President Joe Biden remains marred with discontent from his own party despite his recent securing of the Democratic nomination for president. Primary protests and congressional concerns over the past few months have highlighted Democrats’ dissatisfaction with Biden. At the same time, former President Donald Trump’s Republican base appears steadfast in its support, as the former president dominated GOP primaries without showing up to a single debate. In nationwide polls, Biden has lost his lead against Trump. While the concerns of voters and congressional leaders are warranted, they need to consider the impact that their vote and voice have on the outcome of the election and, ultimately, the policy they seek to influence. It is time for Democrats to get enthusiastic about Biden’s reelection and encourage others to do the same.
Much of the anti-Biden sentiment on the Democratic side of the aisle has come from a bloc of voters concerned about the administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas War. Many of these voters have voted “uncommitted” in primaries across the county, including Michigan, Minnesota and Washington. Their goal is to demonstrate to the Biden campaign the sway that the bloc can have in the general election. By doing so, this dissenting voting bloc hopes to encourage the administration to do more to help Palestiniansin Gaza and push for a ceasefire.
Those in the uncommitted movement agree that Trump’s handling of the conflict may be much worse for Palestinians in Gaza. Last month, Trump declared that Israel must “finish the problem” when talking about the conflict. For this reason, many in the movement have ruled out a general election vote for Trump even if Biden does not change course in the conflict. However, refusing to vote for Biden, even if he is comparatively the better option, is essentially a vote for Trump. This is especially true as Biden’s election chances rely on the Democratic vote in states like Michigan and Wisconsin, where the uncommitted movement has gained support. It is a fundamental right to protest, but these voters must critically assess the impact that their withheld votes will have on the general election and on U.S. foreign policy. Once the primaries are over, the campaign for the Palestinian cause is the Biden campaign.
Another primary concern of Democratic voters and leaders is Biden’s age and memory. With a report last month detailing Biden’s memory lapses and attacks from Trump on the topic, 77% of voters now believe that Biden is too old to be an effective president. While it is no secret that Biden would be, and currently is, the oldest president in U.S. history, these concerns are overblown. The report last month dramatically overstated concerns with Biden’s memory. His fiery back-and-forth with Republican lawmakers during the State of the Union address demonstrated that he can still effectively engage in heated debate.
Democrats’ concerns regarding Biden are valid, and critiquing presidents and leaders is an essential part of a healthy democracy. However, Democrats must consider the impact that their protests have on the issues they are trying to influence. Even if Democrats are planning to vote for Biden, amplifying rhetoric about his age and memory is only dissuading independent and undecided voters from voting for Biden in November.
I encourage Democrats to say what they believe but make sure that their beliefs are based in fact and are not the product of anti-Biden campaigns. Additionally, I encourage Democrats to talk about what they enjoy about the Biden campaign and administration, in addition to any criticisms they may have. Through doing so, Democrats can effectively speak their mind while also doing their part in getting Biden reelected.
To be clear, I am not a Biden stan. I agree with many criticisms of his administration and have even criticized his handling of immigration and unions in past articles. Still, I know that his policies would be preferable to Trump’s policy agenda for issues I care about, like climate change and education. Additionally, the Biden administration has passed strong and effective legislation, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. With another term as president, and, hopefully, a more productive Congress, Biden can continue to meaningfully impact U.S. infrastructure, jobs, climate regulation and education to the standards of today. Biden will push America towards the future, so don’t take his second term away.
Get enthusiastic, Democrats and Biden supporters, about the president's reelection campaign. He may not be perfect, but he is the only candidate with a chance to correctly address our country’s problems and fortify important Democratic legislation. As voters in the consequential state of Georgia, we must realize the power of not only our vote but also our rhetoric.
I am not a huge fan of voting an 81-year-old into office. Younger people deserve to be in the upper echelons of our government. Still, I will be enthusiastically casting my vote for Biden in November. I encourage all Democratic voters to do the same.
Pierce McDade (25Ox) is from Bloomington, Ill.
