelligence, wisdom and gravitas. As Bentson might have said, Biden is no Welch.
2
Hillary voted for the Iraq War, as did Kerry and Edwards and Schumer and Feinstein and Reid, etc. The vote was not even close in the House or the Senate.
7
We need to be sure and win the presidency and the Senate in 2020, so if Biden can get the job done, we need him. Socialists and single issue liberals must understand that they will get nowhere until Democrats are in charge of the nation. Only then can we start the work to create a more perfect union, and a better world for all.
9
Minority communities and women are wary of old white men who are nostalgic for a "restoration of values". For us it means the unraveling of hard won and still at risk civil liberties. Brooks just made it harder for Biden to get elected, if anyone pays attention.
1
What is Biden's intent? Is he serious about a presidential run or is he in the primary to pull the party back towards the center?
2
...You win! I’ll vote for Joe...
—
But I still think he’s too old.
1
Mr. Brooks read your own newspaper today. Biden said, "his regret for what she endured." Where is the "we" when he speaks of Anita Hill? I watched him try to destroy Ms. Hill on TV and apparently with decisions he made in secret. Joe - "we" don't need you to regret Ms. Hill's feelings. You need to fully disclose what you personally did as the chairman of that committee. You want to serve your country? You want to serve the greater good? Stop with the smarmy talk and give to all the women - who lost their voices that week, the truth of what you did as the chairman of the committee.
2
Mr. Brooks read your own newspaper today. Biden said, "his regret for what she endured." Where is the "we" when he speaks of Anita Hill? I watched him try to destroy Ms. Hill on TV and apparently with decisions he made in secret. Joe - "we" don't need you to regret Ms. Hill's feelings. You need to fully disclose what you personally did as the chairman of that committee. You want to serve your country? You want to serve the greater good? Stop with the smarmy talk and give to all the women - who lost their voices that week, the truth of what you did as the chairman of the committee.
" He belongs to his family; his hometown, Scranton; his Democratic Party; his Senate; his nation. . . ."
David, you only left out "the human family."
3
If Biden has such high moral values and character then why can’t he simply apologize to Dr. Anita Hill?
8
Let's make Americans decent again.
6
@MRose, a bit too late..America list its decency when it attacked Iraq for a second just because Cheney wanted to.
Here is what I found when I googled Biden's charitable contributions:
Biden and his wife, Jill, gave 1.5 percent of their income away in 2011, with charitable donations totaling $5,540 out of $379,035.
Republicans have mocked Obama and especially Biden for being unusually tight-fisted when it comes to making charitable gifts.
When the Obama campaign released past tax returns for Biden in 2008, it was revealed that the Bidens donated just $3,690 to charity over 10 years — an average of $369 a year.
What a cheapskate!!! Even Trump must be more generous than Biden!
1
We need to stand by anita. Biden is useless.....
2
Biden is the perfect antidote to the immoral thug currently occupying the White House. He would restore our sense of decency and stability. Our dilemma - is that enough? I think we have other quality candidates who could accomplish that AND move us forward in a more progressive manner. And who don’t carry the baggage that Biden does. I love Elizabeth Warren. I think Kamala Harris is smart and tough and has the right ideas. I hope one rises to the top. If not, of course we’ll support Uncle Joe. We simply cannot go on living with the daily dose of garbage that emanates from DC.
3
Looks like this column needs a new title: David Brooks Endorses Joe Biden.
2
We could all be better but Joe Biden is hands-down better than President Trump. If he emerges as the Democratic party's nominee, I would hope that everyone could get past VP Biden's shortcomings and vote for him.
5
The key question here is not whether Joe is liberal enough, too old, or perfectly consistent in his actions, votes, and speaches. Rather the question should be whether it is better to follow the PATH that Joe Biden PREACHES as opposed to the very real danger of having more politicians and citizens come to the conclusion that Trump's narcissism, dishonesty, disrespect for others, cruelty, lack of ethics, violation of American traditions/ideals, and never admit a mistake style is the way to go.
Lincoln wasn't perfect either, but he ARTICULATED an ideal that continues to merit following to this day.
3
Powerful profile. Biden is a clearly a mensch. He would be a splendid rebuttal to our current nightmare. But he doesn’t seem to have the fire in the belly the way Bernie has. We need the one who will electrify the next generation with FDR’s new New Deal. The septuagenarian senator from Vermont strikes a certain chord among supporters and has us feeling the Bern for that reason.
3
I’m not sure yet who I’ll vote for in the primary. Sanders doesn’t seem to have very thought out plans like Warren but Warren may not fair well against Trump. Biden is pretty conservative but with a young progressive as his VP, I can see him leaning more left. Harris is a great speaker but she also has some baggage from her past. Buttigieg and O’Rourke have great energy but I’m not sure what they really stand for or if they have the necessary experience. Regardless, I am comfortable voting for any of the candidates against Trump.
2
Best Column you have written since you warned Republicans that standing silent and backing Trump would be something they would have to answer for one day, in what did you do when this happened moment. You and I rarely agree I am a liberal and you are a conservative. Biden gives us common ground again. So again Bravo David.
7
Not often favorably disposed to much of David Brooks' take on politics but his view of Joe is correct, right down to the atomic level. Joe is one of "the collective" us. It matters not that sometimes Joe has to work at it and fails. It matters only that on a daily level he lives with the memories and consequences of the "great equalizer" of men - pain. As do most of us.
5
Biden is a good man, but for the first time in memory issues have overcome personalities. Which, BTW, is why Sanders is doing well despite the obvious his unsexy approach to running for office. When issues are paramount---and they are---the party needs to look at the "left" and the "center" in new ways. The Democratic Party is in a quandary. It cannot aim for someone to soothe America, and yet it fears Trump and it fears the insurgent left.
I fear not Trump but our own side. I often see centrists as nice folks with investment portfolios or a paid off home who believe that all these horrible "jobs" in our "booming economy" are good. And I see people accusing the left of disloyalty and boorishness and immaturity.
Issues and issues. Discuss them and create a party consensus. Present them to the country without worrying about what a nice person or difficult person is running.
3
America needs a moral and ethical cleansing after Trump reign of terror and sleaze. Biden is the antithesis of Donald Trump. He is civil, humble and sincere. Mr Brooks "average Joe" only partly explains Biden's appeal. Joe Biden might be grounded in his Scranton roots but he possesses a world of experience, earning goodwill and respect from our allies abroad. He also commands respect from both sides of the Congressional aisle.
As with any established political candidate worth their salt, they accumulate some baggage and missteps along their career path. Joe Biden is no exception but he owns up to his mistakes, in contrast to the current menace in office. The campaign ahead is going to be challenging for Biden as he will face many of the same despicable headwinds of Hillary Clinton: Donald Trump, Russia and the Bernie or Bust Bros, all of whom have demonstrated in 2016 their lust to destroy not their competition but their mortal enemy at any and all costs. Also weighing Biden down will once again be a media more fascinated with the scandalous and the outrageous than bread and butter policy. How many headlines about Anita Hill's refusal to accept Joe Biden's apologies and move on will we be reading? Trump has expressed little to no fear of Russian meddling in the 2020 race and there does not appear to be any urgency to stop meddling exhibited by him or his administration.
Not sure America can survive a repeat of the 2016 race in 2020. No, Bernie isn't the solution, either.
8
As a democrat I truly feel Biden is our best chance to defeat Trump. He is a man who has stood for decency his whole life. We must stop focusing on the negatives that exists in every candidates history. Its real simple Trump who obviously the least moral and most indecent of any of the candidates running or a man like Biden who values encompass the largest majority of any one running. Electability is the key and Biden is the best bet.
6
What a nicely written article on average Joe David, particularly from a conservative .
Yes, if Biden would have handled Anita Hill differently, but let`s move on to decades after when now donald trump is the current President.
We have twenty some Democratic candidates , so many of are excellent ones but could they beat trump ?
It is too soon to tell, we have to watch the debate and see who are the ones remains.
Again how I wish Senator Franken was among them.
7
David Brooks is right about Joe Biden's decency and by perceiving that, It demonstrates that Brooks is a decent Conservative as oxymoronic as that may sound. To know decency, it must be in you. It isn't in Trump and that's the difference.
7
Joe has been on the world stage in the 21st century as Obama's VP. Do you really think he doesn't get it? Come on.
And he would be Obama's third (maybe fourth) term. What a rebuke to Chump.
Yes, he's going to say some things that are going to offend by default and take positions that will offend and upset - you can't please everyone. But Brooks is right. Biden is a known quantity, warts and all, and he's still popular for the reasons laid out in this column.
He'll probably have to ameliorate some of his past positions and remarks with words and action/campaign promises and by reminding people of some of the steps he has already taken to address those.
But I can certainly see Joe Biden as President.
No brainer.
8
It's time the U.S. had the social democratic alternative available in all other major democracies. You have nothing to lose but homelessness, decaying infrastructure, the prison-industrial complex, underfunded schools, overfunded plutocrats, poverty and pain.
6
Joe Biden voted for the Iraq war. But he says we.
Joe Biden voted against Gay Marriage. But he says we.
Joe Biden voted for the Omnibus crime bill. But he says we.
Joe Biden voted for the Patriot Act. But he says we.
Joe Biden Voted to repeal Glass Steagall Act. But he says we.
Joe Biden (last month) gushingly praises Mike Pence. But he says we.
Stop falling for this. Stop trying to make yourselves feel better with word-salve. Look at his record. His record is not 'we'. Brooks, Biden, etc, might be able to go back to some centrist fantasy that never existed. 'They' might be able to afford it, but 'we' cannot.
Stop being a child that needs to be read a story before bedtime. We have adult problems now, and Joe Biden is partially responsible. Family tragedy doesn't excuse dereliction of duty for 30 years.
And when Biden gets nominated on that Democratic ticket and splits the party, and the Dems lose another generation of voters, please keep asking yourselves what happened. Keep pining for a time of decency and manners while your progeny's future is getting slowly stripped away and sold to the lowest bidder.
7
@J. Johns yes!
4
Thank you. I needed that profile. We all do.
3
Wow! A real Biden worship festival in most of the comments.
But Biden is a neoliberal (old style Republican) corporatist. He would not do anything to address the serious problems of our nation.
He has no real progressive vision.
Sure, he is a nice guy but we need more than a nice guy.
7
Just saw Joe Biden on The View. He was ill-prepared to answer obvious questions from the very friendly panel. His halting fuzzy cliche-stringing half thoughts made him seem rather doddering. Not a good roll-out to say the least.
6
Joe Biden is running. It's his his turn to run for president. Starting to look like Hillary redux.
4
All the wishful thinking in the world cannot take us back to a world before Trump.
3
@mmk
From the Rubiyat of Omar Kayan :
"The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on.
Nor all your piety nor wit can lure it back to cancel half a line, nor all your tears wash out one word of it."
2
Just heard former legislator Pat Schroeder talk about Anita Hill hearings. The boys’ club was in full view, without the need to even shade its bigotry. Biden led it. What happened to his basic decency when it came to women and sexual harassment? Seems he should have known it by then and talk more directly about it now. Anita Hill was the scape goat and suffers to this day for the indignity she endured. No Joe. Time had passed for you. Get behind somebody who understands
4
I didn't know some of what you mention here, David, and it makes me like Biden even more.
To the naysayers: Joe Biden or a selfish, narcissistic misogynist as a leader and roll model in our country? You choose.
4
So Mr. Brooks, have you considered running for office?
"We suffer our way to wisdom..."
Truer words were never spoken.
2
I wish there were a way to put a <3 emoji on NYT's articles and opinion pieces. This deserves a <3...
3
In another life, I used to live in PA - born and raised, moved away for college and work in the big city, moved back for 25 years, the worst mistake of my life and have since moved on, but I digress. I read that the Chief Lobbyist and an Executive Vice President of Comcast, Mr. David Cohen, was holding a fund-raiser for Biden in his Philadelphia mansion. By the way, Comcast has some hefty real estate in Center City, and that same Comcast bigwig endorsed Tom Corbett - Republican, for PA governor who did about as much damage to the state as the Gutter Rat is doing to the country. At this time and place in Amerika, you can't have it both ways. Sorry. I know we have to figure this out. But I don't think that Biden, as decent and empathetic as he is is that person. I just don't.
1
Vote the Republicans out. Vote decency and connection IN!
2
Biden is in the race.. If some don't care for him; then don't vote for him..
----Why do some people feel the sanctimonious need to tell others what they should or should not do... or who they should or should not vote for... --- Get over yourselves...
2
Democrats who are opposing Biden as being the "old Democrat" who must still pay the price for a badly conducted Anita Hill hearing, and who must be reprimanded for not respecting "women's space", are all hunkering for the reelection of Donald Trump. "New" Democrats - get a life please.
3
Biden's fine. Would vote for him without hesitation if he wins the primary. Would do my part to help out by making phone calls and contributing some money. Would do the same for Bernie or any of the Democrats running. Would rather have a human being in office than a vulgar puppet of a vile foreign adversary.
6
Trump is hoping the Democrats barbecue Joe before the General Election. They have a propensity for eating their own.
4
um...are you serious with this piece? Am I reading the Onion or the mighty New York Times? Mr. Biden has, over the years, proven to be anything BUT an Everyman. He's made it very clear that he is the ONLY man, in politics, in social settings, in his interactions with the press and with voters ("I Think I Probably Have a Much Higher IQ Than You Do"). Please dig deeper before you put out such an outré piece like this. Focus on his accomplishments (which are dubious) and his ability to unseat the current POTUS (Mr. Biden is NOT the man who will do it). We need a candidate who's questionable judgement, arrogance, and, social blunders do not define him/her as they do Mr. Biden (and the current POTUS!).
1
Such a genuine person who would act as a room freshener after Trump.
4
No surprise Brooks endorses a fellow Republican.
3
Biden is a mensch.
The Yiddish word mensch was derived from the German Menschlichkei which is the literal translation of Cicero's "humanitas".
Does the US need a mensch as POTUS? I say yes. But I also think Biden;s time has come and gone, more the pity...
Biden should retire and enjoy his golden years. Why subject yourself to this kind of stress, Joe?
Joe Biden's supreme court selections wont be mamas/frat-boys like Kavenaugh and they will adhere to the rule of law not the Disney version called strict constructionism which is make believe. Additionally he will not enable hate groups to commit crimes.
3
Thank you, Mr. Brooks. This article is much needed, considering how much effort's been made - even by this very newspaper - to discredit Biden (as too old, creepy, racist, etc.)
3
Either Mr. Brooks hasnot done his research, or this article is, excuse the expression, a snow job. Nothing "gentil," nice about Sen. Biden and as so many millions of once homeowners know, those who were foreclosed, lost their homes and properties because of senator's sponsorship of a bill, later enacted into law, favoring credit card companies and banks,senator really betrayed those folks. Add to this his son's wielding of his father's influence to gain millions of dollars as a lobbyist from Ukraine business interests, Biden's willingness to use his late son' death from cancer for political purposes, and u have the ultimate, cynical politician ,interested above all in enriching himself while posing as just ur average bloke, "Lunch Pail Joe!"Obviously ABH and Mr. Brooks are not reading the same news reports, or rather 1 of us is curious, and the other INCURIOUS, unwilling to attempt t\ to discover the truth behind the facade.
2
Well written piece, Mr. Brooks. Just need to wipe away a couple of tears now, before lunch. Love Joe.
3
Seems to me that something like, say a Biden/Buttigieg (Biden/Harris?) combination would be a rather potent force in the elections. Part of me says that a potent combination is not necessarily needed to defeat trump given all of his weaknesses but the more prudent voice in my head says we cannot take any chances and just need to do what it takes to get a Democrat into office. (Or even a Republican with even half a head on their shoulders but that is becoming a very rare beast these days.) I sympathize with those who argue that Biden is not the ideal man to be moving progress forward but at this point I think the main priority would be to stanch the lurch backwards we're currently experiencing. Then, if and/or when the anger begins to subside can we begin to move the needle of progress in the forward direction again.
3
When you get past the gaffes, the lying and the college plagiarism, what do you have left? A gauzy op-ed by Mr. Brooks, tailor-made for a Biden infomercial. Give me a break!
2
This homily reminds me of Kipling's poem on character, "If."
God save us from perfection. I'm not necessarily in the Biden camp politically but I admire his decency and WARMTH. We lost our greatest chance to come together after 911, when we were were encouraged to go shopping and travel, rather than come together as a community and sacrifice for a cause. Now, we're confusing sexual predation and affection, further distancing ourselves from one another. Making progress doesn't mean having to leave behind all that was good.
5
"Northlander" says the Democrats "need to decide who they are, not what they were." But if what the Party used to be is better than what it is, then I would rather us return to that. Biden certainly would try to restore the nation to its core values. I, for one, believe that is exactly what we need right now.
2
@John
Yes, those core values that were so great if your were white, male, well educated, and had a bit of property.
Not so great for many others (Native Americans come to mind . . . )
1
Biden was a man for his times. But these are no longer his times. We are in the Age of Identity Politics, - especially within the Democratic Party. Although I bristle at the notion that somehow being an older white male is a disqualifying characteristic for a would-be nominee within the Party, at the moment it currently really is.
I don't like making cynical predictions. But regardless of how high his numbers are at this moment when he first announces his candidacy, and regardless of how high his name recognition may be, this is one candidacy that will eventually crash. Biden's time, if ever, was four years ago.
In a way, I think I'm stating the obvious. There is a good reason such a high percentage of those running for the Democratic nomination are female, or black or both.
3
David Brooks, this might be the best thing you have ever written. I was hoping it might be, as I am usually pretty cynical about your points of view.
I still kind of think Joe should just be named Vice President Emeritus for life.
He would more than likely be a very good president. Possibly better than Truman.
Is he too old? Not yet, to judge from the video.
I, personally, would prefer him to Bernie; we will have suffered through four years of one very grumpy old man when the next Inauguration Day comes, I don't want another one right on the heels of the present so called president.
Good Luck, Joe.
Good Luck, America
5
One thing is for sure: Trump will aggressively and obnoxiously seize on any hesitation, any weakness, any mess up, any equivocation, any hedge, any blemish, any trace of mistake by Biden. How will loose goose, shoot-from-the-hip Uncle Joe manage that onslaught? It will be a street fight. Everything and anything will be on the table. Trump has no manners, no class. Will Biden be able to maintain his composure after Trump says, does the unthinkable, like he has done with McCain and others?
2
Joe Biden is a corporate shill Democrat, or as we like to say, a "moderate " Democrat. I fondly remember how Joe helped , shepherd through the big banks bankruptcy bill that destroyed the lives of millions of average Americans. YEAH, good ol' Joe.
He lost me forever on that ONE!!!
3
This is a nice sentiment, Mr. Brooks, but this ship has sailed. Mr. Biden comes from an era of cooperation that no longer exists, and his time has similarly passed.
We had 8 years of Republican obstruction and racist hatred of President Obama, culminating in McConnell’s unconstitutional power move over a Supreme Court seat. This has been followed by 2 years (and counting) of an utter disaster and brazen criminal in the White House. So the only hope for the Democrats is to finally wake up and realize it is a zero sum game now, and the only way to deal with the Republicans is to crush them, since they will never compromise or act reasonably, certainly not with any hint of patriotism or concern for the country. Unless that happens, we are staring at 8 years of Trump, probably followed by someone equally worse.
4
Just watched Biden's appearance on "The View". Wasn't too keen on the number of times he would ramble and conclude with "...well, anyway". That level of speech wouldn't do muich to inspire or impress voters or world leaders.
2
Difficult to criticize. However, the Gershwins had a ditty in in the Broadway musical "Crazy for You." The lyrics of the song Bidin' my Time which you surely you can fetch a rendition on youtube. Ponder where we are.
1
Mr. Brooks is desperately seeking a Democrat he could vote for without taking Pepto-Bismol after casting his ballot. Biden is a wizened Democrat with an 02 count who will strike out on his last pitch.
3
Nice column Mr Brooks. When your colleagues at the GOP trash Joe Biden, please remember to stand up and be counted and condemn them in the harshest possible terms. Hannity and Limbaugh and Coulter et al will publish all manner of salacious rubbish and lies about Joe Biden. Will you use your column against them.
3
I've moved away from the Democratic Party, more out of a reaction to what I see as increasingly strident intolerance on the left (ironic, I know) than a disavowal of Democratic principles; that said, this column gave me hope. I would vote for Joe Biden.
3
thank you for writing this. I needed to read it. I hope journalists will work as hard to sow unity as they do to sow division.
3
This election isn't only about defeating Trump. Americans don't want to return to the days of Bush-Cheney. Americans need to find a way to make the changes Obama-Biden promised in 2008 but failed to deliver from 2008-2016.
Now in 2020, those changes are more imperative than ever. Only Bernie Sanders has the policies, plans, track record, experience, compassion and integrity to move the US slightly forward to the left in the face of all the right wing forces.
3
I think Biden and Sanders are simply tooo old to be president. They could better serve the nation by creating foundations or acting as advisors to the next president.
1
This column made me re-think the position I had regarding Joe Biden. I had decided he was too old, too much of the Democratic establishment, and had too much political baggage. Now I don't know. Thank you Mr. Brooks, for making me think and consider and ponder. We have a long ways to go until 2020. I will be willing now to give Joe Biden the same chance as all the other 19? 20? candidates (I've lost count).
We do need someone most people can relate to, and for a lot of the Democratic candidates, that is not the case. That is the one great advantage Joe Biden has. Maybe he is the middle ground people who now wished they hadn't voted for Trump will find appealing. We need someone who can bridge the left and the right, and Joe Biden just might have that ability.
2
Wonderful and artful. We all need Joes in our lives and aspire to become this person.
3
The tribute of Joe Biden the person has turned into a debate of Joe Biden the candidate. Can't we admire his life as a public servant without committing to support him as a candidate? My sense is that Joe Biden is running for president because he feels it is his duty. I don't think that he would run if not for our national crisis. All the democratic candidates have much to offer and I hope that the dialogue remains productive and civil as it was in the 2016 election.
2
I guess if you forget about Anita Hill, the telecommunications Act, the bankruptcy bill, the PATRIOT Act, the Iraq war vote, the crime bill, opposition to marriage equality, repeal of Glass-Steagall, and starting his campaign with a Concast fund raising event, you could say Biden is principled and looks out for the little guy.
But that's kind of a lot to overlook.
3
@Derek Flint: Well, guess WHAT? Although to varying degrees, they ALL carry baggage. If you want a totally unsullied candidate, dream on, silly dreamer.
