The Biden Supporters’ Debate Toolkit
(Almost) Every Argument You’ll Need to Fight Any Smear
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“Without support from suitably educated citizens, no democracy can remain stable.” — Martha Nussbaum
Important Note
Similar to Barack Obama’s 2008 “Fight the Smears” website, this piece is written for Joe Biden supporters to use as a guide for navigating debates, online or in-person (let’s be honest — probably on Facebook).
Please try to not share this link itself with any non-Biden supporters as it is not written to persuade them.
It’s not the end of the world if anyone on the fence about Joe sees this, but we’re going to be focusing a lot on Biden’s flaws — perceived or actual — and how to address them, so its intended audience is people who already support him. I have written some other persuasive pieces meant to be shared widely, but please only share this one with fellow Biden supporters. However, feel free to copy/paste, or tweak to make your own, any points I make here. That’s the point!
Table of Contents (Desktop Only)
This is a resource that is not necessarily meant to be read linearly or entirely, so please use this to jump around and skip sections you don’t need.
Introduction
Basic Tips
Tip #1: Focus on the Real Audience
Tip #2: Focus on Joe
Tip #3: Expose False Equivalency
Tip #4: Don’t Assume
Tip #5: Don’t Concede to Their Malarkey
Tip #6: Don’t Get Too Emotional
Tip #7: Don’t Go to Crazytown
Tip #8: Stay on Topic
Common Myths
Myth #1: Joe Biden has dementia.
Myth #2: Joe Biden wants to defund the police.
Myth #3: Joe Biden is a pedophile.
Myth #4: Joe Biden is a racist.
Myth #5: Joe Biden hasn’t gotten anything done.
Myth #6: Joe Biden will outlaw religion.
Myth #7: Joe Biden is a liar.
Myth #8: Rioting, Looting, and Violence will Increase Under Biden
Myth #9: Liberals Cancelled College Football
Addressing Concerns
Allegations of Inappropriate Behavior
Tara Reade’s Sexual Assault Allegation
Joe Biden’s Opposition to School Bussing
Joe Biden’s Handling of the Clarence Thomas Hearing
Joe Biden’s Vote for the Iraq War
Joe Biden’s Role in the War on Drugs & the 1994 Crime Bill
Joe Biden’s Votes on DADT and DOMA
Joe Biden’s Plagiarism Scandal
Joe Biden’s Gaffes
Joe Biden is Not Liberal Enough and Won’t Change Anything
Biden’s Accomplishments
Joe Biden’s Blocking of Justice Bork
The Violence Against Women Act
Helping to End the Genocide in Bosnia
The Assault Weapons Ban
Marriage Equality
Overseeing the Obama Recovery Package
Securing Votes for the Affordable Care Act
Best Biden Tidbits
Leading Walkouts of Restaurants
Quitting to Become a Public Defender
Meeting His First Wife
His First Senate Run
Losing His First Wife and Daughter
His Faith
His Handling of Grief
Deciding to Run Again
The Case for Joe
Helpful Links and Content
Introduction
After doing a lot of research on Joe Biden’s life, including reading esteemed journalist Jules Witcover’s biography of the man, I am convinced he has been egregiously misrepresented, and it is our job as supporters to spread the truth about him. Here, I will give you succinct rebuttals to some of the most common myths about Joe Biden, some thoughtful responses to legitimate concerns about Joe, some highlights from his life, a few general tips for engaging with people online, and some helpful links and content pieces to educate people in your life on the truth about our next president.
Let’s start with some basic tips.
Basic Tips
Tip #1: Focus on the Real Audience
If the goal is to persuade people, we have to speak to people who are persuadable. Now, I am not saying we shouldn’t engage Trump supporters. I actually think we should be doing exactly that right now because their lies go unchecked far too often. What I am saying is that they are not the audience for our comments. The real audience is any persuadable person who might be following along. Maybe they’re usually apolitical, maybe they haven’t heard both sides, maybe they’re usually Republican and can’t stand Trump but aren’t sure about Biden. Whoever they are, they are the ones we want to appeal to. We’re (almost) never going to convince a Trump supporter, but you never know who is undecided and may be following along with your debate. The rest of these tips are written with this rule in mind.
