Biden makes historic sacrifice to save democracy
Even if this situation is grossly unfair, Biden’s choice to step aside is an astonishing act of patriotism. His party and American voters need to honor the quality of that kind of service.
President Joe Biden has persisted and kept his principles through one of the longest careers in American public service — well over 50 years. His brief one-term presidency has also been one of the most consequential in the nation’s history. In three and a half years, the Biden presidency has achieved more legislatively and in national reinvestment and rebuilding than anyone since Franklin Roosevelt.
It must also be said that after a violent coup attempt led by his predecessor, just before his inauguration, Biden’s presidency did a tremendous amount to safeguard the soul of the democratic republic. Whatever the leader of that failed coup might say in bad faith, Biden’s administration stabilized the nation’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
Joe Biden is likely able to serve as President now and a year from now. It may be that he suffers no critical cognitive decline and might even be able to serve another full term. It may be this is an unfair situation brought about by a media feeding frenzy, exacerbated by panic among those who honestly want to save the country from a potential turn toward fascist authoritarianism, which appears to be the stated aim of Trump and his close allies, should he be reelected.
In my own view, he is far more fit than some public gaffes suggest, and the media frenzy has been possibly the most radically one-sided and under-researched major American political story of this century. We know Joe Biden can best Donald Trump; he already has. But the election isn’t only about what is; it is about what people see, believe, and repeat.
Even if this is grossly unfair, President Biden’s decision to end his campaign is an astonishing act of patriotism. Imagine yourself in his position, knowing you have a handle on the job and have performed beyond all expectations and better than most predecessors. To step down because the campaign environment has become so twisted and unfair, to put the republic ahead of your own drive and ambition, even ahead of what you know genuinely is the value you bring to the job, that is an act of humble devotion most people would not be capable of.
By ending his campaign, Biden releases the DNC delegates pledged to him on the basis of 56 primary wins. In part to honor those voters and because he believes she is the right choice, he immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. He called her “an extraordinary partner in all this work”, and has said many times she is equipped and ready to be President.
The 2024 campaign is unusual for many reasons. The Republican nominee is many things — most of them terribly unfit for the Presidency. Given that, it is highly unusual that he also can serve only one term, having had one already. The Democratic nominee will be able to win a first of potentially two terms. It matters that voters believe they are represented by this choice.
Vice President Harris has served ably and honorably in this historic administration, and she was on the ticket with Biden when he won the most votes in history in 2020 and millions more in this year’s primaries. She is, to this extent, already the choice of both primary voters and general election voters.
Whatever you think of Biden, Harris, the Democratic Party, or the party that was once led by Abraham Lincoln, this election gives the American people a choice between democracy and authoritarianism. Trump has said he might suspend the Constitution altogether. Though many don’t see it this way, all of the American people, including those who still put their faith in Trump, need the Democratic ticket to win in 2024, if their rights and liberties are to be secure going forward.
This election will be hotly contested. Anti-democracy forces both inside and outside the United States will spread disinformation with powerful new tools and vast sums of money supporting their efforts. The American people have a chance to say STOP to those insidious corrupt networks who wish to sideline them and install a lawless autocrat. The race is now on, and we should expect historically high turnout and a national vote to preserve democracy.