In the meantime, I'd suggest that we all let this whole primary thing play out, and see what happens.
If the Trumpsters want to whine and moan that the "haters" want their idol out of office, voting him out will be the one way to shut them up. If it's Biden, so be it.
2
@Ponsobny Britt
Neither Sanders nor Gabbard have any equivalent baggage, and certainy not the record of corporate cronyism.
I won't be voting for Biden, Harris, Booker or any of the corporate sell-out, should any of them get the nomination. I will vote to drive a stake through the heart of that whole kind of Democratic Establishment politics.
It that means four more years of Trump, so be it. So be it.
Biden is certainly a good and decent man. We need goodness and decency but it is not enough, we need new ideas and new ways of governing society. Biden will learn form his mistakes but he will keep making them because his world is a world in which old white men set the rules. His ideas were formed in the 50's and 60's. We need ideas formed in the 21st century and we need ideas formed in America today wherein Americans are male and female, are of many colors, have many different cultures, different sexual orientations, different religions or no religion at all, a diverse America not ruled by old white men however benevolent they might be. It's past time for those of us who are old white men to say "Young people we did our best now it is your turn, we'll be in the garden trimming our rose bushes"
To wash the foul tase of smarmy Nixon from our mouths we installed hapless but blameless Ford. Then we moved up the integrity scale with honorable Carter. The world had Carter for lunch. Today’s highly compensated viper pit will stun and then devour honest Joe. Our world is devolving into dog eats dog. How I wish we could have four years of Joe, but that world is gone forever.
1
All well and true, David, but the Democratic Party's chop-shop has barely started tearing apart the guy's candidacy and we still have more than a year to go. Extrapolate out, say, 6 months, and no one will be left standing--each major candidate (they change daily, it seems) will have their true belevers who will (aka Bernie's gang in '16) will sit on their hands in the general election. Trump by a plurality--take it to the bank.
1
Good stuff Mr. Brooks, noting the difference between talking about values and being them.
1
As an outsider (Canadian) I am offering a perspective. After 2 years plus of turmoil that may yet destroy the US's democracy and leadership in the world "Joe" is the exact opposite of the alleged "human being" sitting in the WH. Yes, I concede Joe is "middle of the road" and not a "young progressive", but my major concern is that the US drastically needs to "heal". As attractive as many of the younger candidates are they simply don't have the experience that Biden does. Additionally, "you the people" are never faced with a perfect candidate, nor our we in Canada or any democracy. My personal rule is choose a candidate who will do the "least harm" & hopefully "most good". So forget his mistakes, which of course he's made. Go for experience and sound character. After 74 years (yes I'm an ole...) of judging politicians in the UK & Canada, let alone Israel Biden is your best bet.
6
Yes, Maurice! Yes!
I’m old, too, but this nation needs healing more than anything else, imho!!
3
Sadly, this is as close as Brooks will come to endorsing Biden for the presidency.
1
Your average American voter has voted for much worse than Joe Biden. Please keep this in mind as we bemoan him for his big mistakes. Dems - please vote for democracy and leave old frustrations behind, especially when men like Joe have done more good than their old bad moves. Let's stick together...yeah, yeah, yeah.
3
How about that stellar voting record: for Iraq invasion, against
Glass-Steagall, for prison expansion crime bill, against relieving student debt, for the Patriot Act? Look up the rest. Is image enough reason for someone to be president?
2
I watched Biden on The View today. Truth be told, he does come across as, shall we say, older, but I'll take him over Deranged Donald anytime.
2
Biden is as much your average American Joe as David is your average insightful, knowledgeable, brilliant commenter. It is all smoke and mirrors with them. Who they are as people outside those roles I have no way of knowing.
2
Thank you, Mr. Brooks, for a beautiful picture of the man many of us hope to be our next president.
Nobody is perfect, and Biden isn't perfect, either. However, he represents, as you say, a fundamental decency that the current president so totally lacks.
As Michael Douglas says in "The American President", the Presidency is ENTIRELY about character. In comparing Biden to Trump, we are given a stark choice between a human being with compassion and decency, on the one hand, and a thuggish psychopath who cares for nobody but himself and whose every word is a lie.
There is no choice: we can either reclaim our sense of humanity or we will sink into the morass of Trump's depravity.
5
All well and good. Like so many others, Bidden is a mixture of good and bad. As many others, I am looking for some ethical and moral standards which seem in short supply. Bidden represents an improvement. And yet as a woman, I am haunted by a verb in an article concerning his reaching out to Anita Hill. In defending his actions, he said he "couldn't" act differently. The verb should read "didn't" act differently.
1
The country is undergoing a large paradigm shift; a large change over in economics (globalism), social communication and technology, critical problems of climate change, a horrid disparity in wealth, energy and water and pollution problems to name a few. The constitution needs repair as do the two major political parties. Perhaps we need new parties to guide us into the future.
The country is filled with "decent" men and woman. Joe Biden is probably one of them. But as many, many say here, he is not the man to guide this paradigm shift -- all the changes -- requiring great skill to keep the country facing the right direction.
Biden is not broad-minded enough, creative enough and he is essentially a moderate republican who will not be able to get the problems noted above solved. He is too hooked and controlled by his donors. He is part of that system where he has been bought off by the wealthy and corporations. Including the military industrial complex.
We need change and progressives and new minds and ideas.
3
He acts like he’s just one of us, but his policies have always been on the side of corporate America, big financial institutions, credit card companies, and the like. It’s time to turn the page. We need bold progressive leadership now, leadership that truly represents our diverse nation. Not a re-tread of the same old same old that got us into this mess in the first place.
3
Biden is not your "average American Joe"....average American "Joes" have been losing ground for decades now, while Biden has aided and abetted the downward slide all the way. He may have roots in blue collar Scranton, but there are other candidates out there with blue collar roots who have actively supported policies to level the playing field - and have been steadfast in their positions over time.
3
We can pick apart Biden's experience all day, all the legislation he has sponsored or co-sponsored, all the hearings he has overseen, all of his votes, etc., etc. But the only reason we can do that is because he has dedicated his life to public service. He has compromised where it was appropriate to do so and was forced to make tough choices. He's got my vote until the Democrats can put forward anyone who does not have just a ridiculously idealistic and non-starter position on the various policy priorities of the day.
7
@Clint Yes!!!
In the fallible polls, Bernie and Joe are neck and neck. The rest are far behind. It doesn't seem they will catch up. Unless they do, it will be Bernie or Joe. Between the two, Joe is more likely to get the votes of moderate Democrats, independents and Republicans who want to get rid of Trump.
I'm fearful that Bernie won't.
Joe has the right message: this is a war to get rid of Trump. Anything else comes in second place. Joe declared war on Trump yesterday and did so by using Twitter. Bernie has the wrong message on Trump. He's got great ideas, but he can't deliver as long as the Senate is controlled by the Republicans. Joe can deliver his promise because he's going to beat Trump. Amen.
4
While younger progressives are focused on a massive change in the agenda, the primary focus is to restore the country from the damage that Trump has inflicted on the rule of law, the institutions, the environment, the stability of the economy...and I think that takes the experience of someone that has through trial and error gotten to a place where he knows what works and what doesn't, what the middle class average citizen needs to restore faith in our system, and what adjustments need to happen in our capitalism and economy to make it work for everyone.
1
The Democrats need to decide who they are, not what they were.
90
@northlander
.. Nonsense.. People will vote for a candidate they like/support the most..That's it. --- All this "need to decide" stuff is self-righteous arrogance by some people telling others what they 'need to do'... --HA.. forget it.
14
@northlander
Elizabeth Warren has made very clear that what Biden was as a promoter of credit card companies and banks is not what Democrats should be. To this day, she justifiably criticizes Biden for making bankruptcy more difficult for credit card holders and thus favoring the banks which issue the cards.
Read it here:
https://www.alternet.org/2019/04/elizabeth-warren-comes-out-swinging-against-joe-biden-and-makes-clear-the-democratic-primary-will-be-fierce/
9
@northlander: Joe Biden is still alive. Democrats need to decide if he remains a valuable party icon.
3
Biden is not my first choice, but I don't think my first choice can beat Trump. And that is what is most important. So Biden is my best choice for this election.
7
I suppose if you asked Biden to name his first cabinet he'd have five or six names for each position, and they'd be friends or at least people he knew and had worked with. Probably Harris or Warren could come up with almost as many names. Perhaps Sanders could, though I'm less sure. Buttigieg and O'Rourke, maybe not. So, yes, Biden has the experience, as did Hillary. But he rates much too high on my "Meh Index," as did Hillary. I simply cannot get excited about a man almost as old as I am with ideas that are a lot older. We need better. Not yet sure who that is, but Biden it's not.
2
But is it enough to be the "average American Joe" to be the leader of this country after the damage done to our institutions and principles by the current POTUS?
Also, Joe has displayed enough flaws throughout his political career that might make one think twice if he's the right person to steer this country in the proper direction. The country needs a measured, thoughtful, and progressive leader instead of a tried and tested figure who continues to make gaffes (latest example is his decades-late call to Anita Hill) and seems to be out of touch with changing times (his proneness to unwanted touching of women.)
1
Joe Biden seems like a decent guy. (I say seems because it's impossible to know what celebrities are really like if one doesn't know them personally and it won't shocking if there are skeletons in his closet.) And being a decent person is a stark contrast to the current President. But that's not enough to earn my vote. Biden has been wrong on so many issues. He is on the conservative end of the Democratic Party spectrum. It's time we had a president farther to left. We've had Clinton and Obama and they certainly did some good, but they also were obsequious to the 1% and simply did not do enough. We are going to need a bold leader who can expand the social safety net and implement a Green New Deal. Prioritizing decarbonizing the economy and making a real dent in wealth inequality have to be at the forefront. Biden is not the leader to do this. He's the status quo, but nice, candidate. No doubt appealing to Brooks, but not what the country needs.
1
Thank you. Average Joe is exactly what this nation needs to heal for a few years.
4
This is so true. I met Joe Biden at the Pittsburgh airport, riding the shuttle like everybody else. He was standing next to me and, when I realized who he was, we started talking. And yes, when I expressed my despair at the results of the 2016 presidential election, he hugged me. That is what makes him one of us . My biggest regret is that I did not think of taking a selfie or at least a picture to memorialize that moment.
4
Joe is not the only decent Democrat running for office. He may indeed be a wonderful guy who has suffered agonies in life. So am/have I - it doesn't make me the best candidate. As candidates go, Biden is, indeed, average.
I find Biden to be lackluster, and I'm a left-of-center Democrat. I also think he's too old to handle the demands of the job, and I think the Republicans will eat his lunch simply because he's "just nice". Carter was "nice" and is considered a nondescript, ineffective POTUS. He's a one-term POTUS out of the box because of his age.
AND, he had the opportunity to help Anita Hill and he didn't because he's too easily swayed by the club of white male politics.
Can we talk about candidates other than old white males?
2
@JL22 If your goal is to get rid of Trump, you have to be realistic and understand who is electable. You cannot abandon Middle America which was the mistake of the last election. Middle Americans do not think like the coasts and they seem to like change when it comes gradually. They worry about the basic things, family, jobs, and hope for their future and the future of their children. They are also accustomed to working for what they get, and giveaways like the ones touted by the hard left won't sell in Middle America.
3
@Bryan
Well by "giveaways" I'm assuming you don't mean shoring up Medicare and SS. Because I think "Middle America" IS in favor of doing that. And I'm not sure "Medicare for all" is out of the question for them either.
Beyond, that, though, I suppose things like free tuition probably are a stretch!
I will vote for him if he is the nominee, but surely the party can do better?
Whatever his failings might be, he is a man of values. I want my children to have a president who shows them what character is and how to recover when they do fumble. Biden’s humility, intelligence, and wisdom are so refreshing. I hope we can rally around him and restore dignity to the White House. Thanks for a great article!
5
I am afraid that although Biden seems to be the best choice for the Democrats to regain the presidency, the party will tear itself apart in this time of political correctness and the Me Too movement. We have fractured into too many groups with self interests for us to unite. Contrast that to the Republicans who stand as one behind Trump who is morally obviously a detriment to the presidency, democracy, and international relationships with out allies.
3
“We suffer our way to wisdom” - Yet many will break through the journey, refuse to learn by closing their minds and stay laser focused on the day suffering will cease, or, the pity of it all, accuse God of being savage or deny his existence altogether.
What is it with suffering that makes it a universal emotion but yet very personal?
See, that’s what makes great people like Biden a good president, he suffered too much and “learned” from it.
3
Joe should have run in the last election cycle so we wouldn’t be saddled with our current Don, but he didn’t and his time may have passed. Also, as much as I like and respect him, he is also nearly directly responsible for Clarence Thomas being on the Court. That single act in itself is enough to sway me away from Joe when a younger candidate with a real agenda breaks out of the scrum.
5
I can honestly say, if the election were tomorrow, I'm not sure which Dem candidate I'd vote for. In my youth, it would have been Bernie and have learned that "Feeling the Bern = Bern Out".
Now, I'm not so sure but basically anyone that can beat Trump is the first criteria. There's so much damage he's inflicted. Whoever is elected will have years of repair work ahead of them.
1
Please remember, important legislation comes from Congress.
Whichever non-Trump wins, he or she will need a Democratic Congress.
With a Democratic Congress, no matter which non-Trump is in the White House, the legislation will be signed.
Other than signing legislation, the president should have wise judgment when given alternatives by staff, should hire a great staff (all of the candidates will certainly do that), project good will and a moral demeanor, represent democracy to the world, and show that intelligence, study, hard work, and reasoning can direct one's policies and even one's emotions in the right direction.
1
Biden may be a decent, family oriented man, but the 2020 presidential election calls for much, much more than that from the Democratic nominee for president. The Democratic nominee has to be a politically progressive, dynamic, telegenic, highly intelligent and very mentally tough candidate. Biden may meet 1 or 2 of those characteristics, but not more than that. He's basically a centrist, 1970's pol who Obama tagged for VP which kept Biden in the national spotlight but whose time has long since past. The Democratic Party of 2019 is driven by a young, extremely progressive and diverse base that for the most part sees Biden as a member of the bad old days of their party that Hillary Clinton represented and that they want nothing to do with. Let's be smart and listen to the base and thank Biden for his many years of service and ask that he support whoever ends up being the party's 2020 presidential nominee. Let's look ahead, not backward to the bygone days of the Democratic Party.
4
@Al That is a prescription for defeat
2
After Biden's announcement, I suddenly felt reassured that in him we have someone who can provide stewardship of the country. It's just so much bigger than "Medicare for All" vs. "Obamacare". All these policy debate fault lines and identify politics fault lines in total will prove to be impossible to navigate and will become create further splintering of society.
After 2+ years of Trump, it's clear to me that the country doesn't need a warrior, it needs a commander.
4
He is truly the anti-Trump, comparing apples to apples (same age, race, gender) which, 20 years ago, would have made a classic morality play of American culture, character, and values. The Everyman vs. the Narcissist. The school principal vs. the used car salesman.
I would unfailingly support Biden in a general election. But 80 percent of Americans are under 60, and need representation now and for their future. Biden's story is positive, but it is past.
6
You have written a kind and thoughtful article. However, in your third paragraph you say "This is the first fact about Joe Biden Jr..." - referring to his father's experiences resulting in his admirable choice that "...he could not work someone who didn't respect people's dignity." I think that is more accurately a second fact. You open your article with writing that Joe Biden Sr made a "few bad business deals". Seems that "bad business deals" can also apply to his son in terms of the mistakes he has made in his past. Anita Hill, Iraq War, Credit Card Companies, Prison incarceration.
Biden would be 78 in his first year as president. "Wisdom" is important but not the exclusive privilege of people soon to be 80+. What about personal energy and mental acumen? Does he have a genuine passion and commitment to decisions that will affect generations younger, and much younger, than him?
True, there is much to like and respect about Joe Biden Jr.
But he should not be President simply because he has "earned" the job.
3
I find it almost scary how many times these days I agree with David Brooks!
I guess we've both "evolved"?
I can only hope that Biden will prevail or we Democrats are headed towards another 1972....
5
As always, David Brooks makes very good political analysis. I like his statement: "Biden offers a restoration of the values that bind us as a collective."
2
I believe that by his positive human nature Joe Biden will insert some stability/civility to what will certainly be an "exciting" Democratic primary. It's a delicate balance, exciting (issues) versus chaotic (personalities). They need to play clean and fair and I think Joe will help with that. It's his prerogative to run, and I think some past decisions and actions count against him, and I can say that about any member of the Democratic pack. Still, for a lot of reasons, I'm hoping we have a female president.
In the past two years, two hundred and thirty years of our democracy has been wrenchingly stripped away. We need someone to restore our principles and ethical values and our badly deteriorating infrastructure and of course -- our sanity.
Climate change and civil discourse must be addressed for us and for the whole world to move forward. A one term Biden
presidency with every moment devoted to these goals and not to plotting a re-election, with Kamala Harris as our vice president is the perfect solution because they will win and they will succeed and they will repair the damage that has been foisted upon us as a nation.
3
If you are looking for the perfect person whose led a perfect life, then Joe Biden is not your choice. Unfortunately, neither are the other nineteen people running for the Democratic nomination. Judge the man in his totality.
5
Biden is a decent pragmatist, something that our Constitution counted on and this country sorely needs. As to those for Biden's foot in the mouth comments over the years, I think Trump has set the bar for that too high to even worry about what Joe might say.
An ideological leftist candidate will not beat Trump. Biden has a great shot. Let's hope the Democrats remember the end game here.
4
"Here is what is subtly different about Biden."
Subtle, sir?
On the contrary, the difference between Trump and Biden is loud, embarrassing, and undeniable.
Biden is of, by, and for the people; Trump is for himself and his most loyal people, mostly his family.
Neither old man, of course, can now change his spots: They are who they are. One is completely flawed; one is somewhat flawed, but a decent man nonetheless.
The choice between the two for a leader should be obvious. But Democrats, in their embarrassment of riches, can do better than Joe as their presidential candidate, despite his common decency.
1
I love Joe Biden for all the reasons you set out in this piece. There is one simple solution for the biggest blemish on his otherwise impressive record: apologize for his treatment of Anita Hill. In a strange and unexpected way, her testimony at the Thomas hearings and Biden's treatment of her (along with the rest of Senate panel and the media at the time) was so shocking that what had been normal was no longer tolerable. He needs to show us that he has learned something and now understands how wrong his behavior was.
At the same time, all of the things that make me love Joe drive me towards candidates who embody his values, his authenticity, and his empathy along with the capacity to lead. There is a new generation of Democrats that embody all of these qualities and have a vision for a new way of governing. Quite a few of these folks are also in the running. As a Boomer, I believe it is time to yield the field to these younger candidates.
1
I love Joe Biden for all the reasons you set out in this piece. There is one simple solution for the biggest blemish on his otherwise impressive record: apologize for his treatment of Anita Hill. In a strange and unexpected way, her testimony at the Thomas hearings and Biden's treatment of her (along with the rest of Senate panel and the media at the time) was so shocking that what had been normal was no longer tolerable. He needs to show us that he has learned something and now understands how wrong his behavior was.
At the same time, all of the things that make me love Joe drive me towards candidates who embody his values, his authenticity, and his empathy along with the capacity to lead. There is a new generation of Democrats that embody all of these qualities and have a vision for a new way of governing. Quite a few of these folks are also in the running. As a Boomer, I believe it is time to yield the field to these younger candidates.
Some of the commentators have expressed a desire for "transformational change." Well, they got it with Donald Trump. He has made America an uglier, more selfish and judgmental place.
At this critical point in our history, I am less interested in transformational change than a restoration of decency, respect and civility in our President. I want someone to bring us back closer together, not farther apart. Joe Biden might be that person.
3
@Robert Wood Yes, before anything else we must return to the decency, respect and civility of the past. It will be a huge job just to accomplish that. Joe Biden has the knowledge and the experience to commence that task on day one. He's been there. He will not need to first learn the intracacies of the oval office. Joe Biden will be ready on day one to name his cabinet. He knows who to turn to for advice and input, he knows who has the ability to immediately step into the huge variety of jobs, to fullfil important positions left empty by Trump and I can think of no one who is equal to Joe Biden in knowledge of foreign affairs. All of this must be done first to restore the soul of the country before work on progressive legislation can begin. Yes, Joe has made mistakes in the past. Who hasn't? Joe Biden made his mistakes and learned from them. That is a great deal more than can be said of a majority of people. Is he too old? That may be the only drawback to a Biden presidency but give Joe at least one term in which he can repair the damage done to our system of law and order and to return our government to a place where we once again have values and can govern in a way wherein we can progress and move forward for the people.
Faith in our basic goodness is a problem if we are not basically good or at least on the lookout for ways to become basically better. In a basically good society, cigarette companies would not have fought the message that their products were cancer sticks. The Sacklers would have been shut down over a decade ago, and people who rejected the science of global warming would be a fringe.
The bottom fifth of our society fares much worse than the bottom fifth in Canada or Denmark or just about any other affluent country. Telling ourselves we are basically good is just a way to pretend this isnt so.
Another candidate (the other being Trump) appealing to some people's desire for the good ole days. No thank you. We need major social change.
4
This is noble and wise. I am not sure which candidate I shall support but Biden deserved this kind of praise from someone. Thank you, Mr. Brooks.
5
At this point, I would vote for almost ANY serious challenger to Trump. That said, I've always respected Joe Biden as a humble, honest person - the kind of person we need to redeem the presidency after Trump.
The Anita Hill story, while compelling, occurred 28 years ago. Not only were all of us different people in 1991, but the social landscape, too, was very different. Did the Thomas hearing "set the stage" for the Kavanaugh hearing? I don't think so. It's sad that Ms. Hill carries with her the bitterness she felt for her treatment then; it was traumatic for her, as it would be for anyone who was brave enough to put her private story (and the way it was dismissed) on the front pages of newspapers across the country - I'm sure that Professor Blasey Ford feels the same way. But Hill's expectation that Biden should have done more by way of apology seems a bit petulant on her part. I'm sorry if that seems offensive, but I'm weary of people who find it so difficult to forgive. We are all only human beings, flawed, each and every one of us.
The fact that Biden voted in favor of the Iraq war shouldn't disqualify him - the Democrats in the Senate voted 29-21 in favor of the resolution - Biden wasn't alone among Democrats who were swayed by compelling arguments from the Bush administration (and in particular, Colin Powell, Bush's highly respected Secretary of State). We were misled, to our eternal shame. Biden wasn't the only one.