Tip #2: Focus on Joe
Many people don’t vote because they don’t like either candidate. Many others vote with the person more ideologically aligned with them if they don’t like either candidate. And some are simply turned off by only hearing negative attacks. This is why it is important to make your comments about promoting Joe rather than attacking Trump. As we’ll cover throughout this piece, Joe brings many strengths to the table. It is time we extol his virtues rather than letting his name get dragged through the mud and hoping people hate Trump enough to vote him out. We can get people to like/respect Joe, or at least be comfortable voting for him, if we spread the word.
Tip #3: Expose False Equivalency
While we want to focus on Joe, there are times where drawing a distinction between him and his opponent will be necessary. One of these times is when a false equivalency is thrown out. Joe Biden is a flawed human, as we all are, but his transgressions are microscopic compared to Trump’s. One perfect example of this is lying. Joe Biden has been known to exaggerate, misspeak, or tell “tall tales,” but he does not have the reputation of being a liar. In Delaware, he could give constituents his “word as a Biden” and they’d trust him. Contrast that to Trump, who is a pathological liar, and a reasonable person will see that there is no comparison. So don’t let people get away with “they’re both liars.” If you let a false equivalency like that go, the persuadable reader potentially following along will assume that the Trump supporter is right on that point. Don’t let them muddy the waters.
Tip #4: Don’t Assume
I see this so often from fellow liberals when debating Trump supporters or ultra-conservatives, and I’ve been guilty of this myself. Say a conservative shares a post opposing Biden’s call for a national mask mandate, and then you — assuming they believe COVID is a hoax or masks don’t work or whatever — comment about how dumb it is not to believe scientists or say they blindly follow whatever Trump says. While these are somewhat reasonable assumptions to draw from their post, you’ve ceded the upper-hand to them. Now all they have to do is claim they just support states’ rights or whatever to make you look like an idiot. The better option is to ask questions to get them to clarify their point.
“What makes you opposed to a national mask mandate?”
Make them take a firm stance before you start debating them.
(Side-note: The word “why?” makes people defensive, so I try to avoid using it in a question.)
Tip #5: Don’t Concede to Their Malarkey
This is similar to the false equivalency point above, but it’s more specific to when they’re making a wild claim about Joe. In the next section, we’ll cover some of the wild myths circling around about Joe. When you see one in the wild, don’t let it slide and assume everyone else will know it’s crazy — call it out. I see this a lot where a troll will say “oh, so you support a pedo as president lol” and the Biden supporter will ignore that part and move straight to “he’s better than Trump.” Don’t do that. Anyone reading will assume that’s a legitimate claim.
Tip #6: Don’t Get Too Emotional
This one is self-explanatory. Keep your cool. The first one to start hurling insults loses in the eyes of the persuadable bystanders.
Tip #7: Don’t Go to Crazytown
While it’s important to call out wild claims, don’t go too far down the rabbit hole. Say your piece, but when they start going off about secret trials and fake pandemics, disengage. Say “agree to disagree” and let them go into full troll mode. The exchange will have the desired affect on any rational person reading.
I’ll touch on some of the specific conspiracy theories affecting this campaign — particularly QAnon — in the Common Myths section.
Tip #8: Stay on Topic
One of my favorite lines I’ve ever heard that perfectly illustrates how the Trump movement has warped everything — and I mean everything — into a weird culture war is this:
“The Democrats want to get rid of the kickoff in the NFL.”
What?
(I think the logic is that Democrats are weak and always want what’s PC and this whole CTE is another fake thing that scientists made up, so the Democrats want to use it to ruin football… or something.)
But that’s how they think. To them, Trump isn’t a politician elected to lead the country and pass policies, he’s a culture warrior fighting for the way things are or were. They will try to drag so many unrelated things into every argument. What about Hillary? What about Benghazi? What about the Epstein flight logs?
Don’t get distracted. Remember your audience. In the national mask mandate example from Tip 4, they could easily start going off about how Fauci “got a lot wrong during all this.” Stay on topic. “The latest science says masks will help save lives, so I think a national mask mandate would be the right thing for the president to do.” If you start defending Fauci, all of the sudden you’re in a 50 comment thread trying to refute their claim that Russia “actually intervened to help Hillary” in 2016. And any persuadable reader will have tuned out and written you both off as idiots.
With all this in mind, let’s move on to the most common myths about Joe Biden that you’ll hear.
