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Congratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Let Biden Be Biden! [View all]Gothmog
(145,321 posts)85. Joe Biden's appeal actually isn't a mystery
Link to tweet
Biden shows reverence for the most popular Democrat around, former president Barack Obama; others find fault in everything from the Affordable Care Act to immigration policy. Biden does not bombard voters with a torrent of multi-part plans; he gives them a few basic positions and defends them. Biden does not campaign from the neck up; he campaigns with his heart on his sleeve. Biden is deeply optimistic; his opponents think Americans are the problem, not Trump. (I dont suggest that his opponents are wrong, merely that their stance apparently isnt as popular as they thought.) Biden wants normalcy plus reform; his opponents want a peaceful revolution. Biden knows people want to be heard and seen; his opponents (with the exception of Sen. Kamala D. Harris) dont fully grasp this. They want to help," to pepper people with ideas and a to-do list, while Biden takes the time to listen to them. (Think of the well-meaning friend who has a thousand suggestions when you are grieving and youd rather they just shut up and commiserate.)
This is the grouchy-white-guy-in-the-diner problem all over again. Reporters are blinded by their own age, background, education and geography. Instead of going to West Virginia diners to find the Trump voter, reporters should go talk to the residents of The Villages in Florida, the African American churchgoing ladies and the buttoned-down professionals in the affluent suburbs (the Romney-Clinton voters). These people have endured a noisy, offensive and intrusive presence in the White House. They dont necessarily want a different noisy, intrusive presence even one they agree with on substance.
Part of the mystery of Bidens appeal would be solved if the moderators flipped their questions, as one smart Democrat not in the Biden camp put it. Instead of asking Biden or another moderate, Why arent you going with the big, bold idea of Medicare-for-all?, the moderators might consider asking Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) or Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Why blow up Obamacare, and why dont you trust people to choose Medicare if given the option? Instead of assuming that extreme proposals are the standard, requiring the moderates to explain why they are such wet blankets, the moderators should press the super-progressives on questions such as: What makes you think that voters want to go through another health-care makeover? Why should poorer people pay for richer peoples health care or subsidize their college debt?
Better yet, ask the candidates to relate the personal story from a voter who moved them the most, or the last voter whose phone number they took so that the candidate could call later, or the most insightful thing they have heard from a voter. It might reveal who is talking at voters and who is listening to them.
This is the grouchy-white-guy-in-the-diner problem all over again. Reporters are blinded by their own age, background, education and geography. Instead of going to West Virginia diners to find the Trump voter, reporters should go talk to the residents of The Villages in Florida, the African American churchgoing ladies and the buttoned-down professionals in the affluent suburbs (the Romney-Clinton voters). These people have endured a noisy, offensive and intrusive presence in the White House. They dont necessarily want a different noisy, intrusive presence even one they agree with on substance.
Part of the mystery of Bidens appeal would be solved if the moderators flipped their questions, as one smart Democrat not in the Biden camp put it. Instead of asking Biden or another moderate, Why arent you going with the big, bold idea of Medicare-for-all?, the moderators might consider asking Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) or Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Why blow up Obamacare, and why dont you trust people to choose Medicare if given the option? Instead of assuming that extreme proposals are the standard, requiring the moderates to explain why they are such wet blankets, the moderators should press the super-progressives on questions such as: What makes you think that voters want to go through another health-care makeover? Why should poorer people pay for richer peoples health care or subsidize their college debt?
Better yet, ask the candidates to relate the personal story from a voter who moved them the most, or the last voter whose phone number they took so that the candidate could call later, or the most insightful thing they have heard from a voter. It might reveal who is talking at voters and who is listening to them.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
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Sorry, the media has decided on the narrative: Biden's Gaffes matter. Trump's don't.
bluewater
Aug 2019
#2
It's actually just certain pundits with their own very transparent agenda. nt
UniteFightBack
Aug 2019
#6
lol STILL trying to re-argue some old thread in this one now? ok ok I "lost" lol
bluewater
Aug 2019
#39
Malcolm Nance just called David Axelrod's critique of Biden "#ButHerEmails punditry"
Cha
Aug 2019
#40
"I went by the White House to sit down with my old friend and reflect on the road he's traveled"
bluewater
Aug 2019
#50
The attempt to denigrate a Senior Adviser to President Obama is puzzling to me.
bluewater
Aug 2019
#68
Photo opportunities? Yes, Obama had many photos of he and his White House senior advisor
Autumn
Aug 2019
#56
John King on CNN just devoted about 10 minutes to this with his panel, annoyed the crap....
George II
Aug 2019
#3
MSNBC was the one thing i would sometimes listen to in the mornings. Not anymore.
onetexan
Aug 2019
#20
Joe Biden is the most electable candidate that the Democratic Party has available
Gothmog
Aug 2019
#11
Yeah, and it didn't serve him well in his previous two runs at the presidency either.
progressoid
Aug 2019
#48
Symone Sanders-"I want to be very clear: this is a press narrative, not a voter narrative."
Gothmog
Aug 2019
#29
And Biden still front-running. Guess his "name recognition" has legs! Or could it be voters
emmaverybo
Aug 2019
#31
And that those who defended him were mostly blind supporters and sycophants.
progressoid
Aug 2019
#49
These alleged gaffes are eye-rolling examples of the absurdity of the press or the woke left
Gothmog
Sep 2019
#84
Not my first choice, but yes, its ridiculous the double standard in the MSM
LiberalLovinLug
Aug 2019
#65
you do understand that it is not Democrats "nitpicking of Joe Biden's minor errors in his speeches."
Perseus
Aug 2019
#73
It's not just republicans that will use his "gaffs" but he said the paraphrased
Kind of Blue
Aug 2019
#81