6
@Chris Wildman -- I like Joe Biden, but I don't excuse any of his past mistakes because of a "different social landscape" of the past. I lived through all the same history as Joe Biden, civil rights, the VN war; I was appalled at the Anita Hill hearings, the Iraq War, and the institutional racism that existed in my youth (and still exists in the criminal justice system). No excuses. He has to proclaim that he has changed.
1
We knew back in 1991 that Anita Hill was mistreated, that the committee chaired by Biden stacked the deck and turned it into a he said, she said controversy because *he* Biden refused to call other willing witnesses to testify.
People need to stop playing the “that was then” card because we knew sexual harassment was wrong then, we knew there should be due process, etc. For that matter, we knew all that back in the 1960s!
Worse, you excuse Biden's horrendous vote on the Iraq War because others took the same position. That's not leadership, that's complicity.
Sorry, while Joe's a decent guy, his views are antiquated, he has too much baggage (1990s crime bill, anti-choice stances, etc.), and he is definitely a corporate centrist.
We don't need to run another one this time around...
Democrats have a choice. They can give in to fear about electability and select a candidate in the mold of a Clintonian centrist— someone who supports corporate America and gives a few extra crumbs to the middle class. Or they can elect a change agent—someone who recognizes our current economic system is broken and that it needs fundamental change to bring back societal well being like we saw after the New Deal. Biden, I’m afraid is the former type of candidate. And that type of candidate lost the last election to Trump.
3
@John
Being a centrist did not lose the election for HRC. Her horrible campaign, which ignored the rust belt and insulted working people, lost her the election. He’d Limousine Liberal, haughty attitude lost her the election. And this is from someone who voted for her.
To win, we must win the center, where the most votes are up for grabs. A pragmatic progressive like Amy Klobuchar or Sherrod Brown would fill that bill. They act like adults. They don’t scream or vilify. They reach across the aisle. They work for sensible compromise. They would win the middle, and the election.
Humble is not a word is use to describe Joe Biden. His continued treatment of the Anita Hill situation betrays his arrogance. In the end it's"father knows best" for him. I appreciate his blunt words about Trump but it's really time to turn the page and let a younger generation take the reigns.
4
If Joe gets the nod it'll really cement the fact that the DNC is completely out of touch with its base. You'd think they'd have learned after Hillary. The days of the center-right corporatist elites is over for the Democratic Party - if they want to survive, much less win. The days of bipartisanship are long gone, if in fact they ever existed in the first place. America['s right-wing sees themselves at war with the left and it won't be over until the left-wing is utterly destroyed. The Democrats need to go hard left because that's what's actually being demanded of them. And enough with the geriatrics already. Just like there's a minimum age for the Presidency there should be a maximum age - 70. They don't understand the world today and you really need people that do.
2
Thank you for this commentary. Not everyone who votes (mostly) Democrat or even contributes to Democratic candidates is as left leaning as many of those posting here seem to think. There is a reason Joe Biden has been polling as high as he was before he entered the primary race. And its not just name recognition. I hope he is on the primary ballot by the time it is held here in Illinois. I realize the mayor of South Bend is quite the flavor of the month. But there is a big difference between running that small a city and the US government. He needs to run for Congress, Senate, something else. Enough with deriding experience. Its the very experienced Speaker of the House who is holding the line in Congress despite the attacks from the right. I am an enthusiastic supporter of several of the women running but I already know that I trust Joe.
8
Perhaps David Brooks was pleased with the appointment of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court and finds no problem with Joe Biden's inexcusable treatment of Anita Hill. Nice guys don't do things like that. Biden is highly likely to fragment the Democratic Party and needs to step down as a matter of human decency and concern for the future of this nation.
@Jefflz
The Democratic party is already showing signs of fracturing into special interest groups. The most obvious at the moment being women of color and another the promotion of the youngest candidates based, it appears, simply on age. If these fractures grow, in this age of Trumpism, it will destroy the party.
Joe Biden learned from his mistakes. He, IMO, is the best candidate yet to begin the process of healing that needs to take place before the youth groups far left can even stand a chance.
Joe Biden represents an easy win in 2020 for the Democratic Party. Any of the other nineteen (and counting) candidates will face significant challenges in defeating Trump. I am very supportive of the progessive policies proposed by Sanders and Warren, but policy proposals usually face uphill battles to get legislative approval. It took the political skills of Lyndon Johnson to get John Kennedy's goals implemented as laws. My hope for 2021, after the White House is fumigated, is for a Biden presidency with a progressive cabinet.
6
Implicit, if not obvious, in this article is a comparison between Senator Joe Biden and Trump. If one is inclined to make that comparison, try to imagine Joe Biden saying this:
"I can tell you I have the support of the police, the support of the military, the support of the Bikers for Trump -- I have the tough people, but they don’t play it tough-- until they go to a certain point, and then it would be very bad, very bad. But the left plays it cuter and tougher."
Impossible. Even incredible. But can you imagine a man like Joe Biden threatening his opposition - over half the nation, if the polls mean anything - with our military, our police and even bikers, of all things. It's silly, of course. But what kind of mind gins up such silly things and voices them publicly? Not a mind at the elevated level of Joe Biden.
My fear is that too many would-be candidates have observed that being silly, a showman and an obvious snake oil salesman works on the campaign trail. In that, Joe's competition could be fierce.
Another Trump (or even Trump himself) seems almost impossible; and if so, we'd have lost intelligence, experience, wisdom and decency in the White House. We'd have lost the chance to sigh with relief at last.
2
This article is over-flattering, he's definitely not my top choice for Democratic nominee, but all I care about is getting a nominee who will knock out Trump. It may have to be a battle of the old white guys to get us back on a better path. We'll see how things go in the debates. Good luck to us all in beating back this scourge of authoritarianism.
4
Biden sold out college students to the credit industry, putting millions well-meaning, hard-working young Americans into crushing debt so that a handful of billionaires in the credit industry could make more money.
Biden is not the populist he pretends to be. Also too old.
8
Joe's failures in the past and long career are explained as a product of the times which later on were corrected. And this is exactly what we DO NOT need. We do not need failures that will correct in the future. Joe does not have the vision for the future. Defeating Trump is not a vision. For vision, look elsewhere.
2
Liberals should not get caught in a "Joe or Bernie" trap,
at least not yet. I fear the other, younger candidates will
not get the attention to policy that they need from media or
the "easy road" public. Time for intellect, not good guy
stuff.
2
@Poesy If intellect were the measuring stick for a successful candidate, we'd not have the current occupant of the White House, nor his staggeringly ignorant base. While I am not sure who I will be supporting or voting for in 2020, I believe policy has to arise from ethics.
1
It seems like now that Joe Biden is running all of a sudden we're supposed to just fall in line and hand him the nomination. I'm not into that, let's assume we can get past the gaffes and the me too awkwardness let's get to policy and his voting record. I'm not distracted by this flowery piece made to paint him as warm. I know this is an opinion piece but I like my candidates factual and straightforward. Mr Biden hasn't voted for things and been able to explain why he voted the way he did. I'm not convinced he is the candidate for 2020, not just the candidate to beat Trump. He isn't offering solutions to the problems that we're around when he was Vice President. It's a hard pass for me. Thank you, next.
5
Isn't there something undignified about throwing away your money living the high life? How can we then trust that he was such a dignified character? I couldn't read past the beginning of this column because its very introduction seemed totally unconvincing, appeared to be more like myth-making.
3
In brief, a 50's Republican... like the Clintons and Obama. Protect the establishment -- no matter-- the banksters, the health insurance companies....
Taxes must be raised on the super wealthy, the luxury tax reinstated, ditto an appropriate estate tax, universal single payer healthcare, an online system of education thru law school so that we can understand what politicians are really up to. Joe Biden may be a nice guy but he's old and IMO not up to do any of this.
Doesn't Brooks identify as a kind of 50's Republican?
6
I love this man and all her stands for. He is the anti-Trump. Please, please let him be elected.
4
Remember the vice-presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin, where she crossed the stage and asked if she could call him Joe?
That wasn't being folksy. Palin couldn't remember his name. During the prep, she kept calling him "O'Biden."
I know and appreciate Biden's long experience and understand his reticence to retire from government after 150 years, but he'll have to earn the nomination. He'll have to answer -- many times over -- the same insipid questions others on the left have.
He can't say he has evolved. I was there before he was Uncle Joe and I knew he was wrong at the time. But, Joe before Donald. Amen.
3
He’s a corporatist. So, no thank you as we’ve already had our fill of those types. The antidote to the Trump is not Biden, it’s Bernie.
6
For a completely different and frightening view of, let's say, another aspect of Biden, see "The Unwinding" (2013), by George Packer. It includes the life-story of one Jeff Connaughton, who worked in substantial positions on Biden's staff for years--*without Biden ever bothering to learn his name*.
1
Curb Your Enthusiasm for progressives.
Now is not the time.
America is starving and does not need the most elaborate meal.
Biden provides basic sustenance for democracy.
8
Check Buzzfeed to read how Joe Biden
is one of the founding fathers
of both the
student debt crisis
and of
surveillance capitalism.
Middle of the Road Democrat = Republican Lite.
6
Joe Biden is honest and loves the country. We need more men and women like Joe Biden in office. Our country needs to get back on track and be a country of kindness, honesty and sincerity. Right now we have a corrupt president and a corrupt administration. Mr. Brooks captured Joe Biden in his article. Now let's get out there and work to stop Donald Trump and his swamp.
5
Gosh, Biden, such a nice guy. I'm not voting for him. It is beyond me why everyone is pushing him as a front runner. I don't believe it. BTW....I am not voting for the other "front runner" either, Bernie. I am voting Democratic and there are at least 18 other candidates to choose from.
6
@Janice T. Sunseri Amen.
Average Joe? Remember when he was in the Senate he got a low cost loan to build a magnificant new house in Delaware, a state in which the banking industry is very important.
When he was asked about, he said he was unaware that he gotten a special low interest rate.
This was a U.S. Senate claiming he didn't know what interest rates most people were paying on their mortgages
2
"Average Joe" had the authority to vote for the Iraq War that killed 5,000 Americans and will cost us average Americans and our grandkids $ trillions by the time the widow of the last veteran of that senseless war passes. Biden can't be trusted as commander-in-chief.
4
Sorry Mr. Brooks, but being an average Joe is not going to cut it this time. This country needs a major overhaul and Biden has no interest in this endeavor.
3
If you mean decency and compassion when it’s convenient, great.
He didn’t show decency and compassion to Anita Hill, to all the people who would be ensnared in three strikes crime laws and mass incarceration, or to the kids he cut off by opposing desegregation busing. Yes those were long ago. If he makes a decent apology maybe I’ll see him differently.
These aren’t just political disagreements. Decency and compassion shouldn’t be reserved for the people right in front of you, or for the people most like you.
2
Thank you, David. How wonderful to read an article without bite or bitterness.
1
We have lost a love for ourselves...? No. We are reaping what you and your GOP buddies have been sowing, hate and division have a source and causes. Funny how you can't bring yourself to name these.
2
Joe Biden is NOT your Average Joe. He is a man who has worked in politics his entire life and knows how to play you like a fool. He does not embody the moral decency or values that he claims to appeal to. His campaign announcement video is an attack on Donald Trump and based on a lie: (On Charlottesville)... "Donald Trump said that there were very fine people on both sides..."
The way that the left misconstrues what Trump said in that press conference is a blatant lie to our faces. If you listen to the entire speech he outright condemns white nationalists and neo-nazis, along with antifa. However, Democrats and the left wing media refuse to show the full clip and portray it as an objective statement of fact that there were in fact people of good intent on both sides, despite the presence of nationalists and antifa. This is the worst form of propaganda in that it takes a statement out of context to control the public's opinion.
A man who opens his campaign with an attack ad and a lie is not a man who is grounded in moral decency and good values. That is a man who forsakes any moral standing just to get your vote.
4
@Dominic Ciarlante
He didn't lie no one has lied. El Trumpo did say and mean what he has been accused of in the Charlottesville.
Joe's failure in that video was of making the same "basket of deploreable's" comment on you and the other folks who support El Trumpo in a more sophisticated way. He's really just playing the same GOP game of divide and conquer that HRC was.
He fails to see or openly say that you have been tricked by long term and very effective propaganda. Most people do not want to admit how effective propaganda is as they like to imagine they are having their own thoughts and coming to their own conclusions that the facts lead them to so no fake info can possibly have altered that path for them.
He also forgot that he has to represent you for real not like a republican who will only say they represent everyone and never do anything for anyone but those who pay him/her.
1
@Dominic Ciarlante I'd say the "Left" has learned to take a page out of the" Right Wing-Nut Manual", not so pleasant to see the tactics used against you, right?
1
Biden is the right man at the wrongest of times for the job.
We need to overcome 50 years of continuous unrelenting merciless republican onslaught to destroy government by the people for the people. Joe is part of the co-opted DEM that is really just republican light since 1992. People forget that Clinton beat GWB because he ran right of reagan, further right than GWB reagan's VP. Predictably the money rolled in the the party never looked back.
It is high time to get back to common sense and decency in government and society and you will not get either from the DEM establishment today or the GOP who are more like the fraternal twins they are oft accused of being than they ever were.
3
Your Average American Joe?! NOT!
Joe Biden owns a $2.7 million dollar vacation home.
His custom home in Greenville, DE is 7000 square feet!
He graduated from Archmere Academy, a private Catholic prep school where the tuition is $28G/year.
His annual pension is around $250G/year.
He charges $100-200G to give speeches in his post-VP days.
Median household income in USA in 2019 is $64,000.
Joe Biden is a member on the entitled rich American elite.
The Anita Hill hearings + '94 Crime Bill + Plagarism in law school + Helping overturn Glass -Steagall + inappropriate contact with women = NO CHANCE in 2020!
5
I like Biden; he would have been a good candidate in 2000, or even 2004. His past has caught up with him and shows he's out of touch with the times. As a 72 year old, I believe it's time to hand off the reins to someone younger. Sherrod Brown, Tim Ryan and Pete Buttigieg have exhibited the values Biden has shown and are more in touch with what Trump Fed nominee calls "these armpits of America" when speaking of the Midwest. My one exception to my No Baby Boomer rule could be Warren, but only if she teams up with the designated replacement from my list above.
2
Seventy-nine is very late in life to taking on the emotionally and physically crushing demands of the Presidency. We can't dodge that uncomfortable truth. Beyond that, Biden's character is very appealing. His judgment, less so -- it is compromised, quite simply, by the very thing that makes his character so attractive -- his drive to connect with people and make them smile. It's easy to see Biden besting Trump in a debate -- that would be a pleasure to watch. But can he run a tight, fierce, disciplined, relentlessly on-message campaign? Can that campaign also lift the fortunes of Democratic candidates for the Senate and House? I am not so sure -- Biden is gaffe-prone and has never run a successful national campaign. What do we know about how he manages key staff? Nothing. No one reports on these key questions. His centrist message will leave the important progressive wing of the Democratic party unmoved, complicating the recapture of the Senate, without which we will not move beyond the current political nightmare. Here's the thing we didn't know about that electrifying candidate, Barack Obama, in 2007: he could also run a superb, fierce, disciplined, focused campaign and stay smack dab in the center of his message. We need that now. Ask these questions about Biden. They matter.
1
I am a big fan of David Brooks … but not on this column. Joe Biden is a SNL Character of phoniness … He was a Senator from Delaware for decades but when he runs for national office suddenly he is "Scranton Joe"? Really? After elected he promotes "Shovel-Ready" Jobs. How many actually happened? ZERO. He called Anita Hill ... NOW???
You can't make this stuff up …
3
@CHH-MD
I've lived overseas for a long time but my hometown in the USA is still where I identify myself. One's formative years never leave you.
Regarding the shovel-ready jobs, according to a fact check by NPR, this:
"But those projects did happen. In fact, the Transportation Department's website still carries a rundown of stimulus projects, saying that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act "initiated more than 13,000 projects through the Federal Highway Administration, improving more than 42,000 miles of road and more than 2,700 bridges."
The "zero jobs were created" is a Trump talking point. So actually, yeah, he did make that up.
1
This would be a perfect world if candidates didn't take money from big business or Anita Hill had never been sexually harassed or if he first female President had ben elected in 2016. But it is far from perfect and the Democrats have to fight fire with fire. I want the Democrats to win and am going to be politically incorrect and back two white men as the ticket. Biden/Buttigieg 2020
2
Thank you for this piece Mr. Brooks. I want progressive policies and actions, yes. But first we must restore that sense of "we", and common decency, caring, sharing, love. Joe Biden is needed now because we have been so damaged by corruption, criminality and abuse. We are better as a people, I think, and Joe can lead us back to ourselves.
1
I think that we Americans are now living in a new reality. Actually We seem to want Rich and famous types rather then the 'common" working guy. The Trumps are more entertaining, simple to understand and we are envious and want that life. He gets respect from the riches he claims to have. It seems that how he obtained them are not so important. Biden will seem old, boring and not entertaining.
Great! But there are other candidates already running - Sanders and Warren - who have similar background/experiences and values but who also have much better policy proposals. Could it be you value the centrist even more than the values?
3
Joe will move a little to the left, form a ticket with an attractive successor like Beto or Amy and take the corrupt Team Trump to the woodshed.
Nice brochure.
Average Joe, but also a lifeline to palin's Joe Sixpack?
Good column. Thank you.
Now that Biden is in the race, will the press join the Trumpistas in savaging him? Brook's column may be the high point of the press coverage.
@Larry Bennett Sad but true.
@Larry Bennett - The press already has. Top story of the paper was Anita Hill, two words that Joe Biden does not want to hear.
It’s not about personality, it’s about the issues, and unfortunately Joe is on the wrong side of them. He’s an incrementalist, corporatist, and appeaser. Only the issues will defeat Trump. And if you offer up the same tired rhetoric emphasizing this man’s character, the horse race over who looks best, rather than who will bring progress and social justice back into American democracy, you’re selling us a beautiful exterior package, but with questionable content inside.
5
Compromise is not a 4 letter word. Progressive does not equate to ideological purity. Politics, lest we have forgotten (which is understandable given the stalemate of the last 15 years) is the art of the possible. Joe Biden is a politician, in the best sense of the word.
1
@mg Today's GOP is an enemy to be defeated, they have to place for your sacred compromise.
@mg
Well stated mg, Brief, clear, concise and true.
Your Average American Deep State Joe.
3
Too bad Joe kicked off his campaign with a whopping lie about what the President said at Charlottesville.
Here's what the President actually said:
"“Excuse me, they didn’t put themselves down as neo-Nazis, and you had some very bad people in that group. But you also had people that were very fine people on both sides. You had people in that group – excuse me, excuse me, I saw the same pictures you did. You had people in that group that were there to protest the taking down of, to them, a very, very important statue and the renaming of a park from Robert E. Lee to another name.”
And:
"“I’m not talking about the neo-Nazis and white nationalists because they should be condemned totally.”
But Average Joe chose to start his campaign with phony fear-mongering.
I expect his campaign will last at least through the end of June...2019.
4
Right, he was talking about the fine people who were marching with the neo-Nazis and white nationalists. That's totally different.
1
I am in my early 60s and I am getting tired of old men in their 70s still looking to satisfy their ego by running for the office.
I just want a younger face, new ideas, someone that will makes us all move forward in a world that is getting more complicated.
Good manners ans respect for other human beings should not be the only criteria for electing our next President.
3
@Jay Tan - I am 60 year old and am very impressed with people in their 70's who run for office. Hillary, Sanders, Trump, and now Biden fly from city to city everyday to speak to throngs of crazy Americans screaming like they are at a BTS concert. I get exhausted watching:))
Misleading headline
Beautiful portrait
Too bad ( my ageist comment fior the month)
.....he’s in his 70’s
His values are more than admirable
They scream ‘ decency & respct)
Not “me myself and my money”
First, nice piece, David.
Second, I am reminded of the scene at the end of The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy is informed that she had the power to go home all along, by clicking her heels and repeating "There's no place like home" three times. In 18 months, Americans will have a chance to click their own heels together, and repeat three times "Our compassion and cooperative spirit was what made us great all along".
Do I feel that Biden is the strongest candidate? Not necessarily. But he certainly represents what there needs to be much more of guiding the nation. Can we please get back to true leadership, and cut it out with the defensive angry boss stuff?
3
I know who I'm going to vote for now. Richard Schwartz. Times Subscriber
@Richard Schwartz - I don't know anything about you and already you look like one of the best choices:) Hope to see you at the debates!
So while you all talk about Biden I wondered why Brooks took a gratuitous hit at Adlai Stevenson for being educated. He always simplifies everything. Biden is in the Truman lane and Warren or whoever is in the Stevenson lane, whatever that is. The total dishonest argument (see Krugman's column for a better explanation) that the educated liberals disdain the working class because Fox news says so. Many working class white people left the Democratic party over civil rights and gender equality.
Where is the Kennedy stream Mr Brooks? To me Biden's announcement sounded more like that. Is there a Bobby stream and a Jack stream?
I think Stevenson was a fine man and deserves better than to be criticized for being educated by of all people someone who writes for the New York Times.
1
@Duffy - Wasn't the last president not only a Harvard grad but a professor there as well? Isn't Bill Clinton a Rhodes scholar? I thought he graduated from Georgetown University, then went to Oxford (but didn't finish) and then went to Yale and got a law degree. Hillary, as I recall also went to Yale.
Good grief, I thought one had to be an overachiever at school to be a Democrat.
"Average Joe" is O.K. "Not an individualist" - that's O.K., too. No one is perfect - not one person nor any presidential candidate. We don't need any more "individualists" for the time being - we've got one currently in the White House that's done more damage to the country in two years than can be measured. Let's return to compromise and civility - and let's give Average Joe a chance to redeem himself from past behaviors. It's a new day and we must all work together or we're doomed as a country.
1
Phoning Anita Hill says something else.
So typical of the Times to back the neoliberal corporate, Wall St. candidate. Too bad the Millennials have totally seen through the Dem Establishment and are voting progressive whether the Times likes it or not. Sleepy Joe is this cycle’s Low Energy Jeb, a loser the fat cats love as their tool, but the voters don’t.
1
Make America "America" again.
I do not know anybody who lives their live as the proverbial “...individualist...” that I’d DB’s bete noir.