Common Myths
These will most likely come from Trump supporters, so they are obviously the most incendiary. However, remember that your real audience is any independent voter who may be reading.
Myth #1: Joe Biden has dementia.
This is Trump’s biggest attack on Joe right now. I’m sure you’ve seen it from him and from many people online. Here’s the thing though, it’s completely ridiculous. Here is my go-to rebuttal this topic:
It’s true, there is no doubt that Joe stumbles on his words more than he used, but he has struggled with a stutter since childhood. It is actually quite common for these types of speech issues to re-emerge and/or worsen in old age, but it’s not a sign of cognitive decline. Moreover, Joe has for years been using the common technique of changing course mid-sentence when he hits a word that’s about to trip him up. However, he now does this a little slower and less deftly, which allows his opponents to be able to edit clips to seem like he frequently loses his train of thought. Again, that’s not what’s happening, he’s just employing a technique to manage his stutter. I encourage anyone to watch a full interview or speech from Biden to see that he is a thoughtful, articulate, and knowledgeable leader who is prepared to be president.
People usually move onto to a different argument altogether after this, but if they come back with a clip or quote or meme that makes Joe look bad, just return to this argument while adding that anyone — even Obama, Reagan, or Kennedy — could be edited to look unintelligent or ineloquent.
Myth #2: Joe Biden wants to defund the police.
No matter your opinion on the issue, this statement is blatantly false. Here’s how I would react to this claim:
Joe Biden has explicitly said he does not support “defunding the police.” He has been a lifelong supporter of police. Go back to the 80s/90s crime bills he worked on and see how he supported bigger investments in police. His current plan proposes investing $300 million more dollars in Community Policing.
I would not recommend going down the rabbit hole of what “defunding the police” means or if systemic racism exists (we know it does) or how else policing might be reformed. Stay on topic. Joe Biden does not want to defund the police. End of story.
Myth #3: Joe Biden is a pedophile.
Welcome to Crazytown, population — well, sadly, in the millions. If you’re not familiar with PizzaGate or QAnon, I recommend episodes 7 & 8 of this podcast from the New York Times for a good overview. To make a long story short:
There is someone named “Q” claiming to be a high up White House official leaking coded information onto the internet. These coded messages tell of a worldwide secret pedophile ring involving most elite politicians — particularly liberals — all around the world. Q says Trump was recruited by the military to become president and bring this child sex trafficking ring to justice.
And that is just the tip of the iceberg on what they believe.
Let me be clear: the QAnon cult has spread misinformation so widely that not everyone who says “Joe Biden is a pedophile” is necessarily a Q believer, they may have just heard it over and over and internalized it. It is our job to set the record straight. Here is my response:
There is no rational reason to believe Joe Biden is a pedophile. This rumor came from the same rumor mill that has said such things as: Democratic politicians are pedophilic cannibals who eat children to remain youthful; Tom Hanks is a pedophile who has Greek citizenship because it’s legal there; and JFK Jr. faked his own death, has been working to uncover this worldwide child sex trafficking ring, is planning to come back to be Trump’s running mate in 2020, and has prophetic knowledge he leaks online under the alias “Q” because he learned how to time travel from secrets Nikola Tesla left to Trump’s grandfather. No matter if you believe the rest of that nonsense or not, that is the source of this ridiculous rumor.
The reaction you’ll probably get is memes or GIFs showing Joe looking creepy around children. Specifically, this one.
This is evidence of nothing. The one linked above has actually been vetted. Turns out Biden is a friend of the family and the girl “thought nothing of it.”
If you want to keep engaging, here’s how I would respond:
These clips don’t show anything nefarious. Biden is an old school “shaking hands and kissing babies” politician. Making the leap that a few awkward interactions in his almost 50 years of public service are proof that he’s a secret pedophile is ridiculous. Again, this is all coming from a crazy online conspiracy.
The conversation could go any number of directions from there. They may bring up the Tara Reade or other allegations against Biden, which are wholly unrelated, and I’ll address later. They also might just try to gaslight you — as they have been gaslit — into seeing something that isn’t there in the clips/images/memes of Biden. I saw one that was freeze-framed to look like Joe’s hand was on a girls chest even though it is clear that his hand was in motion. Don’t fall for their bullshit. They’re looking at the world through a warped lens that you don’t have to put on.
