Super Tuesday marked the much-hoped-for rebirth of the Biden campaign. It was remarkable. Our faith in the electorate was restored. President Trump is right to fear him. A smart, experienced, decent leader is exactly what America needs right now. Finally, we can look forward to the next primary, the convention, and election day.
These are welcome developments but taking anything for granted these days is imprudent. Bernie Sanders is still out there, ready, willing and able to deliver an election prize to Trump. And the general election itself will be no cakewalk. Any fight with an opponent with Trump’s ethics, money, and willingness to appeal to the worst in us should not be taken lightly.
We are enthusiastic supporters of the Vice President. Nonetheless, we believe he must take several actions to become a stronger candidate. Here’s our advice:
Use coherent concise talking points on every issue. Back up your statements with specific facts and figures whenever possible. Don’t talk too long. Aggressively avoid rambling. Only cite examples directly germane to your point.
Stress that when you are president, you will appoint cabinet members, ambassadors, etc., with deep expertise in their fields. The days of Rick Perry (a Dancing with the Stars contestant in charge of Energy) Ben Carson (a brain surgeon in charge of HUD), family members developing a Middle East peace policy, etc., are over.
Develop a better defense for the Hunter Biden/Burisma attacks that are bound to continue. Consider something like this: “My son Hunter did nothing illegal. Let me make that clear. In hindsight, the optics don’t look great. However, that is far from committing an illegal act. I commit to you that in my administration family members and relatives will not be given positions. As you know, Hunter has struggled with addiction for many years of his adult life. Many of you have had or have family members who experience similar struggles. Hunter has come out on the other side. I hope and pray that your family also finds a positive path forward from this terrible disease.”
Lead a return to decency, kindness and compassion. In your administration, there will be no more name calling, mean-spirited comments and divisive rhetoric. Racism has no place in 21st century America. Let’s be who we can be, not who some of us were. Let’s “pay it forward” and encourage acts of kindness toward our fellow men and women.
Pledge and lead the unification of America. Although we always will have differing opinions, we are stronger when we listen to each other. Let’s find and embrace the middle ground, guided by truth, science, compassion and justice.
Name a woman as your vice president running mate. For many women, it’s a slap in the face that the three candidates left standing are white men who are more than 70 years old. Select a woman not because of her ethnicity but because of her talents and experience and her commitment to the cause. You have many strong women from whom to choose. Amy Klobuchar comes to mind.
Commit to joining forces with the rest of the world—climate change, peace, solving health issues, etc. It’s not America against the rest of the world. It’s America teaming with the rest of the world to make it a better place for all.
Concede that Bernie, Liz, Kamala, Bloomberg, Mayor Pete and Amy had some good ideas. Embrace those good ideas. They are right. There is too much income inequality in our society. Climate change must be addressed with big proposals. Criminal justice reform is long overdue. It’s okay to reject some of the draconian, overly expensive, and divisive proposals, but let’s remember why most Democrats vote democratic. Progress is in Democrats’ DNA. So, be bold. With your credibility, you can take us places where none of the other candidates could. Consider some candidates for cabinet posts. Bloomberg would be great at OMB or Treasury. Mayor Pete would shine at the VA, etc.
It’s more than four months until Democrats meet in Milwaukee. A lot can happen between now and then. To ensure Biden’s place on top of the ticket, and that Trump will return to his illustrious business and entertainment career, the Vice President needs to step up his game. We are confident that he can. We look forward to welcoming Uncle Joe as our President in January of 2021.
Maria Grant served as Principal-in-Charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of Deloitte Consulting. Since her retirement from Deloitte, she has focused on writing, music, reading, travel, gardening and nature. J.E. Dean of Oxford writes on politics and current affairs. He is a former counsel to a Congressional Committee, attorney and public affairs consultant.
JT smith says
Spot on! Thank you both.
Carol Voyles says
This was the best news we’ve had in weeks! And, thankfully, no counsel regarding truthfulness required.