David,
Your Ronnie will roll over in his grave when he reads this.
What? Biden won't sell weapons illegally to Iran and then give them to blood thirsty dictators in South America?
What kind of leader is that? Not your Ronnie for sure.
2
I've always liked Joe Biden and have no doubt he's a very decent, caring, empathetic, loving human being and leader. He's supported policies and positions that I agree with and some that I disagree with - from trashing Anita Hill to Glass-Stegall, the Iraq war, his close ties to many who have actually destroyed the middle class-Wall Street predators. His 50 years of service are a sure sign of his commitment to our nation, his personal suffering humbling life experiences. I actually have little doubt that he can crush donald trump. I have two major concerns:
1. He clearly does not understand what he put Anita Hill through and has not handled that well. He has a 50 year track record and certainly anyone with a 50 year political history has made many mistakes. It's how we handle them, how we own up to, learn from and rectify our errors of judgement. Joe has not done that. What did you learn, what are your insights
2. Bring together some boomers, millennials, Xers, Zers and listen to us, take it in and collaborate with these folks and create and declare a true, compelling, authentic vision of America's future, our role in the world, how you will heal our deepening wounds, clear out the corrupt thugs from all corners of our government and commit to setting America on our long term journey to the sustainable, climate resilient, regenerative flourishing future for all life. Caring and honest leadership is key, truth and trust are vital, crushing Trump is a must.
I used to think that policies were important in a President. I know better now. After many years of seeing different president succeed and fail I am now certain that the President as the Chief Executive requires the right set of priorities and demeanor to execute the laws of the nation and decide on the best course of action when confronted.
Joe Biden stands head and shoulders above the crowd as Brooks eloquently shows.
2
Mr. Brooks appears unaware that old chivalrous white guys like Biden aren't part of the Democrat Party anymore. They're dinosaurs to be discarded as quickly as a Robert E. Lee statue in Jackson Heights.
Kind of reminds everyone of their Uncle Skeezy at the family picnic always slapping the backside of the aunts and telling off-color jokes to the 'boys' around the horseshoe pit while drinking a Manhattan cocktail.
Brooks shouldn't have penned this 'he's really not a bad guy' column. It's beneath the dignity of a NYT editorialist to spend his/her own political capital on helping defend a guy whose actions have largely been indefensible over the years.
Joe is going to have to explain an awful lot in detail about how the Ukrainians helped the Clinton campaign in the 2016 election at the same time they gave his son a plush board seat on one of the richest firms in the former Soviet Union..just after pressuring the Ukranians a week before.
Worse? Biden couldn't shut up about this quid pro quo deal that set up his son for life. He then had to brag about it...like he was telling stories about him and Mary Lou Johnson back in high school under the stadium bleachers...to his buddies at the bowling alley.
I'm rather disgusted by his son shacking up with his dead son's widow, but it seems like skeezy is what Biden men do.
Maybe Jr. Jill should be running instead. She seems to have a mature approach to life that somehow escaped Uncle Joe.
1
BIDEN 2020 LETS GO!!!!!!
This is pretty spot on. I met Joe a couple years ago. I don't believe he's my first primary pick, but he's a good person. Joe's more interested in you than in hearing or talking about himself, which is a far cry from our current leader.
If he secures the nomination, he has my vote. That goes for any Democrat, however.
2
Joe Biden did not call three witnesses who could have corroborated Anita Hill’s story (incidentally allowing one of the worst Supreme Court Justices in US history to be confirmed).
Joe Biden voted for criminal justice reforms that have led to millions of African-Americans being locked up for decades for crimes which white college students commit, unmolested, on a daily basis.
Joe Biden voted for the Iraq war, something which any person with sense could see, in advance, was going to be a vile disaster, led by politicians with no honor.
Joe Biden frankly plagiarized the life story of Neil Kinnock and used it in his stump speech, in what has to be one of the most bizarre events in US political history.
If Joe Biden is nominated, I will vote for him. He is certainly better than Trump, no question.
But he does not deserve to be nominated. He has had his chance - many, many chances - and, rather than standing up for decency, he has swung with the political winds, the suffering of others be damned.
I don’t expect politicians to be perfect. But I expect them to be better than this. And I expect columnists to be more honest than David Brooks is here.
4
Mr. Brooks, this is perhaps the finest piece I have ever read from you. You are absolutely correct in that "suffering is the great equalizer" as well as noting "life and the vice presidency have disciplined him."
There are many candidates in this race already and most are running campaigns based on battles between proper health care and an administration that couldn't care less about anything other than the insurance and medical industry's profits. Between living wages and an administration bent on enriching the already rich. Between saving the planet and an administration bent on carpetbagging our resources and future.
Joe is running to preserve as Mr. Brooks accurately notes, "decency" from an administration that not only has none, but would prefer to further divide us by robbing us all of our sense of decency.
And sadly at this time in our nation's history, the most important fight must be first a return of decency. Until we, the voters, restore that most basic element in what unites us, how can we possibly imagine to conquer these other issues. Without decency as a moral compass, we cannot possibly embark on bettering our lives of for that matter the greater good.
I applaud Mr. Brooks Opinion and rank it as a must read for any American that believes we are on a wrong course.
4
We The (Changed) People: Joe Biden / Anita Hill 2020. THAT'S the ticket!
3
All the sarcastic demeaning images you offered at first blew me off your final lines that give Joe some reason to run.
"Subtly different" you say, about something understanding Joe's style.
"We" you used 16 times you say something about this man. What was it? Are you saying Biden wants us together for this July 4th?
You express pain and get shame?
Biden will win over Trump in 2020 but only if you>> David Brooks support him.
Biden might be an average Joe, but he's not a racist or bigot, which automatically negates any chance he has to unseat Donald Trump. Trump has tapped into the undercurrent of America's racism and prejudice that nobody wants to admit exists. While praising the intelligence of the American electorate, Trump secretly knows that they can be led around like a bulls with nose rings - only instead of bull rings, he uses their beliefs and prejudices to lead them wherever he wants.
If DJT doesn't destroy our fragile democracy, he has published the blueprint and playbook for some other demagogue to do it later. If a democracy like America's is going to exist, there will have to be a paradigm shift in human thought throughout the world.
In the near future, we will program the human mind in the computer based on a "survival" algorithm, which will provide irrefutable proof as to how we trick the mind with our ridiculous beliefs about what is supposed to survive - producing minds programmed de facto for destruction. These minds see the survival of a particular belief as more important than the survival of us all. When we understand all this, we will begin the long trek back to reason and sanity.
See RevolutionOfReason.com
1
I’ll happily support just about any living soul who isn't Donald Trump.
So, the bar isn't that high for me.
This next election is like setting off a can of roach bomb - you leave the house for a few hours, come home, clean up and feel good that you did a comprehensive wipe out of the pests.
Now, you can face the issues in front of you, just without crawly things everywhere.
Biden is more than experienced enough and decent enough.
He seems… umm… normal!
My question is: will the people, especially young people raised in this fraught, anomalous era, recognize and embrace normal? Rather than "purity."
Or will Joe be casting pearls that can't be appreciated?
The man will have to thread an idealogical and too ambitious liberal policy line that others blithely mouth but the specter of four more years of roaches vs a return to normal likely is a winning hand.
President Biden - sure - and then we go from there.
5
You nailed it, David. Go Joe!
1
It is imperative that the media quit nit-picking every Democratic candidate while ignoring the moral horror roaming the halls of the White House.
7
Perhaps Mr. Biden should ask Anita Hill to be his running mate. That might finally patch things up between them.
2
If David Brooks is such a competent journalist deserving of an opinion column on the NYT, why doesn't he then do any real journalism to inform our readers? Biden has depicted himself as the party’s standard-bearer but he’s planning to roll out his campaign at an event filled with executives from Comcast & namely GOP donors and corporate lobbyists. Biden is launching his presidential bid with a pledge to reject federal lobbyist cash but the lobbyists who attended his Thursday fundraiser are either unregistered or registered with state entities, not the federal system. His presidential campaign is currently being coordinated by his former chief of staff, Steve Ricchetti, who was himself a lobbyist. Ricchetti’s role with Biden’s vice presidential office sidestepped the Obama administration’s ban on employing lobbyists: Ricchetti received a special waiver to take his role with Biden. Yesterday's fundraiser was rife with lobbyists — but not those registered in the federal system. Daniel Hilferty, a member of the Biden host committee, is the chief executive officer of Independence Blue Cross. He is on the board of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the trade association working to defeat the progressive push for Medicare for All. In national politics, Hilftery has exclusively donated to Republicans this year, records show. The health insurance executive gave $5,000 to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., along with smaller donations to other congressional Republicans.
6
We've been down this road before. After W there was a search for decency and a fresh start. The yearning for a bright and positive future elevated Obama and doomed Clinton.
People forget how horrific W was. When Obama came in he had to re-establish American's position in the world and let allies, and enemies, know we could be trusted. The failures of Obama, for instance treating Egyptian dictators as reformers and wildly misjudging the power of the Arab Spring or the strength of ISIL, came from his decency and optimism. He was overly optimistic about Syria, although he had few options. Remember his first 2 years where he kept totally silent about the disaster he inherited from America's worst president? We needed a bull dog then. We needed a full throated condemnation of the cynicism within the Republican party. Not an attack on conservatives, but on the crazy tax cuts for the rich and the war on the poor, on the sleight of hand that causes people to vote against their interests, on the lies that led us to war. He never took to the bully pulpit to demand health care. He never made it clear that he was going all in against long odds to do something good for struggling Americans.
We need this even more today. I don't think we need just a calm and sensible leader. We need somebody dripping with American optimism, energy, and decency. We need Biden in the race to set a standard. We have lots of candidates and a great one will emerge. I'll bet on Harris. Go get em.
3
Can't wait for Brooks to mansplain all this to Anita Hill.
Sorry, but we don't need a hockey coach who will pretend that rolling back the clock is the secret to progress.
5
Biden is hopeless. Trump has already dispatched him with one word, low IQ. The treatment of Anita Hill is not forgotten. Compared to Trump he seems weak, frail and elderly.
Biden is going to waste a lot of time and money. He has no more chance than Bob Dole against Clinton.
The Democrats are lost. The right wing revolution, started by the Powell Memorandum in the 70s, consolidated by Reagan, Limbaugh, Fox News and piggybacked by Clinton and Obama, has rolled over the Democrats like a Mac truck over a possum on an Interstate. Even in the culture wars, the conservatives are gaining ground.
The Democrats need to have a serious, long term think about their message, We need our own Powell Memorandum. One about the science of climate change, about the vast income inequality in this country- listen right-wingers: sure a little inequality is desirable, but when a few make BILLIONS and the rest struggle to put food on a table, or even have a table, YOU’VE GOT A PROBLEM. We need to talk about education and jobs the truth that a multi-cultural society is stronger than a single-culture society, as Nazi Germany proved forever. It’s stronger for exactly the same reason mixed breed dogs are smarter than pure breed dogs.
We are going to have four more years of Trump. But maybe it will allow us to prove some of our points.
4
I read a book years ago--what was it called? "And The Walls Came Down"--something like that.
Translated out of Dutch. About Dutch inmates of a prison or concentration camp. As the Nazi regime crumbled, they escaped and made their way back to Holland.
But before then--
--they were hungry. All the time. They dreamed about bacon frying in a pan. Butter--mounds of butter melting atop pancakes. Drippings from a roasting pan.
That is my hunger right now, Mr. Brooks.
I am hungry for decency in our federal government. And especially--decency in our President.
NOT to blush every time this man opens his mouth. NOT have a President whose prepared remarks in the UN's General Assembly cause a ripple of subdued merriment. NOT to burst out laughing--
--when I read another preposterous tweet.
A story I've shared before--
--being in Ireland two summers ago--stopping (as we drove westward) at the Barack Obama rest stop. Huge photos of our 44th President on the walls He visited Ireland a while back and has a little Irish blood.
"It gives me pain," I said to a sympathetic friend, "to remember when we could be PROUD of our President."
And all this about Joe Biden. More pain. More hunger.
He certainly seems a decent, caring man. He was that when he served Mr. Obama. And if the Dem's put him up--
--he's got my vote. But then again--
--ANY Democrat's got my vote in 2020.
Even the guy running for dog-catcher.
1
Biden has my vote!
3
There are things to like about Joe Biden as a man. But reading this glowing review of a politician who began his presidential campaign spouting the demonstrably false narrative about Charlottesville that is part of the larger false narrative that conservatives are a bunch of racists being led by a racist president is troubling. Joe has thrown in with the dividers, with the Dems who can do nothing but divvy us up into groups of victims always looking for someone else to blame. And the fact that Mr Brooks, who sadly appears to have evolved into the faux conservative that the Times and NPR regularly display as evidence of their commitment to inclusion and diversity, is sad. Can he not see that an in many but not all ways despicable man who promotes and accomplishes conservative policies that are good for the people is a better choice for president than an averageJoe who not only promotes the same destructive liberal policies of the last 50 years, but also the truly crazy Bernie/AOC brand of 21st century liberalism?
1
I do like Joe Biden personally, for the most part. I don't care that he's made political mistakes in his past. It's normal. His civility and friendship with Rs is a plus. He is one of the few grown-ups on his side right now, perhaps 1 of 2 with a change.
That being said, I doubt I could vote for him:
- I normally care little about politicians sex lives, particularly infidelities. But, I have watched the videos, and his repeated and intentional fondling and occasional kissing of women and children he doesn't know isn't normal. Watch them. You will cringe. We have been warned.
- I can't stand phony political apologies to begin with. But, please, he says he is sorry to Anita Hill? How about Justice Thomas? If you read what Hill and a couple of others were actually accusing him of, compared to Joe Biden and some of his friends, Thomas was a monk. More, I couldn't vote for anyone who won't say what happened to Kavanaugh was not just wrong, but a travesty.
- His pandering remarks about "white men," said with disgust was unacceptable but a signal. He'd have to reject modern identity politics and the culture of victimization.
- I'd have to know he is completely divorced from Obama's foreign policy.
- Any normal person hates Nazis/Klan, et. But, I would only consider voting for someone who expressly rejects the violence and/or intimidation of groups on his/her own side, like Antifa, DSA, BLM. I doubt he will.
Are we to assume from this column that Brooks has officially left the GOP?
I vehemently disagree with Brooks, Biden is not an average American Joe, if he was he wouldn't have a brain in his head, if he were he would only concern himself with the trivial, like the NFL draft or Thor vs Thanos and all that lot. If he were an average American Joe, he wouldn't give one hoot about protecting democracy or freedom of the press, he wouldn't care about the environment or the future of this country. If he were an average American Joe he would be watching the Kardashians, and swilling beer, smoking dope, trying to find any means to escape the fight, to escape the responsibility of safeguarding all that is good in this world, if he were an average America Joe he would have given up already and accepted the fact that the bad guys won a long time ago.
No, Joe Biden is no average American Joe, he is a fighter, always has been, he cares about the future of this country, and he doesn't pander to the lowest common denominator, and his smile is genuine. We need this' above average Joe,' and we need him now more than ever to inspire us to fight and not give up or give in. What Joe Biden is, a man who represents all the best qualities of an American citizen. Trump is the dumbest American President ever and his dumbness is contagious, and stupidity is dangerous.
Lord willing the American people wake up in time to save themselves. People like Biden are a good start to that waking.
1
Anita Hill
I hope Biden puts Obama onto the Supreme Court. That would be sweet.
1
Here we go - within a week Biden will likely have more press in the NYTimes about his run than all the women democratic presidential candidates combined. Do better NYTimes!
In the last administration, Hillary Clinton was the Secretary of State. She ran against a man who did everything he could think of to lose - he bragged about being a sexist, he was blatantly racist, he lied more often than Lucifer, and refused to show his taxes. Yet, Hillary lost.
In the last administration, Joe Biden was the Vice President. Joe and Hillary were on the same page about every issue. They worked together towards the same goals.
Now, Joe Biden is running against Trump. The only difference between Hillary and Joe is gender. And true to his gender, Joe already has had a number of women state their feelings including the woman on the Time's top story.
The Clinton/Obama/Biden clan has ruled 16 of the last 26 years. They have had more than enough time to save the world and bring peace on earth. Keep Uncle Joe.
Good guy
Wrong time in history
If Biden won, you can be sure not much will change in DC. The US is in need of a radical overhaul. Gore Vidal and others saw this for decades. America's principal problems are corporate greed, a pathetic foreign policy which largely results in the killing of developing world civilians and lost superpower status on global issues like climate change, and a failure to address poor US citizens' issues such as low-paid jobs, illegal immigration, drugs and prisons full (of black men). Biden's age is not is his black-ball to the Presidency, it is the fact he he is part of the decades old problem. He is an avuncular smiler , nothing more.
@MacTong
Radical overhaul? You've been watching one for the last two years! Probably not what you're wanting, though.
Biden/Klobuchar [?] might be just what we need, like, yesterday.
To the commenters enumerating all of Joe Biden's mistakes and warts, you surely know that every one of the Democratic field of candidates have flaws as well. ALL of them.
We know Mr. Biden's flaws with Joe I don't think we will have any surprises. Some of the rest of the field have not been under the heavy rain of fire that will be coming from the Republicans. Mr Biden has.
I will gladly vote for him in the primary. Nevertheless, I will vote for the Dem nominee in the general,even if it is my least favorite, Bernie Sanders.
"He’s not an individualist. He is a member. He belongs to his family; his hometown, Scranton; his Democratic Party; his Senate; his nation, and is inexplicable without those roots. "
Since when does an individualist not belong to his family, his hometown, his political party, his nation? The individualist just refuses to be wholly defined by his inescapable membership to these institutions - even in his/her opposition to them. Mr. Brooks seems to believe that the essence of our nation, and civilization itself, resides within a Rotary Club meeting. This individual thinks not.
I can endorse Joe, but also Pete. I have issues with most of the other candidates because they are over promising on policies and proposed programs which will scare off potential swing Republicans and centrist voters. We, the People, need a leader who offers the best to and for the most. I agree in concept with many of the more liberal proposals and programs but given the political tatters in which we find ourselves, I think we need to first heal the trauma of Trump, repair the institutional damage, rebuild public confidence in Federal government and institutions, rebuild our diplomatic corps, repair our relationships with allies, clarify our positions with adversaries, redefine the meaning and responsibilities of American citizenship, restore honor in public service, and, finally elect a President who will be the servant of the People, for the People. Once all of that is accomplished, let progressive policies be vetted and executed.
1
The Democrats’ base wants bold policy and youthful vigor. The 2020 election will pivot on personality & emotional tone, not policy.
Trump gets a sure turn out by one-issue voters (abortion, guns, judges, deregulation, anti-immigrant/gay). The Democrats are in a circular firing line, squawking about purities, unable to simply pull together for the general good & less atrocious leadership.
Turn out is our salvation from grubby vulgar ignorant Trump world. If only environmental concern were enough to create a passionate surge.
3
Brooks’s paradigm well-describes Trump’s relationship to his “base” and his unanticipated success in 2016, a feat that he may very well duplicate in 2020. Trump’s hardcore base will not change under any circumstances and wavering voters may ultimately swing his way because of the economy and their reluctance to vote for any Democrat.
Elizabeth, Tulsi, Pete, and Cory, too, offer “a restoration of the values that bind us as a collective.” And they do not have Biden’s baggage.
Scranton, PA is Joe’s “hometown” in name only. Given Joe’s voting record and personal lifestyle, he is a better fit with those Republicans he aligned himself with during the Thomas-Hill hearings, especially when he asked Hill whether Thomas had been more explicit in his harassment and demands.
It boils down to this: who “We?”
Biden has very little in common with farmers struggling in the heartland or laid-off machinists in the Rust Belt.
Brooks’s hagiography is a lame celebration of a careerist politician whose time has come and gone.
A Tulsi/Pete ticket is undefeatable.
I watched the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings any single days in October 1991. Reading about people's comments in the past few weeks makes me wonder how many of these commentators were old enough to see for themselves then. I think the way Anita Hill was treated by Republican senators such as Arlen Spector during the hearings should not be the major issue to be considered - I did get very angry watching that though. I think Joe Biden should articulate the reason why he abruptly stopped the hearing after Clarence Thomas' speech and his memorable quote "High Tech Lynching".
Nobody goes through life without making some serious mistakes. That is part of being human. The question is: has Mr. Biden learned from those errors, and I believe that he has. The temperament and knowledge to be a president and a statesman is certainly important (please, no more vain, belligerent know-nothings ). But the thing that America most needs is a huge shot of principled decency, empathy, and a return to the norms which kept our government functional for so many years. The Trump administration has been a toxic, democracy-destroying cesspool. America as we know it cannot survive more vengeful, willfully ignorant, no-holds-barred, winner-take-all politics.
1
Poor Nicholas Salmanovitch Biden:
Koestler wrote his tragic story almost 70 years ago. And, like Rubashov, Joe will never understand why he must (politically, of course) die. If the reference seems opaque, typing rubasho into your cell phone will lead to Darkness at Noon. Sadly, as relevant today as it was when written.
Biden has great karma no doubt about it. Just knowing his attitude toward his fellowman is refreshing. He has baggage -- nothing anywhere near what Trump is carrying -- though Joe, being truthful, will probably make some mistakes trying to explain it. But what bothers me is that he seems indecisive at times. More worrying, Joe said he wanted to fight with The Donald in a back alley. Not sure this posturing works. What will defeat Trump is the one who sees through him. The bully on the block isn't defeated by a newer, nicer, bully, but by the person who knows what a sham he is and doesn't take the bait. The only one so far who appears to have this vibe is Pete Buttigieg though there may be others. Anyway, it is way too early in the game to know who is the best and most likely to win.
To all of those who have found yourself changing your mind, evolving on a belief you held at 30, but have had a change of heart at 50, listen to yourselves. People change, some for good, some for bad. As a unapologetic 60’s liberal, a woman who is married to a woman, I believe Joe Biden is the only Democrat who can beat Agent Orange. Those who voted for him will be manic to re-elect him. I would like to see a younger generation take over, I teach these young people everyday and yes, some are flighty and untethered, but there are so many more who are passionate, unbiased, and non-judgmental. But right now, an older white male who can appeal to those who cast more votes than the millineals is the only solution.
I have to believe that Uncle Joe has evolved. And that’s no malarky.
2
He has made mistakes with regards to Anita Hill and Iraq, but his successes like the Violence Against Women act, alone, should stand as his contrition. There used to be a phrase; give them the benefit of doubt...Joe Biden would make a great President. Maybe if one of the younger persons running were to be his running mate....