This is the easiest one to veer off course. Remember the tips. Stay on topic. Focus on Joe. And remember who the real audience is. You’re not going to convince anyone who actually believes this. All you can do is make sure the truth is represented alongside their lies.
Myth #4: Joe Biden is a racist.
There are few unfortunate quotes from Joe’s 40+ years of public life out there that, taken out of context, look bad. That, however, does not in anyway mean he is a racist. In fact, he is very much the opposite. Here is how I would respond to that:
Calling Joe Biden a racist is completely false. Joe led walkouts of restaurants when his black classmates weren’t being served, he quit a high-paying law firm to be a public defender amid civil unrest in Delaware, when asked why he ran for Senate by a segregationist Senator, he replied “civil rights, sir.” And let’s not forget that after the Senate he admirably served as the VP to our first Black President. I have faith that our first Black President did a sufficient enough vetting job to not hire a racist as his Vice President. Not to mention his overwhelming support from the Black community, even in a Democratic field that included Black candidates.
If they come back with some of his out of context quotes, simply push back that those quotes are out of context and don’t change his life’s work supporting the Black community. It’d also probably be good to acknowledge that Joe often misspeaks but he always apologizes and corrects himself, which is the sign of good leadership.
Myth #5: Joe Biden hasn’t gotten anything done.
This usually comes in the form of “Joe Biden had 40 years to make changes and has nothing to show for it.” It’s, of course, an absurd claim. Here’s my response:
Joe Biden has achieved quite a lot in his years in government. From stopping the SCOTUS going off a cliff into ultra-conservatism to the Violence Against Woman Act to advancing LGBT rights to leading the economic recovery to getting the ACA passed. Whether you agree with his achievements or not, you can’t deny that the man has accomplished far more than most legislators in his generation.
You’ll have to kind of play it by ear after that one, but you’ve at least refuted the claim that Biden has nothing to show for his years in Congress and as VP.
Myth #6: Joe Biden will outlaw religion.
This is a new one Trump is testing out that I don’t think will catch on much, but here is my response:
Joe Biden is a lifelong man of faith. So much so that he considered entering the priesthood on two occasions: after graduating high school and after his first wife passed away. This is a ridiculous charge coming from a man who can’t quote a single verse.
Leave it at that.
Myth #7: Joe Biden is a liar.
This one usually comes from the non-voter who thinks they’re enlightened because they don’t vote, “They’re all liars so what’s the point?” Or from the Trump person who justifies their support for Trump by claiming Joe lies just as much. I think it’s crucial to attack the false equivalency here:
Joe Biden is overall a person of high moral character. We all misspeak, exaggerate, or stretch the truth sometimes, but we are not all liars. Joe Biden is no different. In fact, to voters in his home state of Delaware — which operates politically like a small-town — he earned their trust so much that he could give them his “word as a Biden” and that’d be enough. More importantly, when Joe gets called out on his gaffes or misstatements, he apologizes and corrects himself. That’s what I want out of my leaders.
Joe tells tall tales sometimes. Trump lies almost every time he speaks. There’s a big difference.
Myth #8: Rioting, Looting, and Violence will Increase Under Biden
As protests have persisted and tensions have risen in Portland, Oregon, Trump has return to a line of attack he tried against Joe in the early summer: You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America. It didn’t work then and I don’t think it will work now, but here is my response:
Crime rates fell under the Obama/Biden administration. This is happening under Trump’s leadership, not theirs. Joe Biden has been a supporter of police and tough on crime his entire career. More importantly, though, given the tensions happening in cities throughout this country; Joe Biden is a uniter, not a divider. He’ll ease tensions by listening, showing empathy, displaying leadership, and taking action. Watch his speech outlining his vision to address these issues: https://youtu.be/H7yxH13SHTI
It’s easy for this one to go off topic. One guy I’m talking to has me writing a research paper on urban crime rates over time. Don’t be like me.
Myth #9: Liberals Cancelled College Football
You may not think this matters, but it does. A lot. The Big Ten cancelled their fall season and people in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota are not happy. We need to win some combination of those states, which is why Trump is trying to turn this into a win for himself. He is currently trying to negotiate with the Big Ten to start games in October… I wonder why. Moreover, there are rumors swirling on conservative sites that liberals have taken over these universities and football is the latest victim of cancel culture. If this comes up, I’d say something like this:
The Big Ten was forced to make a tough decision in the first place because the president failed to get the coronavirus in check. Every other developed country has been able to return to life mostly as normal, but we are still dealing with people dying in the thousands daily. I love college football and hope it’s back soon. There are no democrats or liberals out there who take pleasure in games not being played. Particularly Joe Biden, who played football for the University of Delaware.