Mike Huffstetler says
Mr. Green & Ms. Grant:
There was clearly something corrupt going on when Joe Biden’s halted the Ukrainian investigation into Burisma Holdings by threatening to withhold aid to Ukraine until the prosecutor conducting such investigation was fired.
Joe Biden’s biggest problem was that he subsequently bragged (in a public setting) about causing the prosecutor to be fired.
Unfortunately, this whole situation has yet to be investigated by either the US government or the Ukrainian government. Unfortunately, this is yet more evidence of the double standard between an accusation against a liberal compared to an accusation against a conservative! Meanwhile, the main stream media (“MSM”) plays right along and continues to falsely allege that this situation has been investigated. It has not!
But, finally it is being property investigated by both the US & Ukrainian governments. We will find out once and for all why the son of a Vice President, with zero experience in the oil or natural gas businesses, was retained on the Board of a known corrupt Ukrainian company for $1MM or more per year: to in essence retain the VP of the US to assist Burisma Holdings in the improper and illegal cessation of a legitimate investigation of the actions of Burisma Holdings.
Perhaps the most unfortunate revelation demonstrated by this entire process is that “corrupt” Joe Biden is apparently the best candidate the Democrats can produce to run against President Trump – maybe because Hillary Clinton is still too busy illegally destroying “top secret” emails that were retained on her private server and trying to explain why her State Department left Americans to die at the Benghazi Embassy. Or, maybe because all Democrats in Congress (with the assistance of MSM) were too busy trying to impeach President Trump for trying to get the newly-elected non-corrupt Ukrainian President to re-open Ukraine’s investigation of this Burisma Holdings’ corruption. Why was VP Biden not impeached for his actions in this whole situation? Oh, yes, the double standard!
No, In actuality the most unfortunate revelation that this entire process demonstrates is that there are still voters in this country who are willing to look past this clear evidence of corruption (“where the optics don’t look great” as you favorably describe it) to not only support as a Presidential candidate someone who was clearly corrupt as VP, but to develop lies to attempt to rationalize such corruption.
Why would we want to place a corrupt VP in office instead of re-electing a President (Donald Trump) who has arguably accomplished more in his first three years as President of the US than any other President of the US who has served during my lifetime? Simply to give “power” back to the Swamp? Or, simply because you might not like him as a person? Shouldn’t Presidents be judged by their accomplishments in office rather than based on their personalities?
John Dean says
Mr. Huffstetler: Although we are at polar opposites in our thoughts on VP Biden, thank you for reading the article and commenting on it.
I thank you for referring to me as “Mr. Green.” Since I’ve been writing Spy op-eds, I’ve been called worse.
Mike Huffstetler says
Mr. Dean;
I apologize for my IPhone’s misspelling your name with its spell check.
The important takeaway from you article and my reply is not that I misspelled your name. No, the important takeaway is that your article was more akin to a “dream piece” about what you and Ms. Grant may think a president should be like; but it certainly does not describe who Joe Biden actually is nor who he is remotely close to.
Not only is Joe Biden clearly corrupt, but he is also an inappropriately hugging deviant, and potentially on the verge of senility.
Did you realize that almost half of the US population (150MM) has been killed by guns since 2007? We learned that from “Sleepy Joe” in the last debate. And after his big wins on Super Tuesday, with the last minute aid of the Democratic machine forcing Mayor Pete & Senator Klobuchar to endorse him, he finally was able to remember what state he was in, but he still was unable to distinguish his wife from his sister!
To elect someone like Joe Biden to represent the Democratic Party would be almost as bad as electing “Democratic” Socialist Bernie Sanders.
The sad thing is that apparently out of 20+ Democratic candidates this is the best the Democrats have to offer! And, apparently you and many other Democratic voters are willing to overlook these obviously disqualifying character traits for anyone hoping to become President of the US.
The debates between President Trump & “Sleepy Joe” will be a joy to watch!