2
David I love that he is collective. That said a year before I would of agreed with you bc I wanted someone stable in the WH. Now I want change and the new GREEN to take over bc of the planet crisis.
Third time a charm or three strikes you're out?
There's a reason Biden hasn't won the nomination before: people may like him but they don't love him, don't trust him, and sometimes he makes them cringe.
He's is an old pol; he will say anything he thinks we want to hear. Would you buy a used car from him?
It's good to apologize, to evolve, to change lifelong behavior and revise bad judgment. But what about somebody who wasn't clueless enough to make those mistakes in the first place? Somebody with good judgment who isn't "gaffe-prone" dumb.
Somebody who can get the votes of once Obama now Trump voters, though I'm stymied as to who those can be. That's not Biden anymore.
1
Perfect. Another centrist Dem like Clinton to get beaten by Trump in the General Election.
Once Dem voters become fact informed on Biden in the months ahead, enthusiasm will wane.
Having the persona of decency in this instance is a far cry from being a decent man.
Oh wonderful! A front porch campaign projecting “middle-class decency, personal loyalty and practical sense.” Twelve years to go before the catastrophic environmental tipping point, and Brooks is singing the praises of a new James A. Garfield!
From his stable, bourgeois home-porch Biden is a member of all the collective promises of the upper middle class: private prep school, public (low tuition) college, draft deferment ( childhood episodes of asthma), law school (1969), U.S Senate 1972…. and ever since with health care, decent salary, savings and retirement benefits.
The only minor difficulty is that this is not a “collective” experience that vast majority of Americans share or ever did share. Front porch? Too generous. Bubble would be more precise. “Gimme a break!”
Biden has an odd sense of "we".
There are male"we's".....
and then there are female "we's".
At age 70, I have never counted "Average Joe" as one of my political supporters.
Color me VERY unsurprised, David Brooks, that he's one of your favorite people.
1
Can you imagine a human being more opposite of Trump on the empathy/decency scale?
1
Wait until the opposition starts harping about the fact that Beau's widow married his brother after his divorce.
My check is already in cyberspace. He is exactly what the country needs...unity, compassion and a mature sense of reality for all the far left schemes and dreams. Go Joe, go!
1
Hindsights 20/20, but we really needed Joe in 2016. He would have had an excellent chance of beating Ms. Clinton and would have been a much less polarizing candidate than Ms. Clinton.
Unfortunately that ship has sailed. I would say it was an example of another bad Decision on Mr. Biden's part. He saw Clinton as invincible when in fact she was imminently beatable. The country agreed on one thing in that election: Nobody wanted another Bush and most people did not want another Clinton.
Now, he's just too old. If he wins the nomination I'll have no problem voting for him, but lets face it 80 is too old to be president. Even if your health is perfect, at 80 the likelihood that something will happen to your health is just very very high.
We're electing a president, not a wise grandpa.
I adore Joe Biden, always have. And I greatly admire his personal strengths and convictions. But he’s not the only candidate who is a “member” with a proven commitment to community and country and the value of other people. Elizabeth Warren has all that AND a detailed, intelligent plan to move this country forward in giant steps. If Biden’s the nominee will I work for him and vote for him? You bet! But I hope he isn’t.
Biden's political experience and his party might prove to be a disadvantage in the crowded field of Democratic candidates.
Keep in mind that presidential primaries were not the norm until the 1970s. Then consider the Democrats in 1972. Sixteen candidates were in a race that George McGovern won without party leadership support. Much the same thing in 1976. Sixteen candidates in a race that an unknown Jimmy Carter won.
Then look at the Republicans in 2016. Trump bested a field of 16 candidates, many of whom were establishment pols.
Biden's name recognition propelled him to front runner status. But his candidacy will ultimately depend on his ability to show stong in the early state contests. As he should know from his own experiences in 1988 and 2008, nobody is interested in candidates who are at the back of the pack.
I have no doubt that Joe Biden is everything you say; however, I don’t believe he is the right person for the times. It’s time to leave the old guard behind and look to the next generation to lead us into a future very different from what we have experienced for so many years.
1
Pretty simple to find previous actions, positions and statements made by any public person with such a long record that could be brought up now. But I suspect that if any Democratic candidate brings these up in debates, it will backfire on them. It will be seen as a personal attack on a person that comes closest to being considered a "Statesman" in the party.
Joe, to me, is the recovery disk that came with a new computer - use only to recover (in this case our Democracy). So his anti-Trump strategy is a good one to focus on now in the primaries. Objective that binds all Democrats is to beat Trump and Joe remains the best option. He can talk issues once nominated, but right now the Party needs him.
2
I think we need a president who is competent and socialized and will not speak to pushing the nation around with big plans for the future and will address the immediate issues on the ground now (e.g., the crisis on our southern border) and knows how to relate to foreign leaders and who is calm and decent and who will give us a break. Mr. Biden is that president. I like Ms. Warren a lot, and maybe she clan be sworn in the next time round.
3
A surprising column from Mr. Brooks.
All most Americans want is a decent person in the Oval Office.
We don't have that now.
Decent is not a word that can ever be associated with Trump.
Get rid of Trump and maybe America can be great again.
Character matters.
Ethics matter.
Decency matters.
Let's do better in 2020.
3
Joe Biden has two things going for him that are very important. Unlike most of the other candidates, he knows how to credibly talk with the Obama/Trump voters in the states that will be electorally relevant in 2020. Also, with the possible exception of Sanders, he is the only candidate who knows the Washington swamp, and if you are going to begin to drain it, you need to know it, not merely have a simplistic, bumpersticker version of where power actually resides.
Unless you pick a winner, someone who can rack up votes in the few states that are in play, you lose, all hopes drowned. Game over!! Aspirational candidates are nice, but all they will do if nominated in 2020 is re-elect Trump, which is the only way he actually can get re-elected.
Do you want a President who can make progress while you stay in the fight to move things along, as dirty and long as that fight may be, or would you rather just have a gravestone with an epitaph that says, "But I Was Right!"? The "perfect" (and just who gets to define it?) really can be the biggest enemy of the "good."
As to "sins" of decades past, I would ask readers just who among them has never done something of substance they have regretted? The important thing is whether and what we have learned from our mistakes. Biden erred in the Clarence Thomas hearings, however he not only apologized but has displayed a true understanding of and genuine regret for his mistake. Which other candidate has acknowledged important errors of judgment?
2
The person elected in 2020 will get at least two Supreme Court picks, and the odds are overwhelming that these two will replace Ginsberg and Breyer.
Who do you want that person to be?
That alone is reason for democrats to put aside their differences and elect a person who promises to move the country back from the lunacy that prevails.
2
Compassion, empathy, decency, integrity, intelligence and understanding are some of the qualities that have been the hallmark of Americans.
Biden embodies these as do most of the people and candidates for President.
The past few years have seen a disavowing of all of these human qualities by the current occupant of the Oval Office.
Anyone who wants to truly 'Make America Great Again' needs only to remember what made us great in the first place a fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper.
1
Vice President Biden is the most appealing candidate for the American middle. It's unlikely that the insurgent radical left of today's Democratic Party will allow him to win, but he's by far the most likely Democrat to unseat Trump. As a traditional Republican voter, I don't always agree with Biden, but I do respect him. I know he'll be far tougher on adversaries like Russia than is the woefully inexperienced and nativist/Internet conspiracy-theorist Trump. Biden will be a better friend to our nation's allies than is Trump, and unlike Trump will see the presidency as a place to serve the nation's interests rather than his own. Sadly, my fear is that the left will push him into untenable, unelectable, policy positions/platforms, diminishing his appeal to Republicans/Independents eager for an alternative to the demagogic Trump.
3
Look it up in the Times: President Trump has imposed more sanctions against Russia than any president. He has supported Ukraine militarily, something President Obama would not. He also is intent on not allowing the Russians (and Chinese) to game the nuclear nonproliferation treaties, which ultimately should have the effect of bringing the two back to the bargaining table, something President Obama shied away from. Despite the press’ convoluting Russia’s misbehavior with Trump, the facts are simply not there to support an argument that he has been anything but tough on them (and yes, I’m aware that the President flatters adversaries, something that many people find offensive; but his actions speak louder than words).
Joe's lame non-apologies will not reassure the allies Trump has insulted. They will need credible dialogue with a young, energetic, knowledgeable, respectful president.
(Eric Swalwell would be a perfect messenger of our gratitude for past help, cooperation, and friendship, imho.)
Joe's inability to take responsibility for his treatment of Anita Hill and of women whose shoulders he rubbed, whose hair he smelled, etc. is too weird.
Elect a president who knows and respects our country's history, who respects the Constitution, and who honors our friends and allies.
Excellent description of a man so dedicated to being liked, especially by his "own sort of people," that he's left others damaged and excluded rather than standing up and losing favor with people who needed standing up to. A Brooks de facto endorsement for glad-handing is tantamount for a reason or Democrats to say "No; not any more. We can do 21st Century better than that."
2
I am a Social Democrat who is not voting for Joe Biden in the Democratic primary in my State of Rhode Island. I will be voting for one of the women candidates. However, should Biden emerge with the nomination, I will support him without reservation.
Joe Biden is a good and decent human being. Yes, I was disappointed along with millions of others at the treatment afforded Anita Hill at the Thomas hearings that resulted in an unqualified and right wing extremist and sexual predator getting a SCOTUS seat. And many are rightly concerned about his Iraq War vote. But I think many overlook the war fever that spread over the nation in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and put Democrats on the defensive. The vote proved a mistake; but I understand it. The public was screaming for vengeance. Iraq was a convenient scapegoat and the Bush propagandists lied through their teeth and cast aspersions on opponents’ patriotism. It was not a Profile in Courage moment for Biden, but I can forgive it.
The stakes in 2020 are too high. Joe Biden is not perfect but he is infinitely better than the vile charlatan who wields power now. Any of the Democratic candidates is.
I hope all Democrats and independents remember that. I keep thinking of a conservative friend of mine who says he will never vote for Trump but if we nominate Joe Biden he will vote for him. Otherwise he will leave the presidential line on his ballot blank like in did in 2016. I suspect there are many like him.
6
I think Biden has baggage from decades of personal gaffes and policy blunders, but many good leaders would. I think Anita Hill doesn't have to forgive him. She was a victim of injustice and depersonalization and Biden led the hearing that changed her entire life. She owes him and the other men nothing. Nothing he can say will ever change that. He needs to take that as a call for action.
I also believe that Biden is not the same person today that he was in 1991. Most of us grow and evolve in almost three decades. He needs to show women by his actions and policies that he has their backs. I'd recommend that he choose of woman of color for his running mate. She could provide him with advice on how to keep growing in his self-awareness.
Let's not ignore Biden's strengths. He has a command of foreign affairs that no other candidate can demonstrate. He has developed connections throughout the world over time. Most Americans hold him in a position of respect. He can take over on day one. He can win in the Midwest.
He is well-regarded in the black community. That doesn't mean the black community is a monolith. But many people view Biden as someone who has their trust.
Democrats will have to decide if this time of chaos and crisis needs to be followed by a candidate promoting sweeping systemic change or by steady movement forward. The party may be leaning farther left, but most Americans are in the middle. That's likely where the votes are.
5
I am beginning to picture Joe Biden restoring "the values that bind us as a collective" as well as introducing "transformational change".
I think he will prove to be more than "your average American Joe" because he DOES listen to people, he WANTS to hear what they have to say, and his sense of compassion and true love for this country will demonstrate that.
America has been like a compass in search of True North. I think it is very possible that Joe Biden could be this country's internal compass that could guide and lead us successfully through the many complex issues here and abroad and help us stay on track as its leader.
5
Thank you, Mr. Brooks, for pointing out the decency and humanity of a long-time political opponent.
My Trump-voting neighbor, now a chastened man, told me just yesterday that Biden would have won in a landslide, because he would had had his vote.
5
Thank you, David, for this column.
Last evening having dinner with a friend we were rather stunned to find that we were in the same place looking for a Democratic candidate to win and save our representative democracy.
Yes, we felt that the heart and soul of our country, our nation were not only under attack from within but also in real danger of slipping away. It's truly a desperate way to feel!
And then I turned on the news to see and hear Joe Biden's announcement. What a strange feeling to see and hear the very thoughts, ideas and even phrases I had expressed and shared with my friend.
I called him today and told him that I had found my candidate!
6
I did not see this decency extended to Anita Hill, or to the communities ravaged by the crime and punishment policies he championed, or to those killed in the wars he supported. It is not the totality of the man, but the treatment of women, of largely poor and people of color communities, and a foreign nations are not small matters either.
1
Great person to be VP or Secretary of State, but just not the right man to be president. Does anybody believe that the dark forces driving division and hatred and promoting the wealth of the few over the many are going away if "average Joe" restores our values? Time to go into this war on the soul of America ready to fight back against tyranny and hatred.
He sounds like a good guy. Of course that is essentially irrelevant as to whether he has what it takes to beat Trump in 2020. But it's nice to know.
Thank you for a long-overdue reminder of what matters most in the upcoming election. I watch you on PBS every week, read your columns and books, and I am a Democrat. I, too, will vote for whoever the D might be, but we could do far, far worse than Joe Biden. And, I believe in my heart and in my bones that it is unlikely we can win without him. The fate of our nation, nothing less, is at stake. I’m grateful he stepped up.
5
I’m still waiting to hear re the Hill/Thomas hearings, “I was wrong and I’m sorry, and we’re in a different time now. and i wish i’d had the wisdom, insight and compassion to have led on this issue 30 years ago. and to have listened and acted better.” For all that Biden is described as being empathetic and able to identify with and feel other’s pain, he’s not gotten there yet. Many women have been hurt immeasurably by not being heard and trusted, on top of having been abused and sexually harassed. Biden over Trump, yeah, in a heartbeat. But let’s not make the criteria simply “better than Trump”.
2
Many of these early day lists expose a Demoicratic weakness by reflecting only DJT's failings. To win the Democrat Party needs its candidate to be more than Not Trump. In addition to being "just Joe" winning Democratic candidates need policy ideas to overcome an Electoral College distorted by gerrymandering and 20 or more years of Democratic candidates too frequently neglecting the rural areas of the country.
Mr. Brooks, this is perhaps the finest piece I have ever read from you. You are absolutely correct in that "suffering is the great equalizer" as well as noting "life and the vice presidency have disciplined him."
There are many candidates in this race already and most are running campaigns based on battles between proper health care and an administration that couldn't care less about anything other than the insurance and medical industry's profits. Between living wages and an administration bent on enriching the already rich. Between saving the planet and an administration bent on carpetbagging our resources and future.
Joe is running to preserve as Mr. Brooks accurately notes, "decency" from an administration that not only has none, but would prefer to further divide us by robbing us all of our sense of decency.
And sadly at this time in our nation's history, the most important fight must be first a return of decency. Until we, the voters, restore that most basic element in what unites us, how can we possibly imagine to conquer these other issues. Without decency as a moral compass, we cannot possibly embark on bettering our lives of for that matter the greater good.
I applaud Mr. Brooks Opinion and rank it as a must read for any American that believes we are on a wrong course.
9
Joe Biden is the symbol of what is wrong in Washington. His long tenure of service, while respectable, has led us to the position we are in today. I am not convinced he can negotiate between the parties to create a consensus..
I could not care any less about his backstory especially Iraq and Anita Hill. Those were decisions and actions taken a long time ago.
I am concerned about today and tomorrow.
He will be a welcome addition to the sub par class of candidates the Democratic Party has put forward. He just may be the best of a bad bunch. I hope he gets treated fairly by his own party members.
Joe needs to consider treating the nomination as a done deal. He could set up a per-determined ticket: Biden/Abrams.
“Joe Biden has announced that he and Stacey Abrams are running as a team to become the president and vice president of the United States in 2020. Their ticket will be a joint presidency, with respect to responsibilities. Biden will take primary responsibility for foreign affairs while Ms. Abrams will focus upon domestic issues. They will both devote the next 8 months to intensive study in their respective areas of responsibility. Joe will be traveling to many countries during that time, with emphasis upon coordinated responses to global warming and reducing the need for currently huge nuclear arms improvement expenses. He has asked Hillary to resume her position as Secretary of State. Stacey will focus upon health care.”
3
@Emory. If a Democratic nominee -- Biden or anyone-- were to promise a role for Hillary Clinton in that nominee's administration, that would guarantee defeat in the general election. Clinton is not liked, to put it mildly, by all Republicans, all independents, and most Democrats.
I like Joe Biden.
But Peter Buttigieg is also offers a restoration of the values that bind us as a collective.
Specifically, Buttigieg is saying freedom does not belong to conservatives. Freedom also means things like the freedom of having healthcare, freedom to get a good education, etc.
Actually, all the Democrats are much more thinking of the collective than Republicans.
Republicans talk about individualism, but really they talk about taking care of white America.
But it is really a strategy of creating divide so they can get elected and then cut taxes for the rich.
1
As a footnote, may we rid ourselves of the notion that legislators who lead us into war on false grounds are decent?
They are not.
2
Understanding the pain he has caused others through his career, this flawed yet compassionate man may still be exactly what this country needs today. Having been brought to this savage and spiteful place thanks to the current administration and it's enablers, we need to return America to normalcy and a baseline of civility.
Although forward thinking progressive policies aimed at a more equitable and secure social future are certainly the right direction for our country, these types of policies may only be successfully implemented from a stable, sane government, which is decidedly not what we have today thanks to our hatefully narcissistic President.
We need, first, to return our country to stability, to regain the trust of our allies and the majority of our citizens not only for our institutions but in our ability to operate as the Democracy we are supposed to be; from this stable platform we can create and accomplish great things. There are some extremely gifted young leaders emerging today who may hopefully be elected to lead a country and legislature designed to bring positive social and economic change for our population and care for the Earth which we all share, but today it is time for a gentle, empathetic, strong and stable leader to restore our sanity, return our government to one for the people and restore our hope for the future.
It is too easy to judge Joe severely for his legislative past, but nothing he has done comes close to the destruction caused by Trump.
4
@dansworld23
That which Joe has supported has definitely created more destruction than Trump/
Joe Biden supported all the policies leading to the current huge and growing income/wealth inequality gap.
His support for the Iraq War has caused more destruction than Trump...
As a former Republican, i think Joe Biden is a formidable candidate and one that I could accept without reservation. Yes, without reservation. Any missteps or baggage in his past PALES in comparison to Trump's past and present behavior. Trump must be defeated. Joe has the gravitas and the decency of character to get the job done.
13
I like Joe Biden, but he has never seemed like presidential material to me. He's too goofy, too flippant, somewhat unpredictable. He does not exude security, confidence, stability, more of a sidekick, fun to have at the party, good fraternity, great Senator, excellent VP -- but president, not so much. I also worry about his command of the issues, his policy ideas ideas, his ability to debate, his old-school ways. I could be wrong. He could hit it out of the park, take this home, carry this through, beat Trump, and lead well, but, initially, I think most Americans have reservations. And I think that is something of a red flag when picking a nominee to beat Trump.
2
Thank you David for the excellent tribute to Joe Biden, and to the attitude our country so desperately needs, but seems to have lost. I just hope and pray the Democratic party can dispense with the purity tests and accept that no one is perfect all the time, we all make mistakes, we are products of our environment, and the true measure of a person is their willingness to change - something Biden has shown over and over again. To save our country we must defeat Trump, and doing so with Biden would hardly be compromising our values.
7
We need to elect a unifying president, who will restore respect and moral values in Washington .
5
The only question we need to ask of the many good candidates seeking to unseat the current occupant of the White House is this: Can they win? Everything else is irrelevant. Many in the Democratic party, especially younger voters, are seeking a mythical "perfect" candidate, free from error, untouched by controversy, ideologically pure. This quest ignores the truly unprecedented and existential threat Donald Trump represents. If we fail to select a nominee who can win, it will be the young who pay the awful price for rejecting the "good" candidate who fails their stringent test of perfection.
5
@Catherine I think the "winning" candidate is just as mythical. I've railed a lot against Biden. I don't think he's the best candidate but I have no strong feelings against the guy and will vote for him if he's the nominee. What I'm really railingg against is this cowardly desire of Dems to throw all the eggs in one basket this early in the race, simply because we believe he can win.
Thank you, David Brooks, for this column.
I’d like to offer an idea for a future town hall - get Joe Biden and Anita Hill together at Brandeis, where the is a professor, and perhaps you, David, as the moderator, and a hall full of students and interested likely voters. Think of the learning possibilities of that event. Think of the contrast it would draw between this candidate and the current holder of the office of POTUS.
5
David Brooks is totally wrong. In an age of populist resentment and general skepticism towards politicians, being "decent" or a good guy just won't cut it anymore. Democratic presidential candidates who accept money from corporations, lobbyists & big donors should be disqualified. Corporate bribery & legalized corruption, so long a part of the "politics as usual" political landscape will be the Democratic party's undoing. The candidate who can demonstrate that he or she hasn't accepted funds from special interests and big money donors will defeat Trump in a landslide.
5
So well said. I've always thought Biden was sort of goofy, but well-meaning, and a kind person. We surely need these traits today. His age may work against him, should he get the nomination. So he needs to choose a younger running mate, one that could relatively easily step into the presidency, should something happen. And it needs to be a woman: Harris is my choice.
4
My view is he represents nostalgia of the Obama Administration. In a world with Trump, people would be happy to go back to an Administration, despite it's many faults, that is respectful in how they speak and seemingly keen to do the right thing.
2
Thank you for this beautiful piece. I was hoping that Mr Biden would not run because of is age. What a job for an older man.
But I am shocked by all the fuss being made about past statements or positions that I believe, having matured along his long carrer while, as you point out, staying true to who he is and where he comes from, would not be his today. The excruciating vetting process does not forgive errors later recognized and does in no way justice to the exceptional career politician Mr Biden is, having won the good feelings of -almost- anyone he has met all this while.
As for questionnable stands he may have taken in the past, now taken out of their context, does anybody believe that Mr Biden would today oppose or stand in the way of any policy promoting racial or sexual equality, a better health care system or any measure of humanity with regard to the immigrations crisis? Or would he in any way endanger the economic or security interests and global standing of the US in the world, or sadly relevant today, the very democracy for which it has been a beacon, for example by disrespecting the Constitutionnal institutions that safeguard it ?