It’s a dumb claim, but it’s out there and needs to be addressed.
Okay, now that we’ve gotten through the most common myths you’ll see thrown around about Joe, let’s move onto addressing some of the more legitimate, problematic claims.
Addressing Concerns
These concerns are more likely to come from fellow liberals or truly independent voters who are trying to make up their minds but have reservations about Joe. In this section, I’m not going to provide succinct responses to all of them like I did above because these require more nuance and care. Instead, I’m going to try to give my take on each issue, link to any related resources, and let that inform your responses.
Allegations of Inappropriate Behavior
There are seven known allegations of inappropriate behavior against Joe Biden; six women who said he “crossed boundaries” but that it wasn’t sexual in nature, and Tara Reade’s sexual assault allegation. It’s important to differentiate these because this is where people draw blatant false equivalencies between Trump and Biden. You see the memes all the time about how both major candidates have been accused of rape and assault by multiple women. That is simply not the case: one woman has accused Joe Biden of sexual assault; six more said he crossed personal space boundaries but they largely still support him. Meanwhile, we’re all aware of Trump’s long list of accusers, the actual cases that have been brought against him, and his own words bragging about his ability to get away with assault.
I’ll focus more on Tara Reade’s allegation in a moment, but let me first offer my take on Biden’s crossing of personal boundaries. There is no way around this: Joe is guilty of this. Now, how nefariously you view this depends on your take of the man. Personally, I think Joe probably got away with this for a long time because he was young and attractive, then he was known and powerful, and then societal norms changed without him adapting quickly enough. The latter part of this Joe acknowledged in his video statement at the beginning of his campaign. Moreover, Joe apologized for his actions, accepted blame, promised to do better, and has done better throughout the 2020 campaign. Ultimately, that is what I want out of a leader, and is in stark contrast to the current occupant of the White House.
My advice to anyone discussing these claims with people online is to not browbeat them into seeing it your way. State the facts, give your perspective, but if they find the actions Joe has actually committed to be a deal breaker, leave it at that. These are sensitive topics and not everyone is going to see it our way.
Tara Reade’s Sexual Assault Allegation
This situation is even more complicated than the one above. To reiterate, this is the only allegation of sexual assault against Joe Biden. The ones above were “not sexual in nature.” I think my advice at the end of the last section is even more pertinent here. Give people the facts and your perspective, but — in the words of Joe Biden himself — if they think he did this “they shouldn’t vote for [him].” (I’m not sure why that was characterized as a gaffe.)
I’ll be upfront here: I struggled with this. I was one of the voices calling for Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to be halted. I was ready to join the chorus of voices calling for Biden to step aside. However, Joe’s reaction, statements from Joe’s supporters (especially Alyssa Milano), investigations by the Washington Post and New York Times (among others) into the facts of the case, and the words of Tara Reade and her corroborators themselves quelled my concerns in continuing to support Biden.
It is my honest belief that Joe did not do this. Moreover, it is my belief that anyone who looks into the matter without bias will come to the same conclusion.
My advice, once again, is to provide the facts, offer your perspective, and leave it at that. If this is a deal-breaker for someone, let it be.
Joe Biden’s Opposition to School Bussing
Ironically, his running mate brought this issue back to public consciousness for Joe Biden. However, this is easy to clear up for anyone misconstruing it: Joe opposed school bussing as a policy at the federal level on constitutional grounds; moreover, he believed integrating schools through bussing would slow the integration of neighborhoods, which he found more meaningful. Joe Biden did not oppose integration. Joe Biden is not a racist. See Myth #4 above.
Biden’s Handling of the Clarence Thomas Confirmation Hearing
The Anita Hill testimony and Clarence Thomas hearings are complicated. Yes, the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Biden, could have done more to make sure the allegations were more fully vetted and Hill was treated fairly. However, the handling of the hearings have been painted with too broad a brush in hindsight and lack the nuance of the considerations taken at the time. This piece written by the “other woman” not called to testify at the hearings, Angela Wright-Shannon, provides the requisite nuance from the her invaluable perspective.