2
Yesterday, Joe went to Comcast CEO's home for a fundraiser with a board member of AHIP, the health insurance industry's largest lobby. On the first day of his campaign.
Yep, that's the average Joe alright. Which is why I do not support him.
4
I don't know....I'm so desperate for the return to, let's see: respect for rule of law and order; respect for: individuals vs. bullying and name-calling by a person holding the highest office in the Land; decency, truth, an understanding of the fundamentals of Democracy/checks and balances of power, the Constitution. The list goes on and on. I'm willing to turn a blind eye to Joe's voting foibles of the past and honestly at this point don't even care much about what he is proposing for policy. Our government is on the verge of becoming an authoritarian regime. Until we reset this Big Clock, not much else is going to matter. I'm 61, a working health care professional with 2 grown children and 2 grandkids. The chaos in Washington needs to be fixed first; policy stuff can follow. A return to decency and a commitment to uphold the Constitution is vital to our existence of life as we know it.
6
I am not following in love with the idea that Joe is a good guy so we should vote for him. Or, the idea that he is the only one who can beat Trump so we need to vote for him.
Joe is a decent charismatic person who is warm and comforting. Joe Biden is also the person who advocated for and voted for the 1994 Crime Bill that devastated the lives of too many young men of color. Joe Biden was in charge of the Clarence Thomas hearings, which saw a group of white men dismiss the powerful testimony of Anita Hill. Joe Biden is the person who ran for the Dem. nomination twice and lost twice. Joe Biden is the man who opposed busing and not allowing black children an equal education opportunity.
Yes, the MSM media and the DC political establishment, like David Brooks, wants to see two old white men go head-to-head in a nation where the demographics show the nation is rapidly changing and becoming more diverse. In fact, 40% of the 2020 electorate will be millennials. Joe Biden and Trump don't represent their future. Both represent the past.
Yes, Joe Biden is a good, decent human being. It is also true that he has long legislative, voting and campaign record that full of serious flaws. Flaws Mr. Brooks wants us to overlook because he likes Joe Biden.
2020 will be about the future not the past. As a middle-class, middle-aged, college educated, experienced professional progressive, I am not supporting Joe Biden. I am looking forward.
7
@Darrell: Right, Biden is clearly a figure of the past, and David Brooks likes him as a figure of the future also.
His leading position in these early days of the primary season is something we have to think seriously about. If it comes to that, I can see backing him as a transitional figure, someone who can get Trump out of the White House (and that might get ugly, as we can only hope Trump and the Republicans will give some minimal respect to the electoral process. It's reassuring that they accepted losing the House, although Trump is now refusing to honor legal requests from the new Democratic House, and talking wildly about attempted coups against his administration)
But hopefully, Biden could get Trump out of the White House, and his single term could be a period of healing, and trying to restore some of the functions of government that Trump and the Republicans have destroyed: then the ground would be clear for an a genuinely progressive figure to move into the future.
Unfortunately, this hasn't worked very well in the past: center and center-right Democrats aren't followed by more progressive Democrats, they are followed by Reagans or Bushes or Trumps. The resilience of the Republican propaganda machinery is astounding, from the ultra right of Fox News and beyond, to the more civilized right of David Brooks. They are never going to quit.
Biden's first "fundraiser" was at the home of a top Comcast executive who has been giving heavily to Republicans. "Regular" Joe has made several MIllion dollars in the last few years by giving speaches to rich businesss related groups. He may be a "decent' man but he is a bad candidate for the Democratic Party and someone like Mr Brooks who supported Republicans until Trump is not likely to influence Democrats or independents.
4
Thank you, Mr. Brooks. "A restoration of the values that bind us a collective" Have these values not represented an important factor in what has made America great. Memo-to President Trump: We don't want our need you to sell making "America Great Again". However, we do absolutely need and deserve a President of the United States of America, who inspires and binds all Americans ( not just a "Base") to meet challenges with creativity and the application of sincere and deep intellectual inquisitiveness, so that America can rise to a new level of greatness which provides benefits and opportunities to a broad range of our citizens, across all economic classes and boundaries. Might you be listening - Mr. Trump ?
I don't care who the nominee will be, anyone's better than the present occupant.
6
I’ll vote for Biden the same way I voted for Clinton. Hardly my first choice...too squishy in the middle...Hillary redux. He sees himself as a white knight. I don’t. But if Americans buy into this “everyman” but nobody then maybe they really deserve another 4 years of Trump.
2
Even a restoration harkens back to the MAGA theme. Even as a member of Biden's generation, I prefer someone who looks forward. Trump will beat him to a pulp.
2
@zighi: It's not that clear that Trump will beat him -- Trump didn't beat HRC "to a pulp", he squeaked in on a margin of error -- Not to say Trump and the Republicans won't be formidable, and we will see new depths of demagoguery backed by the power of the executive. But Biden can certainly beat him as well as any of the other leading Democrats. I agree with you, I'd rather see one of the more progressive Dems, but Biden's genuine popularity is something to take seriously.
Supporting invasion of Iraq by evil Bush/Chaney administration was and will be a litmus test for many of us, real Democrats. We could not vote for Hillary, so we would not vote for, indeed, very very average Joe.
1
@Felman: "Could not vote for Hillary"? Thanks for Trump. No, the real Democrats all voted for Hillary in the general election, while some superficial populists went over to Trump, and some apolitical posturers stayed home.
What is it so far? 19-20 candidates or so? Who among them is perfect? In either way? Perfect to generate policy for the future? Or perfect to secure the absolutely critical win against Orange Man?
C'mon people. Take the gift. Take the win.
Or else keep on scratching that exciting itch and stay out on thar limb. Where you'll be stranded on November 4, 2020. Been to this rodeo so many times.
Go for the decent guy who keeps getting better. None of us is ever gonna get to perfect.
8
I am a progressive and would support, canvas for, phone bank for, and contribute to Daffy (or Daisy!) Duck if he or she could beat Trump. Biden can beat Trump. At this point, that is the only thing that matters.
11
I am all for Joe Biden! But I dread the campaign vs. Trump when our foul mouthed shameful excuse for a president will be unrestrained by anyone around him, by common decency, by truth, or by precedent. It will be ugly. I hope Biden can give as well and better than he gets.
7
Maybe there’s a better way to read this column than the way most of those writing comments are reading it. I don’t hear David Brooks saying, “Elect Joe” or “Joe’s the Best!” I think he’s saying this country is better than the screaming, demeaning self-centered boob we have as President now. I agree. Let’s get to work on our problems by adopting aggressive policies of change. But let’s do it with decency.
3
An endorsement from David Brooks, in case you needed more evidence that it's time for the Democrats to move on to new blood.
7
Beautifully said, Mr. Brooks, and God speed, Joe Biden.
5
Joe is a poor choice for president. Age, skill, and baggage are all against him.
2
Mr Brooks is not promoting Joe Biden for the next Presidential elections. He is promoting human qualities that Joe Biden possesses
2
How in any way you choose to measure it, is Biden not a far better choice than Trump?
4
Joe Biden is a decent, likable human being. He is head and shoulders better than the current president. So is a ham sandwich.
However, as a centrist, Mr. Biden is not what we need now. We need leadership that is willing to decisively address the economic issues facing the average American, like healthcare, education and economic inequality.
2
love your description of Joe Biden. are we to be blessed with his Presidency? What a blessing it would be after a criminal Presidency!
3
Do you really think an eighty year old president is a good idea? That's what you'll eventually be getting. Even the elite get old and decline with age. Decline and death are the great levelers.
Some of you think America needs a warm and fuzzy uncle.
Clearly we're lost as a culture.
1
@Myrtle Markle: There's some truth to that, although I'd say that if you want to be critical, then clearly we've been "lost as a culture" for a very long time now. The thing is to figure out what to do in a lost culture, because it's the only one we've got.
@John Bergstrom
The celebrity mindset and the cult of the individual, of the hero, is undermining coherent thought and making us unable to plan and execute.
John Wooden said character is what you really are, whereas reputation is what others think you are. I'm not sure how you assess the character of a man who's been in the reputation business his whole life.
Only Republicans and conservative Democrats will vote for Joe Biden who has been a bag man for big corporations for his entire career..." sponsoring or voting for multiple rounds of financial deregulation, trade deals that savaged the American manufacturing base, and bankruptcy "reform" that made it much harder to discharge consumer debt (and nearly impossible to get rid of student debt). It's no surprise at all that on the same day he launched his campaign, Biden held a fundraiser including several corporate lobbyists and Republican donors at the home of a Comcast executive."https://theweek.com/articles/837515/biden-vs-bernie-what-two-long-records-say-about-2020
read about Biden's fundraiser, https://theintercept.com/2019/04/25/joe-biden-presidential-bid-lobbyists-fundraiser
@Lucy Cooke: Given all that, if Biden maintains his position in the field of primary candidates, and ends up as the Democratic candidate, then all Democrats from conservatives to progressives had better vote for him. As well as continuing to put forward more real progressives like Warren and AOC. At this point a progressive legislature, and more progressives at local and state levels, is where the action is, but we need Trump out of the White House.
Please do not be fooled by Bidens outwardly phony Average Joe, Uncle Joe persona. His voting record has been anything but supportive of the working class or racial equality. Anti -busing segregation, racist crime bill, 2005 Bankruptcy Law, Anita Hill, etc. that is the real core Joe Biden. No amount of articles in this vain will ever change that. He is a corporate centrist with an aversion to true progressive ideals and a tendency to squash any attempt in the Democratic Party to evolve into a true standard bearer for the working class. He is truly and unapologetically a corporate toad which is why all the corporate bundlers are more than willing to donate to his campaign.
1
Only Republicans and conservative Democrats will vote for Joe Biden who has been a bag man for big corporations for his entire career..." sponsoring or voting for multiple rounds of financial deregulation, trade deals that savaged the American manufacturing base, and bankruptcy "reform" that made it much harder to discharge consumer debt (and nearly impossible to get rid of student debt). It's no surprise at all that on the same day he launched his campaign, Biden held a fundraiser including several corporate lobbyists and Republican donors at the home of a Comcast executive."https://theweek.com/articles/837515/biden-vs-bernie-what-two-long-records-say-about-2020
read about Biden's fundraiser, https://theintercept.com/2019/04/25/joe-biden-presidential-bid-lobbyists-fundraiser
Mr. Biden’s time has come. We need someone who is not out for himself, but for us, who has a moral compass and an idea of America’s heritage and place in the world, in post war international order, of diplomacy, of civics and civility. As to the others in this thread, as Jesse “Big Daddy” Unruh famously said, “money is the mother’s milk of politics.”
Somebody asked me yesterday what I thought of Joe Biden. My reply was,”How can anyone not like Joe?” People will try to pick him to death, but they will never dissuade me from thinking that he is a good and decent man.
4
Joe Biden is the answer. I voted for Hillary Clinton and am still a supporter, but I will take "another old White man," to get Trump out of the WH. I know he mishandled the Hill-Thomas hearings, issues about some of the harsh provisions in the 1994 Crime bill, but Biden has served this country with distinction; there are things about other political figures I am displeased, but I sure am glad they were in the WH and not a right-wing adversary. If the "Sandersons" want to vote for a Jill Stein again and we get Trump II, when RBG possibly retires or dies, do not complain when Trump appoints a Laura Ingraham-type extremist to the Court. Biden looks pretty darn good to me!
3
You forgot the story of Joe pressuring the Ukrainian government to leave his son Hunter Biden alone after the prosecutor wanted to put Hunter in jail. The prosecutor went away instead thanks to Joe's meddling. Family values indeed.
1
@leaningleft
Keeping your kid out of jail is, in fact, a family value. That you would expect a parent to let his kid serve time is a perverse, ugly notion.
3
Good people let their children suffer said no good person ever.
3
Joe Biden. He is the "Hillary", Hillary voters have been waiting for.
Any Democrat that can beat Blondie is fine -- if it's Biden, fine. But in his case, who he chooses as a VP would be critical for both age and social/ethnic/gender reasons.
2
Hard pass on Biden. There is no excusing hit gutlessness re: Anita Hill. And importantly, there are better candidates (Warren). Also... you principle argument is that Joe “belongs”? So does Warren. She belong to a family, a school, she belongs to her country, having already invented and built and important consumer/citizen protection agency. Please tell me how Joe is better than Warren in any regard?
1
It's very nice of you to say nice things about Joe Biden after YOUR Republican party and YOU and YOUR Republican pundit colleagues spent 8 years mocking, vilifying, excoriating, and relentlessly demonizing Vice-President Biden and the president he so admirably server, Barack Obama.
I'm sure if he is elected in 2020 you and your colleagues will promptly return to the vilification, demonization mode.
It's just another reminder that Republican hypocrisy and two faced disingenuousness knows no bounds. It's almost as though you have actually grown a conscience Mr. Brooks, and a sense of shame; but I tend to doubt it, because Republicans have neither shame, nor conscience.
1
David have you figured out why does the media and the Trump administration have such a contentious relationship? It is not just because Trump is a cheat a racist a misogynist an admitted serial extramarital infidelity womanizer...
Have you also figured out why Americans are amongst the most stressed out people in the world? Despite all the prosperity peace wealth natural resources good quality of life? Whys such dissonance. In an ideal world we should all be content and happy with what we have, which others can only dream of. But...
3
We will be blessed and relieved to have such a person in our white house again.
3
Until Fox News shuts it's doors and Rush Limbaugh retires, there will be very little wound healing and uniting.
2
I spent more than seven years doing business in China in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. I have a Chinese scroll hanging in my bedroom. The translation, “Not godlike simply a human being”. I just changed my mind about Joe Biden. Thanks very much David.
2
Thank you, no thank you! In campaigning, Biden repeatedly invoked Delaware’s history as a slave state to appeal to southern conservatives, telling a Republican Rotary Club that Delaware only fought with the Union because “we couldn’t figure out how to get to the South. Biden also explained that he didn’t join the antiwar movement because “I’m not big on flak jackets and tie-dyed shirts”.
2
"Average Joe?"
Facts, not opinion on Biden:
He dismissed the Anita Hil testimony in the 70's and had a
terrible record on crime as a senator. He supported 51 new
categories on the death penalty and supported Clinton in his 1994 Crimes Control Act, responsible for the incarceration of hundreds of thousands of black people for the possession of cocaine.
He also supported credit card companies in their successful effort
to not allow bankruptcy in credit-card debt for students, and said not a word about the bank's role in the 'o8 crash, even allowing bank executives huge bonuses in that year.
1
Corporatism, war and mass incarceration. That’s your average American Joe.
1
Shouldn't we have a president who is above average?
1
David Brooks remains one of my favorite Americans.
1
And if Biden were so “principled,” why didn’t he make a public and unequivocal apology to Anita Hill many years ago rather than waiting until about two weeks ago, just before his long-planned announcement of a presidential run, to tell her half-heartedly he’s sorry for how she felt because of what most people recall as his condescending, racist and sexist treatment of her in the early 1990s Senate hearings with respect to Justice Thomas? Should we assume the good old boy Biden was really sorry all along but just too gosh darn bashful to tell Professor Hill? Er, ah ... maybe he just plum forgot the entire episode, being so “principled” and all. Maybe that’s what Brooks wants us to believe he thinks about Uncle Joe. Preposterous!
3
"He used the word 'we' 16 times". In stark contrast to "I alone can fix this".
473
@Joyceeo. I marked contrast to the President he served under who seemed to think he was the second comming. Obama and Trump are both “I” guys.
@Joyceeo Who is "we"? Him and AOC and the rest of those freshmen house members?
To those who say "age," I would expect a carefully selected vice president. To those who say "progressive" it will happen with Biden if America wants it. That does mean passing things through Congress and the Senate. Progressive activists, especially younger ones, need to keep at it with more than the presidency. The best part about this article is "not an individualist." Lots of writers here seem to want an individualist, a "star," even a cult leader--and we need to stop voting for that.
3
I'll be voting for the Democratic nominee in 2020. Neither Biden, Sanders, Gillibrand nor O'Rourke strike me as the best we could do, but if one of them is the nominee, he or she would be infinitely better than the incumbent. Consider climate change, nuclear proliferation, and judicial appointments as just three issues that matter immensely. I'm more impressed by Warren, Klobuchar, Booker, Harris, Buttigieg, and Inslee.
Biden would be a fine choice for a major ambassadorship in the next administration.
2
Many Americans respect and admire the admirable, “old-fashioned” personal qualities that Joe Biden embodies. Who would not like to sit down with him around the proverbial kitchen table, break bread, talk about life’s everyday experiences, and share a beer, or two. The problem for the candidate however, is that he is a figurative Sears now running in an Apple Store world. Our politics has undergone a dramatic transformation in ways writ large and small. Joe, personally and symbolically, belongs to an era that is gone.
1
@John Grillo
Does Donald Trump symbolizes the era we live in now??....if so, we need someone with moral character like Joe Biden.
1
Where were those values whe Anita Hill needed them?
120
@Jack N
Point taken. But are you the same person now as you were back then? And don't you think a president bragging about grabbing women by their parts, without ever giving an apology -- is somehow even more abhorrent?
You have time to think about it.
84
@Jack N Have you evidence to point to that Biden is no different since Anita Hill? I am not sure I want him as the Democratic nominee but I am sure that he's not that same Joe Biden...and truth be told, that unwoke Joe Biden wasn't as bad as what we have in the White House today.
24
@N. Smith . . . . . not being as abhorrent as Trump is a pretty low standard to advertise on.
8
Im completely confused by all of the people who seem to think that Biden is the sure bet we should be throwing our support behind. All these crystal ball predictions about how he can win the swing states that were lost to Trump. Because why? Hillary Clinton wasn't centrist enough for them? Please stop it with these half-cooked arguments.
Is there such thing as someone who voted for Trump who might vote for Biden this time around? Of course. Just as there is such thing as a Trump voter who would vote for Sanders this time around. Trump posed himself as an outsider who wasn't playing career politician games, and that was a massive element of his appeal. Even my crazy Trump cousin acknowledged in the primary season that he'd consider a Sanders vote were he to win the primary. There is an not insignificant constituency that have become disenchanted with and untrustful of the political status quo, and were willing to go kamikaze in the voting booths to express that.
That being said, the whole idea of chasing Trump voters and so-called centrists is backwards. Democrats need to turn out their own vote and stop trying to steal other votes that they'll never get. Excite your base. Give them something to vote for. A vision that amounts to more than platitudes, both for the country and party.
On top of it being the most logical political strategy, it ensures against this perpetual state of affairs in which we're constantly voting for one person because we're more scared of another.
5
Trump is not clever enough to understand that he is the president for all Americans, even the Democrats. He has divided the country into his supporters and the rest of us. I would vote for Joe but would prefer a younger candidate with less baggage.
2
Perhaps it is just me, but I would like the media to avoid revealing their favorites and putting forth these support pieces until the primaries begin. I would like the people to decide their nominee instead of the establishment selecting them and selling them to us. I feel as if Biden is being sold to us right now by the centrist establishment. There's nothing wrong with Biden, except the fact that his selling points have been known for a long time. And so have the red flags.
7
I have mixed feelings about Joe parlaying his grief over his son into a book deal. Perhaps the profits go to a good cause; I hope so. We have all lost someone, or someones, but few of us want to write a book about it. Or read one for that matter.
Anyway, Joe Biden as the anti-Trump — I can dig it.
I'm a former Republican and a Never Trumper who voted for Hillary. America needs to recover it's soul from the shame of Trump under the care of an "Elder"....an older person with wisdom. Biden is that Elder. I will vote for him in a heartbeat on character alone. He has the potential to capture great swaths of the Center Right and Left who cannot stomach the extremes of either party.
4
In the parlance of the average person: "He's a good Joe". I will vote for him.
3
“Some candidates will run promising transformational change. Biden offers a restoration of the values that bind us as a collective.”
Let’s think this through.
The implication is of course that somehow Biden will make America, a country polarized and in part militarized (ideologically speaking), as peaceful and upright as it supposedly used to be. Very kumbaya, and very telling also... will he, you might say, make the country great again?
Have we forgotten the main issue with that catchphrase? It’s not just that Trump was the one to use it—and still is—but that the phrase itself is misinformed and clearly intended to generate nostalgia from a very particular set of people.
The reason I was so excited about this democratic primary was the very possibility of “transformative change” this writer seems to scoff at. This is a country, with its increasing inequality and death rate, with its economic uncertainty, with its now transparent impulse towards political corruption, which desperately needs transformative change. And now here’s good ol’ Joe to save us from the risk of actually making things different. Great.
2
Amazing article, Mr. Brooks. Thank you for writing objectively about Joe Biden, with nothing snarky to say.
I may not vote for Joe Biden but he is a decent and good man.
2
I wonder if you remember, Mr. Brooks, the CNN debates of 2007, when good old boy Joe Biden took a whack at Dennis Kucinich, the only populist on the stage that night. Right out of the blue as Dennis was about to speak, honest Joe took a swipe with something to the effect: "I don't like your politics, but I love your wife." Dennis politely responded, "So do I." It is interesting to note that Dennis always polled at the top of these CNN debates when you looked them up online, but the media never reported this information, and so Wolf Blitzer kicked Dennis off the the panel for some obsequies reason before the last debate. And so it goes....
1
Thank you Mr. Brooks for this very reflective and sentimental Op Ed about Mr. Biden.
I fully sympathize with Mr. Biden because of his personal tragedies; however, I’m not a big fan of Mr. Biden as a leader because of his gaffe prone and faux pas ridden political persona: punctuated by horrible instances of lack of judgement and leadership, such as mishandling of the Anita Hill hearings, unwelcome physical overtures to women etc. - just to name a few.
Yet the above examples of “Cause Celebre” in Mr. Biden’s life exemplify the foibles of human beings: the admixture of good and the bad that is. Therefore, I concur with Mr. Brooks, Mr. Biden seems very relatable to the American citizenry as an “ Average American Joe” because of his aforementioned characteristics.
Notwithstanding the above sentimentality, the “Burning Question” remains: can this septuagenarian “Average Joe” prevail against another septuagenarian who happens to be a solipsistic, chauvinistic, misogynistic and divisive demagogue??
Trump has radically skewed our already obdurate, partisan, winner take all, big-money and special interest politics into even more obnoxious and dysfunctional territory.
The unfolding presidential campaign will be as contentious, brawling, and mean spirited as any in modern American history. Decency and compassion may be viciously shredded in the unfolding battle for the America political soul.