Here is an excerpt:
“As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee 28 years ago, Biden performed poorly; his lack of support for Hill was appalling. Hill says Biden promised her that she would be allowed to testify first. Everyone knows now that didn’t happen, a turn that allowed Thomas to frame the hearings to his advantage. Biden could have done more — or at least tried — to moderate the heartless grilling of Hill by his Senate colleagues. He could have called me to speak to Thomas’s behavior, thus backing Hill’s testimony. Yet he chose not to. For Hill, Biden was about as useful as an umbrella to a skydiver.
But let’s keep things in perspective. The Thomas hearings were extraordinary for any number of reasons. Hard as it might be to imagine now, there was no national conversation about sexual harassment before the hearings. Secondly, the all-white, all-male Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991 had not the first clue about how to handle the accusations of a clearly accomplished, reputable, African American female law professor against an equally accomplished, African American male appeals court judge. Sensing the senators’ unease, Thomas played his race card in his opening remarks, declaring that the hearings were nothing more than “a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks who in any way deign to think for themselves.”
And, with that, he managed to neutralize any white man on the committee who dared to oppose him, turning the debate from one of sexual harassment into one of racist politics. By linking questions about his sexual behavior to his race and labeling it a lynching, Thomas put every man on that panel on the defensive. I understand why Biden turned into a prattling, ineffectual lump of nothingness. I don’t excuse it, but I do understand…
…Biden’s candidacy makes him an easy target for all the feminist wrath that was unleashed in 1991, reignited in 2016 and compounded during the Brett M. Kavanaugh hearings last year. That ire is misplaced. If anyone other than Hill has cause to be furious with Biden, it would be me. I, too, was pilloried and dismissed by Thomas and never allowed a chance to defend myself. But I don’t share the wrath…
…Biden is not a #MeToo villain. He wrote the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, which survives despite Republican attempts to cut funding and a Supreme Court decision gutting a key provision that allowed women the right to sue their attackers. That law was recently reauthorized by the House and awaits Senate consideration. The law was a measure of Biden’s character, and what he now proposes as a candidate should be judged just as carefully.
This is not the time to ask Biden to answer for what happened 28 years ago. We need him to carve us a pathway forward. He doesn’t owe me an apology. But I will tell you who does: Clarence Thomas.”
Joe Biden’s Vote “for the Iraq War”
This vote has been litigated and re-litigated a million times, but it has been completely oversimplified in the years since. The vote was not a straight up-or-down vote on whether we should go to war with Iraq. Rather, it was an authorization for President Bush to use force in order to enforce UN Security Council Resolutions or if our national security was threatened. At the time, it was thought the Bush administration needed this for leverage in negotiations. Moreover, it was believed Bush would continue to work with Congress in good faith as it did with the War in Afghanistan after 9/11. We know this is not how it played out. Joe Biden knows this is not how it played out, was a vocal critic of how the war was being prosecuted by Bush, and he has repeatedly owned up his mistake of trusting the Bush administration. This is the kind of self-awareness and willingness to accept his shortcomings I want out of a leader.
The main point here is that Joe Biden is a flawed person who cast a bad vote. He is not, however, a war hawk. Yet, that is how some try to paint him. As Commander in Chief, he won’t be reckless in sending us to war. It would always be a last resort for him. This was not a vote “for” war and that oversimplification of it misrepresents his views on foreign policy. Moreover, his leadership in Senate after that vote and as Vice President should ease anyone’s concerns over his capableness as Commander in Chief.
Joe Biden’s Role in the War on Drugs & the 1994 Crime Bill
There is no doubt: Through a series of votes and stances Joe took in the 80s and 90s, such as the 1994 Crime Bill, he supported the War on Drugs. The negative impact of those misguided policies — such as mandatory minimums, the over-policing of minority communities, and the misclassification of certain drugs — has ravaged many communities of color.
All I can say is: This was not Joe’s intent. In the thinking of the time, he earnestly believed he was supporting legislation that would have exactly the opposite impact. I believe this is represented by his current criminal justice and drug addiction platform. This ability to acknowledge his mistakes, learn from them, and do better is what makes me believe Joe Biden is the leader we need right now.
Joe Biden’s Votes on the DADT and the DOMA
Joe Biden’s views on gay rights evolved quite a bit during his time in public life, along with the rest of the country. These votes are regrettable in hindsight. I can’t do a better job at putting this into context than has already been done by The Advocate, so I implore you to read their full piece.