Got to wonder if Good Joe is really up to that challenge, though in fairness the same goes for the rest of the Democratic presidential field with the possible exception of Bernie.
Lofty notions that somehow Biden can affect a sweeping reformation are desperate over reach that ignores the depth of our national political disease which far transcends even the extraordinary malady that Trump has wantonly added.
1
The right-wing mob of Trumpers, led by loudmouth Rush, is only worried about one candidate: Joe. If the Democrats don't make Dump-Trump their sole priority, and have a battle royale between left and center (a la 1968 with Gene McCarthy and Hubert Humphrey and riots in the streets), Trump will cruise easily to a 2nd term. I hope the Dems can keep all eyes on the prize and win the war- not just a battle.
5
Anybody who thinks that Biden is "just a regular Joe" should read Lee Fang's article in The Intercept, "Joe Biden Launches Presidential Bid With Fundraiser Filled With Corporate Lobbyists and GOP Donors." (Why this isn't being reported by the New York Times I will leave to your imagination.)
Fang details the rogues gallery of 1%ers in attendance at Biden's FIRST campaign event -- a fundraiser at the luxurious home of the Vice President of Comcast, David Cohen.
Cohen has been in charge of Comcast's efforts to defeat Net Neutrality, an issue on which Biden, not coincidentally, is aligned with the interests of big telecom corporations against those of ordinary Americans.
Many other attendees were also lobbyists, though not registered as such with the Federal government, usually because they are instead registered in individual states. Biden is not alone in using this loophole to claim he isn't taking lobbyist money when he actually is. Harris, O'Rourke, Booker and Buttigieg are doing the same. But Biden is unique in being as brazen about who his real constituents are by leading with an event like this.
Daniel Hilferty, CEO for Blue Cross, and a leading force in the health insurance industry's efforts to stop Medicare for All by any means necessary, was also in attendance. Many of the other big donors present normally donate exclusively to Republicans.
Brooks may think that all this is consistent with Joe Biden being an "Average American," but its not. He's a tool of the 1%.
5
Yes, all that Mr. Brooks writes is true of Joe Biden. The lurking problem, however, and it is not Biden's problem, is that it is easier for people like Mr. Brooks, that is, white people, to feel Average Joe's fundamental decency, to the point of sentimental effusion, than to feel anything like the same of, say, a Kamala Harris, who is also a politician of great personal warmth and decency. If you haven't noticed it, just listen to her yet irrepressible laugh before her campaign managers beat it out of her. But she is black. You will not find columns such as this written by white men about her. That, in a nutshell, is our problem, America's problem. That is the nature of "unconscious racism." It lurks in our inability to feel and recognize deep human connection and human decency across racial lines, to overestimate it in those resembling ourselves and to underestimate it in all others.
5
All the Democratic contenders now need to stand behind Joe in their pursuit to dislodge the current 45th.
Joe Biden would make a very good president for one attribute only: he can work across the aisle and bridge the political divide that now rivals Mt. Everest in height. Alas, the Democratic Party will disqualify him on age, skin color, sex, fealty to a no-compromise progressive agenda, or all four. The fact that this will almost guarantee the re-election of the current president seems to be less important than ideological purity. How sad for us.
1
Yes! But can we afford another president who is unable to acknowledge a mistake and apologize?
Anita Hill and many of US are still waiting. His behavior was wrong and he owes US, and, most of all, Ms. Hill an apology----for HIS actions.
If we were looking for a 'nice guy' to replace the troglodyte we have in the White House now, Biden would be a good choice.
But many Trump voters knew he was a womanizer and a jerk but held their nose and voted for him anyway. Why? Because he promised to represent the American's who feel left out of our economic and political system.
He promised to address job loss. He promised to end the waste in human life and treasury in these meaningless overseas wars. He promised to shake up Washington, a town that houses 36,000 registered lobbyists. He promised to be the voice of those who the political elites have ignored.
Of course he broke all those promises and immediately sold off every federal agency to the very corporate elites that he campaigned against.
Joe Biden is from the neoliberal wing of the Democratic party. They are in league with many of Trump's policies but are not as brazen in their willingness to exploit, plunder and govern for Wall Street rather than Main Street.
Biden is their guy. He's sophisticated, has great smile, connects with voters and then votes with banks, credit card companies, Dow Chemical, the arms industry, etc, etc.
That's who Joe Biden is. And while he might be a nice guy, the voters have made it clear that they want a change, not the old wine in a new bottle.
2
As much as I enjoy Republican David if he’s endorsing Joe in this charming article, that’s enough for me; I will stick with Bernie and hopefully see a return to an era when all of us were represented not just the 10%, the era of neo liberalism has produced little aside from endless wars for Special Interests, extraction industries and defense industry profits, globalization was embraced and America and Europe’s Middle Class were sacrificed to multinationals corporate greed. Joes generation of politicians are like Joes father he blew the family money in pursuit of pleasure just as the neo liberals blew our tax dollars on unfunded wars and to pad their big donors bank accounts, threw the working class to the curb to benefit a few, cloaked everything in “diversity” rather than decency and we Americans now find ourselves on our hands and knees scrambling for the leftover change tossed at us by the financial gods. Coming in real time soon in the form of a Universal Basic Income, the Davos elite realize they’ve got to through the working stiffs a few crumbs to stave off revolution. Nope, it’s time to take back our Democracy, the neo liberal centrists have had their chances for fifty years and our reward, diversity, multi sex bathrooms, seven trillion in debt to pay for wars for Israel, crumbling infrastructure, unaffordable housing and healthcare, a planet in trouble, administrations in bed with the worst actors in the world, and the greatest inequality of any developed nation.
3
I agree with others that Mr. Biden should be a one term President, however, he cannot so state. He would be viewed as a lame duck before taking the oath of office. He could project that intention with his choice of Vice President...a person who is more progressive and less experienced in governance. I can’t think of anyone better able to stabilize the country while paving the way for a new generation of leaders.
2
Huh. If "an individualist" hates their family, and faces no life challenges, then perhaps Biden isn't one: he appears to be a kind family man who has faced profound loss and failure with poise.
But that's not what individualism means. It's about ego.
Individualists have savior complexes. It takes significant ego and self-absorption for Biden to give into the flattery of supporters begging him to "save" the country from Trump as "the only viable candidate." There are at least 20 Democrats running for president. Many of them are highly qualified, thoughtful, and more reflective of policies and ideas relevant to today.
Individualists are terrible at apologizing and taking responsibility. Joe Biden is building a nice track record of non-apology-apologies. Exhibit A: pathetic outreach to Anita Hill to express "regret." Exhibit B: justifying touching women of all ages.
Individualists are always right. They don't listen, don't reflect, don't change. This isn't about age- we've seen Bernie Sanders take some tough feedback and evolve his stance on things like systemic misogyny. Try telling Biden to change his ideas, and he'll talk about his years of experience, why he is right, and why he is a "good person."
We need to wake up from this deluison. Biden can't beat Trump. As an individualist, Biden can't defeat Trump, whose individualism will swallow Biden whole. You cannot fight fire with fire- in this case, Biden is a matchstick fighting a blaze.
3
I have wondered seriously if Biden had run in the last election if we would not have ended up with the present occupant of the White House. There's a reason he needed to run against Hillary. Many of his ardent followers were highly motivated by angry hatred of Hillary. Remember his throngs gleefully chanting lock her up. He needs his mob stirred up to a frenzy. And he revels in that. He needs to demonize to elevate himself.
1
A lot of voters want to raise their children in an atmosphere marked by decency and compassion, not narcissistic savagery.
Most people want to appear to do the above but will tear the throats out of any competition for resources.
There are two distinct parties within the Democratic Party. In most other countries they’d be separated. In a sense, we are having a run off election whereby we choose the progressive or moderate to run against Trump. To me, and I would imagine millions of normal Americans, talking about open borders, reparations for 200 year old history, abolishing private insurance, free college (public high schools are already a joke, all that will do is devalue the meaning of a bachelors), abolishing ICE, identity politics and anything coming out of AOC’s mouth, sounds utterly ridiculous. I live in Europe. You have no idea until you have really lived here long term, how unfeasible any of that is in any reality in the US. Europeans live much different lives, with much lower salaries, in much smaller yet multigenerational homes, their populations are mostly small and homogeneous, just for a start. Let’s get back to real life. I’m not voting for anyone proposing any of those causes even against He Who Shall Not Be Named. And I’m not an outlier. Further, the economy’s great, we’re not really at war, unemployment is low, there’s nothing to nail Trump with... Good luck convincing any Republicans and Independents to vote for a far left Messiah candidate.
1
Excellent commentary! We need desperately need someone like Biden in the White House.
3
Joe Biden for President. His character will lead us out of the hellscape we find ourselves in today.
1
This is why I love David Brooks, and it is the same thing that makes him respect Joe Biden. Occasionally. Joe Biden is, like all human beings, flawed. Too touchy feely sometimes. Too unscripted maybe.
Do I agree with Mr. Brooks always? No. Do I see him sometimes as almost old-school Frank Capra naive? Occasionally. But he has integrity, and we are in short supply of that these days. Thank you for your impulse to shine a light on another human that does not caricature him, but offers him the dignity of his complexity.
4
I disagree. Joe is way above average– in age.
1
Yes, Joe Biden is likable. I like him. Someone with abhorrent values, attitudes, and behavior (e.g. Donald Trump) would never get my vote regardless of their politics. Although Joe seems to be a good person, I'm just so sick of the status quo; Joe is the status quo candidate of the Democratic party.
3
A lifelong politician who is still too politically tone deaf to grok that any candidate is unelectable when they must begin their campaign by apologizing Right and Left for all their past sins is, well, unelectable.
Go home, Joe.
3
Thank you David for the support Biden deserves. Now please tell him to stop apologizing. And tell him not to be “handled” by advisors, be himself. Fight for all Americans, not just the PC police.
1
The country needs to heal and come together. Joe Biden is someone who can do that.
1
A decent Senator would not have voted for the Iraq War.
A decent Vice President would not have stood by the first President to order the assassination of Americans without charges or trial.
4
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
Bob Dylan. 1963
4
David Brooks column convinced me that Joe Biden will make a great Vice President.
Outstanding piece, David. You nailed it with “decency and compassion, not narcissistic savagery.” I had to pause for a minute and think “are all Dems fitting this criteria?” And then I remembered the awful (Veep-like) stories coming out about Senator Klobuchar, and thought “Yup - the other Dem candidates don’t always hit this important standard”.
Brooks, you conveniently neglected to mention his fealty to duPont, which in the minds of republicans is perfectly ok, I guess.
1
It's not surprising Brooks would focus on Biden's nice guy persona, unable as he is to admit to loving Biden's disastrous public policies.
Invasions of choice, financial deregulation, credit card industry lobbying ("Senator Mastercard"), a cruel and draconian criminal justice system for the poor, investors' rights agreements ("free trade") for the rich, and don't forget, inescapable debt for consumers. Everything Mr. Brooks loves!
But Brooks is right about one thing: Biden is not an individualist. He serves his master.
1
Biden is only running to help Trump get re-elected. He might get some more pr for a book deal.
The Democratic Party is owned by the wealthy one percent Biden or Trump....it’s all good for them.
1
While Joe Biden is not perfect, he is genuine and warm, a person who reflects on life and his actions. He does not surround himself with grifters and con-men, or ideologues promoting their own fringe agendas. He may misspeak on occasion, but he is not a liar. He does not look for and exploit the worst in voters. I don't think he has a hidden agenda; what you see is pretty much what you get. He represents what we want America to be and to be viewed as in the world community.
1
David, Wonderful article about a wonderful man! Your article hits the nail on the head....Joe Biden is one of us. While I admire Hillary Clinton immensely, I never felt she really understood the middle class. Donald Trump on the other hand is just a disgusting human being. Period. I will never understand how anyone with an ounce of morals can even admit they support him. Joe Biden is a decent, caring man who gives me hope.
"Biden is not an individualist." Correct! He is an opportunist. For example: Do you suppose he'd be "apologizing" to Anita Hill if he were not running for President?
2
I don't think we will make much progress if we use language as loosely as Mr. Brooks.
"Individualism" is not the same thing as "narcissistic savagery," and the opposite of individualism--- "communitarianism"?--- is not the same thing as loyalty and decency. More to the point, the problem with Trump isn't that he is an individualist. (He's not.) The problem with Trump is that he is a repulsive buffoon whose guiding principle in life is that the universe exists in order to provide an audience for Donald Trump. That's not individualism; it's solipsism.
Secondly, for heaven's sake stop trying to pit college-educated liberals against less educated liberals. Believe it or not, there are people with college degrees who value family and community and people without degrees who are boorish and selfish. It would be stretching to describe these crude categories as an attempt at identity politics. At best, they substitute defensiveness and neurotic self-doubt for analysis; at worst, they try to weaponize difference.
Finally, if the Obama years taught us anything, it was that liberal politics has to be about more than celebrating our moral superiority. I don't care that Joe Biden is a better human being than Donald Trump. Who isn't? Trump isn't unfit for office because he's a lout; we've had loutish presidents before, some of whom accomplished quite a lot. He's unfit for office because of what he uses the office to DO. Biden must tell us what he'd do instead.
1
Let me ask you this folks. Who do you believe Joe will benefit more? Republicans, Centrists, Corporate Democrats (Joe), Progressives.
I believe he represents everyone to the left of progressives. He is a pause button of how we arrived here.
Maybe ask yourself. Why should the grass roots fighting these battles to protect us should support you and sacrifice our hard work and ideals to hit the pause button. After you are comfortable again republicans will simply hit the resume button.
This isn't an aberration. Will he undue the supreme court? Will he help make destroy the weaponization of words like socialism? What will he DO?
Hit pause and give you a hug?
“We have lost our love for ourselves as a people, a faith in our basic goodness. . . values are central to this race.”
Values are not just central to this race, but central to life in general.
I have never cried while reading a David Brooks column but dang, this one really opened up the water works. I was not aware that he attended the funeral of the New York cop, Rafael Ramos or visited the family of his partner, Wenjian Liu, or gave Officer Liu’s wife, Sanny, his private number. He wasn’t acting in the role of a White House ambassador, but rather, an ordinary guy who could relate to the grief and pain and ache of those folks. Humanity and compassion surrounded him as he embraced their loss. His sincerity was as real as it gets.
This article moved me in more ways than I have allotted characters to list. Joe Biden showed his genuine concern for regular people then as his does now. Those are the kinds of qualities I need and want in a person to run this country.
Sure, he’s made mistakes. Who the heck hasn’t? There isn’t one candidate, past or present, who is perfect. The continual beating of a dead horse reaps no results, only never ending rancor.
It’s time to stop with the “hey, but . . .” game and move on.
Joe Biden does not verbally attack or rip his appointments apart at the seams. I find myself feeling a sense of calm and civility and hope, rather than fear and anxiety with Joe Biden. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
3
@Marge Keller
In addition so many people mention Biden's propensity for "gaffes". Truthfully, I rather enjoy them as most are essentially harmless and a little laughter is good for the soul.
We may have to see Joe Biden as a "bridging" candidate - someone to give us a way to pass over the muck and mire that DT has spread and step into the future with a bright progressive vice president who will be ready to take over.
Who else but Biden can you put side by side with DT and show the contrast? Same age, similar physical appearance - but an ethical lifelong public servant compared to a crooked greedy grifter.
1
Another 4 years of Trump. None of the 21 Dems will replace him.
I’ve lost interest in David brooks’ columns of late, as he wrote more and more about the psyche in a somewhat obvious way.
But with this excellent column, he has found a stronger voice again.
David Brooks claims "Other people may claim to be populist in their policies — and because they are “right” on those, they are allowed to be contemptuous toward those who are less enlightened."
The only such "other person" I know is Donald J. Trump. Would Mr. Brooks please give us some other examples?
Principled, yes. Ethical, mostly. Experienced, the most of all candidates.
But Uncle Joe is an octogenarian with serious baggage I doubt he could offload in a campaign. I doubt he and Senator Sanders will attract the young, progressive voters needed to ensure the current administration is a one-term loss for our country. If making that happen really is their first priority, the best they could do would use their experience and contacts to help the next generation move forward successfully.
But presidential politics is as much about ego and he has a big one. Now that he is in the race, he will not help anyone. Biden and Sanders will dilute voters and enable the current corrupt administration to get a second destructive term. That is a pity.
1
I’ve been a life long Democrat, raised by Roosevelt era Democrats. Before the last election it was plain that my Party had lost its focus and didn’t have a clear message to inspire the American people. We are now in a dire situation. While we are desperate to make sweeping changes, which I believe will come, this upcoming election needs to provide this country with a sense of stability and renewed faith in our democracy. Has Joe run before? Yes. Did he win? Obviously not but maybe this was his destiny all along.
"Some candidates will run promising transformational change. Biden offers a restoration of the values that bind us as a collective."
As close to an endorsement as Brooks can give.
AND Joe's a Democrat.
'Nuff said.
1
Thank you! I've been hoping fervently for a moral, decent non-ideologue to enter the race. Biden's biggest hurdle is that he has been a public figure for so long that people can attack his record on almost any issue, without taking into account the context and mores of the era.
1
Biden seems the best candidate on the scene right now. I've been thinking Trump's chances are good because no one is on the scene. I don't think Bernie should be written off, or perhaps even Warren, but I'm not confident about them. We're in a realignment of coalitions so one has to think outside of parties and to the independents/disengaged. I think the disengaged are less likely to come out, and the independents are more likely to transfer their support to another candidate with some appeal.
I rolled my eyes at Hillary clones, thinking people never learn. But it is possible enough people have soured on Trump to change that. Women still operate at a disadvantage, so Biden probably has a better chance than Warren, and he certainly has experience and a pretty attractive, but not robotic/entirely condescending manner of speaking. He may be able to grab back some of the voters who hated Hillary and perceived in-authenticity but now want civility and find him more palatable.
Trump appealed to a lot of independents and generally disengaged voters. I think he has has gotten more repelling as time goes on and has shown less ability to get things done than they hoped. I think a young candidate would lose, unless someone really impressive appears on the scene. Most importantly, I think, Biden can hold his own. Trump will tear to shreds anyone who is posturing, defensive, etc. Biden has been in the arena for decades, with many characters.
2
1) Over 40% of Democrats identify themselves as Progressive. Over 50% of Democrats identify themselves as either Moderate or Conservative. Vice President Biden best reflects today's Democratic Party with his policy and perspective. 2) Senator Joe Bidden kept true to his family values by taking the train home to Delaware. He traveled so frequently and with his friendly nature got to know many of the train employees well.
3
Biden’s long history of public service is, unfortunately, filled with red flags about his judgement. He voted to repeal Glass Stegall (which was followed almost immediately by two speculative bubbles). In fact (as did the Clintons) he has something of a reputation for being a shill for the banking and credit card industries. He voted for the Iraq war. He fumbled badly in allowing Anita Hill to be pilloried during the Clarence Thomas hearings. His position on school desegregation is still evolving? The 1994 crime bill he was involved with has arguably led to the U.S.’ abnormally high rates of incarceration.
Biden was already honored for his long— often admirable —public service by being v.p. during the two Obama terms. Now he should step aside and throw his weight—the considerable goodwill and influence he still has among Democrats — behind the candidate who will lead a Democratic Party backs to it social justice/civil rights roots.
282
@Susan M. Davis
I agree with and endorse your comment.
I will say that his representation of his state of DE has been beyond appropriate and explains his being a shill for the banking and credit card industries, much the same way that Midwestern senators are typically backers of ethanol. Both situations are stupid for the country but are important to the states the senators represent.
The rest of his poor judgment? Inexplicable. Biden is reliably behind the times. His values and ability to connect with people are one thing, that he is consistently behind the progressive way of history makes him a poor choice now.
14
@Susan M. Davis - Names please,who might that Democratic candidate be? The $64,000 question.
9
@Susan M. Davis
good article contrasting Joe, the corporate bag man with Bernie, https://theweek.com/articles/837515/biden-vs-bernie-what-two-long-records-say-about-2020
also article on Joe's launch day fundraiser witjh corporate lobbyists and republican donors
more decency than I can take...
5
Two important things for Democrats to consider in choosing a nominee: 1) the "emotional affect" of the candidate is crucial. Obama won because he led people to believe that a sunny outcome for our nation was possible ("Yes, we can.") Candidates so far (like Sanders, Harris) who seem angry all the time are not going to win. No one wants that hectoring talking head. 2) I'm in my 60s and while my cognitive abilities have slowed over the decades, I really believe anyone in their 70s does not belong in the job. No one born before 1950 has any business in this competition. Biden may be a compassionate average Joe, but I do not believe he is the best one to lead our country post-Trump. His age is a deal-breaker for me.
1
The people who tear Biden down have embraced the basic factionalism of Trump. I have my reservations about Biden, but he is clearly a good man. Pointing out his flaws (everyone has them) shows a sad lack of perspective on the human condition.
This article takes a positive view of a candidate, all to rare in today’s punditry. It’s also accurate. Thank you Mr Brooks.
The Democrats have fielded twenty candidates, any one of whom will get my enthusiastic support should they get the nomination. I would hate to see the general election prospects damaged for any of them. I am interested in hearing support for any of the candidates that is not premised on tearing others, including the Democratic Party in general, down.
4
While I respect what Biden did to support Obama, neither were progressives. They come from what I hope is a dying breed: the establishment democrats. Joe is more genuine than Hillary Clinton, and even, perhaps, Obama, but he shouldn't run.
Because of the structure of America's 2-party system, political parties morph into something new. The recent example was the tea party take-over of the GOP. We are seeing this happen with the democrats as establishment dems are replaced by progressives. These progressives are what the youth want.
As for the appeal to the so-called independents: most won't vote. Build the base first. "Build it and they will come."
1
I agree with your column, Joe Biden seems like a very decent guy. However, I would like to see him in the Senate and not the presidency. It is time for the next generation to move into that role (and others) as us baby boomers are still around to advise and consent.
1
Most domestic policies favored by those to Biden’s left would have to originate in and get through Congress. That simply won’t happen in the next four years even if Sanders/Warren etc. etc. wins. So we need to decide who has the best chance against Trump and unite behind that person. Remember whoever’s president will likely appoint Justices to the Supreme Court as well as lower courts. Biden can do that as well as anyone. Meanwhile, keep focusing on the House and Senate as a means to eventually enact progressive policies.
3
David Brooks is right on here: Joe Biden is a presidential candidate who will work for the people with a sense of community purpose, kindness and within the rule of law. Women, he has evolved; he has shown he can change, hear our needs, and make a difference in our lives; he can appeal to those working class folks who feel they have been ignored and therefore, he may be the one person who can beat Trump.
5
Joe Biden represents what makes the USA the great nation it has been and will be post the 2020 election. Joe is a "real" person and is transparent about who he was, is and will be. He acknowledges his failures, shares his successes and the tragedies he has personally endured have shaped his moral and compassionate character. No doubt, everything about Joe Biden is the antithesis of Donald Trump.
3
Joe Biden is a "decent" guy who values family and country. He can explain away his so-called bad choices of the past by saying he has evolved and would make different decisions today.
Except for his recent behavior around the Anita Hill fiasco. His current approach does not acknowledge that he was the Chair of the Judiciary Committee who abused Ms. Hill in public and still doesn't take responsibility for it then and the ramifications of that hearing to this day.
1
David, this is the most eloquent, sensitive tribute to any person. It also speaks of you as a person who has "self actualized" through personal suffering. Thank you.
4
There are many things I could say about this column such as beware of pols and columnists who talk values but offer no concrete policies by which the values are to be measured (Beto, Buttigieg, Biden, Brooks) etc. but I'll leave it at this: As President, Biden will return the EPA to status quo under Obama (much better but hardly great), he will pick very moderate instead of rabidly right wing extremely activist judges ( better but not good enough), he will reopen the Iran nuclear deal and join the Paris Climate Accord ( good on the deal but the Paris Accord according to any credible climate scientist is a sop and a fraud and will not come close to saving us), he will otherwise dither on the climate crisis thus hastening our likely extinction, he will continue drone attacks and bombing and forever wars thus ensuring our financial and moral bankruptcy with amoral disregard of life and out of control defense spending, he will keep health care insurers' profits at the center of any changes to the system, he might actually put together an infrastructure deal but who knows whether it will be the right infrastructure or just more roads, and most important for David Brooks and the oligarchs he will generally be congenial, talk about consensus but not change much. Really, just what we need as we literally approach end times.
5
Nobody can know the true intentions behind a public figure. To focus so deeply on the character of a politician proves narcissistic in its very endeavor. That being said, I don't think character should be thrown out the window. Knowing how to say "I don't know" or "I made a mistake" is one of the top character traits I'm looking for in a leader. Everyone makes mistakes, it's how we deal with them that counts.
1
How about we hire for president a decent human being who actually knows how to make things work in Washington - even if what is possible in this climate is very little.
Restoration of civility should be job #1 of the next administration.
Far as I'm concerned the only hope for this is old man Joe. (Though I really like Pete as well)
6
Elizabeth Warren will disabuse voters of the notion that Joe Biden is a man of the people. She will point out the fact that as Mr. Mastercard, he did a great deal of damage to working class men and women.
Wait for it. She knows what she's talking about and will back her arguments up with facts.
7
Thanks for pointing this out, another reason not to support him.
2
Concerning the comments by Sturne Stahle, which failed Democratic policies are you referring to? Social Security? Medicare? Medicaid? Civil rights legislation? From where I stand, those seem to have been anything but failures. The Dems have proposals that would aggressively address climate change-- see the Green New Deal--and income inequality. All that stands in the way is Republican resistance to anything that would help anyone, save themselves and their donors. Joe Biden is not a perfect candidate. Who is? He is part of a Democratic tradition that has a long list of accomplishments in behalf of the American people.
6
@Gene
"Social Security? Medicare? Medicaid? Civil rights legislation?"
All of these policies are well over 50 years old! The Republicans claim to be the party of Lincoln!
What have any of these people done for us lately? There are people under 50 years old for whom the government has never done anything but destroy the middle class and fought illegitimate wars!
Why should we want someone that is offering the restoration of values? Now that the Republicans have become radical Trumpists, are we trying to turn the Democrats into social conservatives to balance it out? We don't need any social conservatives!
3
Jpe Biden makes me feel secure, which is what I and America need now after the craziness of the Trump years. I'm a feminist who very much wants our first female President, but none of the announced candidates have the experience and demeanor which speaks to me. Joe, choose a viable female running mate and you can count on my support. And by the way, my first issue is universal healthcare.
4
@Anne Russell
If that's your first issue (as it is mine), better forget Joe.
Biden has a great work ethic.
When it comes to work and ethics, Trump has neither.
4
@Jbugko, our country is running despite Trump.
One would think that Joe Biden's progressivism, his age, and his compassion for the less fortunate make him a natural champion of senior citizens across America. Yet Biden is on record as favoring 'means testing' and possibly shrinking two of the most popular programs among seniors: Social Security and Medicare.
Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and large numbers of progressive Democrats in the House and Senate, on the other hand, have already put forward proposals to not only save SS/Medicare long into the future but to expand benefits. (See Rep. John Larson's (D-CT) Social Security 2100 Act which he introduced earlier this month along with over 200 co-sponsors.)
If Biden wants to hold on to his 'progressive-compassionate' creds, he better put forward a clear and progressive plan to save Social Security/Medicare soon otherwise he risks losing a large chunk of what should be a natural support base, senior citizens.
4
Good piece, David.
So we are going to judge by the unconditional standards of today's political left the presidential candidacy of a candidate, who served decades in the Senate and served as vice-president, by what he said and did 30 years ago. Are we really going to talk about school-busing in the 1970s and Anita Hill? Are we really going to argue that a white male--or at least an older white male--should not be the "face" of a political party that last nominated a white male as its presidential candidate 15 years ago?
If you people want a president other than Trump, want to win elections, want to start naming federal judges, you better worry less about who did what and said what 35 years ago, and worry more about key Midwest states and districts.
And reparations? Watch Fox News and the Republican party wrap that issue around the neck of any Democratic nominee who favors reparations.
5
Reparations talk will equate to 4 more years of trump for sure.
1
I love to talk. Sometimes I talk too much. I know when I am talking too much in the body language of the people I am talking to. It's painful. That can't be me. But, it is. Talking too much comes natural to me. Retirement brought me the joy of talking less and listening more.
Joe loves politics. He needs to retire.
1
Brooks is right: Biden is true to his roots. I live in Scranton, PA where the population is 90% white. The people on my street have lived here all their lives. Some grumble about the kids from ‘different’ neighborhoods who trick-or-treat here on Halloween. There is a local movement to end recycling pickup, so now we must throw out all but bottles and cans. It’s like going back in time.
People here love Biden for the reasons Brooks outlined. I don’t think they’ll care about Biden’s trespasses. Like Brooks, these aren’t the people who would’ve impacted.
I hope that the Democrats can come together behind a candidate who is better than this.
3
But why must we choose between decency and sophisticated policy?
3
In a previous comment, I'd made mention to the issue of the cry of impeaching the man who chairs the presidency today. My opinion was to investigate the possibility of crimes committed, but not focus on impeachment. Please listen to the Speaker Pelosi, tread lightly in that direction. Besides I'd prefer to use my constitutional right to vote, hopefully witnessing the nation voting to rebuke and repudiate trump, return him to the miserly life he led in NYC. I look with relish to the day of casting a vote for the candidate that will lead the nation, not back to the past, but to the present and future issues and needs of the nation . Joe Biden could be the candidate to receive my vote.
3
Thank you, David. I was deeply moved by your portrait of Biden with which I agree completely. How wonderful it would be to again have a president who is decent, can empathize with almost all of us and is courageous enough to let it show. He knows who he is; he knows who we are and what we need and has the wisdom and experience to get us there. Decency is never out of date, honesty is always a virtue. humility is ever a personal grace. I'm for Biden.
8
I love this column. I like the comparison of Joe Biden to Harry Truman, both with integrity and a willingness to be President, not out of lust for power (Nixon, Trump), but out of a sense that the nation needs their help. I can envision Biden restoring integrity, good sense and a genuine concern for ordinary Americans to the oval office. Joe is a good man. With Joe on the top of the Democratic ticket this would become a battle literally between good and evil.
9
There is a lot of casual ageist rhetoric getting tossed around. I am not sure if the young American of today has a lot to be proud of. They represent an age of technological conformism and adulation that marginalizes as much as it connects. The gradual diminishment of the dignity of labor. The threat of automation. The colonization of affordable housing by convenient travel apps which drives up rents for working families. Cheap car rides that deprive the drivers of working wages. The creation of platforms that mine data and manipulate humans on a scale never seen in the history of your grand parents. Convenience over compassion. Sure, the old guard made mistakes. A young politician in my view simply doesn't yet see the mistakes they will inevitably make. Nor the mistakes their generation has already been making. A few chosen bits of social pandering cannot conceal the fact that most politicians of any age are still of the validation seeking, book promoting, social media provoking variety. I strongly suggest we look at not just what sounds good, but what is realistic. Progress. But progress with compassion. Climate change is coming, but so is resource scarcity and populist rage. I am not saying Biden is the right person. But he could help be a bridge away from where we are to something better and could bring the future with him. Just stuff to consider.
11
@Jen
Celebritism is the millstone around the neck of America.
2
David has decided democratic government is a utopian fantasy dying a slow death from egoistic self-centered preoccupation. So Biden represents a better model.
However, the Country’s problems require solutions at a government level, not platitudes, and not a good joe. Bernie understands that and comes closer to the energy and conviction to bring change.
3
Mr. Brooks paints a picture of an Average Joe, on the side of the Average American. But he cherry picks his images, failing to mention that Joe and Hillary (we all know who these two are) were the protagonists in passing a law removing credit card debts from bankruptcy protections. In this, and in so much else, this Average Joe was on the side of the bankers and not on the side of the average Joes of our society. Nice try at image painting, Mr. Brooks, but Mr. Biden is no more on the side of the Average Joes than is Mr. Trump, who scammed lots of Average Joes into being enthusiastic for him. Indeed, there is no one who is more of a Washington insider who. works for the bankers than is Mr. Biden.
7
This is as descriptive and as sincere as an opinion piece can be. As an oldie I remember fondly when Everit Dirkson and Ralph Yarborough could civilly represent, with attention and dignity, very differing opinions.
The tribal climate of today is not only less human and less American, but less productive of good law-making. Maybe if Biden is president, Romney or Murkovski could be senate leader! thanks, David.
8
If the best the Democratic Party can do is dredge up a near octogenarian who has failed in 2 previous bids for the White House then we are all in trouble. He isn’t Trump, and that’s a good thing, but that’s about the best one can say about him. He will not motivate younger voters, and we will be right where we were in 2016. I’d love to see a more centrist candidate, but he isn’t it.
7
@VKG, he may not motivate younger voters, but he will motivate the older voters who would not vote for a far left Democratic socialist, but at the same time, cannot stomach the thought of supporting Trump again.
4
After two years of Donald Trump serving as Ringmaster for the circus that has now become the United States of America, I admit that I'm ready for a change especially since I didn't vote for him in the first place.
That said, I'm somewhat disheartened at how many Americans have succumbed to his efforts to divide the country even further -- as well as all disparaging comments about Joe Biden's recent entry into the vast Democratic playing field, and not for any other reason than the fact that it displays just how fractured the party has become, which might well facilitate another term for Trump, who will stop at nothing to retain the throne.
America. Remember.
You can't always tell the future from the past and even the greatest stumble and fall.
Look for faults and you will find them. There is no such thing as a perfect candidate.
And there's nothing less than the future of our country at stake.
5
I, like many Independents, like Biden but have been thinking that electing another old, white man is not the path forward. But, to counter the current Administration's foul deeds, we may have to take a few steps backwards to regain our footing as a nation and prepare for our future. Joe Biden could be the one to do so, if only for 4 years. I believe the 'radical left' is pushing an agenda too extreme for a majority of Americans. They have their supporters, but like the far right conservatives, they'll find it nearly impossible to collect the support of a majority of voters. Hopefully, from my perspective, the primaries and election will be won by a more centrist, less extreme candidate.
8
Brooks at his best.
Democrats need to assess their candidates objectively. Who can win; who is best for a wounded country; who can heal and work with reasonable men Trump has driven out of the GOP. Biden is such a person; there may well be others.
There can be no truce with the Mitch McConnells, but there are GOP Senators and Congressmen outside the leadership who still care about the USA. They should not be driven into the wilderness or demonized.
Democrats need a candidate who can expose Trumpite paranoia and lies for what they are, and reawake America's better angels.
8
If Biden wins the nomination progressives and moderate democrats need to get behind him. He may be older but those years and experience have given him the ability to get things done. Progressive programs needed to combat climate change,inequality, education and health care will do just fine under Joe Biden. If I could vote in your election I would easily vote for either Biden or Sanders or whoever else might become your democratic nominee. Is Biden perfect, no, has he made mistakes, yes, will he be a good president who cares about the country and those less fortunate ... without a doubt. People like Joe Biden who genuinely believe in the good in people and want to make their lives better will only pave the way for the next generation like Cortez, Harris, etc. In the end they are not that different ... they all care about making the lives of people better.
8
What a beautiful piece of writing about a beautiful, decent human being. Thank you Mr. Brooks.
11
Some years ago my adult children and I had a spirited debate about change. They argued for small, individual acts of kindness, generosity and wisdom. I argued for political movements, massive protests demanding social and economic justice. In some ways we are both right. Change is like a good snowstorm, massive drifts created from elegant snowflakes, each one contributing its small part to creating a new landscape. But it requires a storm.
Biden's essential decency is admirable and necessary, at least in the toxic realm of politics. Necessary but insufficient. Brooks dismisses those who claim populism in policy as "right," using quotation marks as a diminishment.
Biden and Brooks "decency" (note the quotation marks!) is forged in a 1950's sense of decent. Being a principled family that avoids taking a knee to pick up silver dollars is not sufficient when a black athlete taking a knee is scorned and blackballed in his profession.
We cannot make social progress merely by being decent and principled. We need candidates who howl at injustice and rage against the grinding machine.
Biden is a decent man whose time has come and gone.
6
You’re a sly one, Mr. Brooks, slipping in that word “collective” at the end of this piece. And I applaud you for it. You call upon its purer and more emotionally powerful meaning, one I truly hope a majority of Americans will call upon themselves in 2020, whether or not Mr. Biden is the candidate.
2
Joe Biden presided over the humiliation of Anita Hill. I think he still doesn’t understand what he did to her and to all people who try to come forward at great personal risk.
I heard him speak last year at the Salk Institute. He wandered off script, free associated and sometimes went back to his prepared remarks. It was an embarrassment. He has many years of mostly distinguished service behind him. In the most part he is a decent man who understands that politics isn’t always decent. But there are many decent men and women running for the nomination. Let him mentor the democratic candidates, but his days as a candidate should be over.
8
I think this op-ed is Brook's way of saying: Here's a decent man (Biden) we can identify with who has centrist views (that appeal to Brooks sensitivities) and if Biden can't sway voters to move away from Trump and his party- then what's the point.
Part of why Hillary Clinton failed in her bid for the Presidency was that she deliberately stressed continuity with an electorate that was heavily divided and wanted substantive change. Biden appears to epitomize this perspective. Candidates like Sanders and Warren are tapping into voter's fundamental disaffection and fully justified sense of being treated unfairly. By election time the Republican tax cuts will have run their course- and the economy may reverse direction. More anything else- this will give Democrats a strong chance of winning across all electoral races.
The Democratic hopefuls are tapping into disaffection with Trump- but this is a very, very low bar. Further, none of them will be able to tap into Trump's 39% mostly Republican base- their fake reality is too firmly entrenched.
Hillary Clinton was one of the most widely respected public servants BEFORE she ran for President. Will Biden suffer the same fate?
2
Brooks is right. Values are of primary importance. Biden represents the best in human values. He's uniquely real. His experience, wisdom, and track record speak for themselves. He is the anti-Trump and will help this nation heal, both nationally and internationally.
7
Thank you for the insightful column about Joe Biden. Those who consider him passe need to really think this through. Your comments couldn't be more on point that "A lot of voters want to raise their children in an atmosphere marked by decency and compassion, not narcissistic savagery. Values are central to this race."
8
More than anything, our country needs to heal.
The divisiveness and anger among our fractured citizenry is toxic for our collective soul and horrible modeling for our children.
Joe Biden has suffered personally and with the country's mistakes and tragedies. And after every trauma, he has risen again, and grown as a person and as a leader.
I trust him to help us heal, to come together in a more civil community. His policies may not be perfect, but they will be good.
9
We only have one job this election: Elect a new president. I'm far to the left of Joe Biden on economic issues and probably a couple of social ones, too, but I'd be delighted to vote for him if I thought we'd win. We Democrats have to get our act together and end the circular firing squad and come out en masse to support whoever the candidate is. Don't make the perfect the enemy of the good - not this time. The stakes are too high. 2 words: Supreme Court.
11
Out of curiosity, Mr. Brooks, could you point out to me what part of his fundamental decency and dignity he was putting to good use during the Anita Hill hearings? Or what part he was using when he reached out to her only when it became a political necessity for one more run at the Presidency?
5
David-thank you for highlighting Joe Biden’s central features. I wont take a stand today on whether he will will, or even should win, but the Joe Biden of 2016 will always-always- do the right thing an whatever ego he has has been erased by experience and tragedy. I’m not sure even the other candidates supporters can make that claim. This one’s not mean they aren’t great neighbors, parents and fiends, it means they are politicians first and last, or worse like trump. .Thats not to say he has always been this way, but if he can articulate why he supported busing and why he treated Anita hIll so badly, he will, and deserves win. The former is not that difficult to anyone who lived at the time an had kids of school age. The later will be a challenge to voters of any age regardless fo how woke. Those who are focusing on his past mistakes and age are commended to also factor in the wisdom -and grace-that only life’s vicissitudes can teach. Fo those who say he cannot relate to women, blacks , millenials etc because he is a white 76 years old male , fair enough, But please have the consistency, coherence and honesty to note what does Cory Booker know about marriage and family life, the death of Kamel Harris about being Displaced Factory worker in Pennsylvania, Beto O’rourke about ANY tragedy or adversity, or Pete Buttigeg about raising children ? These are also important experiences that the ideal presidential candidate shoudl have experienced , and voters end to not ignore.
3
I think Joe Biden, despite his flaws, is a thoroughly decent, well-meaning guy, but I'm ready to move on from the mainstream, conservative Democrats. More progressive candidates can still hold onto our shared societal values while daring to dream of and advocate for larger transformational change where it is warranted, like in healthcare, justice, gun control, and how we address climate change. Traditional views and political values in areas like those I will be happy and relieved to see go.
2
Biden is a decent and honorable human being, but it was just a little over 27 months ago that we also had an extremely decent and honorable human being in the Oval Office. Biden is nothing new in that regard, the Democrats are running an entire slate of decent, honorable human beings.
It is not that America does not still put a value on at least some basic measure of tone, decorum and decency in its President, it is that what President Trump has shown us all is that almost one-half of America not does not regard basic human decency as a cherished virtue, but as a weakness or personal failing. When kidnapping children and putting them in cages draws cheers instead of condemnation then America has a huge moral and decency problem.
3
Joe Biden is a mirror of how our country has progressed. He is an example of a person seeking slow change and accepting change when it occurs faster than his instincts. His ideals have grown parallel to ideals of most of us.
That’s because he listens, learns and self corrects. The youthful members of our party could learn a thing or two about flexibility and patience.
8
"He's not an individualist. He is a member... offers a restoration of the values that bind us as a collective."
Mr Brooks, nice to see you coming around to the principles of socialism. Now maybe you'll turn a favorable eye to the candidates who more explicitly advocate for it.
5
I've always considered myself to be a progressive, but we are obviously using different ruler to gauge what that means. To these new "progressives", anything short of complete capitulation is sellout.
I thought like that once. Ending the Vietnam war and the mandatory draft was my generations bulls-eye. On that we were young and focused. Our focus appeared to bring results. The draft was repealed just before the 1972 elections. Peace talks brought most of the hostilities to a halt and our troops began returning home. We thought we had "won".
We won little in the end. Most of us were too naive to realize the war was bankrupting us and most politicians were eager to end it anyway. Our "idealism" provided political cover. Except for ending the draft, little else changed. Two generations later, our country's militarism is out of control. We spend more than the next 10 countries combined. We proudly express satisfaction with the aggression we've perpetrated on nations that don't follow the path we set. Where did we fail? A too narrow vision.
No one side has all the answers. No one is always right. Idealist purity shouldn't be the goal line. Others may share your desired outcomes but disagree with the means and methods to reaching them. The bottom line is compromise is not necessarily sell out. But we must be wary of opponents motives and not give away too much in the process. I think Dem leaders have finally learned that lesson and won't be fooled again.
4
This decency worked against him at a crucial moment in the Thomas hearings. There was the single day extension to hear Anita Hills accusation, that had reached close to midnight -- I remember it like yesterday.
Senator Dansforth who was the Republican mentor of Thomas through the hearings acknowledged the woman waiting in the wings to testify that she had experienced the same sexual innuendo's as Hill. He then, man to man, friend to friend, said words to the effect, "We are all tired, so let's take her written statement for the record and end this hearing so we all can go home"
If only Biden had said, "It seems reasonable, but this nomination is for someone who will affect our country for decades to come. We will take the testimony of this witness in person"
Biden's humanity allowed him to be conned, with the slew of landmark decision where Thomas was the deciding vote.
4
There is no arguing with Mr. Brooks' characterization of Joe Biden as a truly decent man. Interestingly, most of the comments bypass that point and go on to discuss whether Biden should win the nomination. He isn't my first choice, but he may. be the best choice.
To all those "progressives" who dominate these comments, Twitter, and other social media:
(1) most importantly, we need to beat Trump, keep the House, and take the Senate. Hard left policies will not only alienate large numbers of more moderate democrats, but risk giving Trump a winning issue. Given the composition of Congress, the left hasn't got a chance of passing their proposals.
2) If Biden isn't the first choice, then Klobuchar, Brennan, Buttigieg, and other moderates are. I hate to mention he obvious, but voters need to go for the least bad, if they feel there is no better. Did those progressives learn nothing from the last election?
3) Buttigieg was dead right. Bernie is, though not an amoral felon, close to Trump in populist rhetoric, impossible promises, and terrible foreign policy. We don't need a Democratic "Tea Party" to worsen the divide and fail to progress through compromise.
4) There are other perfectly acceptable centrist candidates. Most of those objecting to Biden in these comments would object to them as well. Biden is getting more of these hits because he can win than because of his age, his history, or his policies. That, I suppose, is the burden of being the frontrunner.
5