Here is an excerpt:
“But reluctantly supporting Biden because he’s not Trump isn’t the same as enthusiastically endorsing him. We’re doing the latter.
Biden is running on the most pro-LGBTQ+ platform of any major-party nominee in the history of the United States. In his plan for LGBTQ+ equality, he promises to make enactment of the Equality Act during his first 100 days as president a top legislative priority; reverse the transgender military ban as well as military policies that discriminate against people with HIV; work to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth; end the misuse of religious exemptions to enable discrimination; address violence against LGBTQ+ people (something especially affecting transgender women of color); and more.
Biden has called transgender equality the civil rights issue of our time.
He has a long and deep record of supporting the rights of LGBTQ+ people and those with HIV. As Barack Obama’s vice president, he advocated for passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (after having supported earlier hate-crimes legislation as a U.S. senator) and for the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Both efforts were successful. He has fought to fund HIV treatment and prevention, and to protect people with the virus from discrimination. He famously came out for marriage equality on Meet the Press in May 2012, a few days before Obama did — and it didn’t hurt their reelection chances in the slightest.”
Joe Biden’s Plagiarism Scandal
I doubt this will come up, but it did sink his 1988 presidential campaign so it’s probably worth noting. If it does come up, it will probably be in a list of “proof” that he is “a liar.” See Myth #7.
Here’s the long and short of it: He improperly cited some sources in a paper during law school. He didn’t NOT cite them. He just cited them the wrong way. I mean, come on. Anyway, a peer reviewer — who may or may not have had it out for Joe due to jealousy according to classmates — caught the error and reported it. An investigation took place which ultimately resulted in Joe retaking the course. He plagiarized only in the strictest academic definition of the word. It’s a non-issue. End of story.
Joe Biden’s Gaffes
If you come across this, I would at first resist the urge to draw the obvious comparison to Trump.
Here’s my response:
Joe Biden’s “talking off the cuff” style is part of his appeal. He’s an authentic person. Authentic people make mistakes. Most importantly, he admits when he’s wrong, clarifies himself, and apologizes when he’s wrong. This is what good leaders do.
The contrast to Trump is evident.
Joe is Not Liberal Enough and Won’t Change Anything
This will most likely come from a progressive who is considering voting third party or staying home. I wrote here about how voting third party or not voting in 2020 is immoral, but below is my response to anyone claiming Joe won’t accomplish enough from a liberal perspective:
Joe Biden is running on the most progressive platform of any major candidate in history. Every mainstream progressive politician — including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — has pledged their support for him. He has worked with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on specific policy initiatives to unite the party behind progressive causes. He had one of the more liberal voting records for his time in the Senate. He just picked one of the more liberal current Senators to be his running mate. There is A LOT of progressive legislation that can get passed in a Biden administration. How much has a shot in hell at getting passed in four more years of Trump?
Additionally, it is often not the progressive firebrand who signs meaningful legislation. It wasn’t Kennedy who signed the Civil Rights or Votings Rights Act, it was Johnson. Sometimes the moment pushes more moderate politicians to rise to the occasion. Moreover, sometimes movements need skilled insiders to work the system in their favor. I believe we are in one of those moments. I believe that Joe Biden and a Democratic Congress being elected, in direct repudiation of Trump, with the progressive movement gaining strength, and multiple crises demanding change from our system will lead to a spree of progressive reforms being passed the likes of which has not been seen in decades. But don’t just take it from me, take it from Bernie:
Phew, now that we’ve addressed these concerns, let’s move on to highlights the positives from Biden’s life and career.
Biden’s Accomplishments
These are some of the major legislative or administrative accomplishments Joe Biden has been an integral part of in his lifetime. In the next section, I’ll provide some more anecdotal tidbits that illustrate Joe’s character and leadership.
Joe Biden’s Blocking of Robert Bork
Joe Biden’s blocking of Robert Bork’s confirmation to the Supreme Court prevented the Court from going off a cliff into radical conservatism. Bork believed — among other radical things — that the Constitution didn’t provide a right to privacy. After Bork was shot down by the Senate, Reagan nominated Justice Kennedy, who we know was a crucial moderate swing vote for over two decades, eventually writing the opinion that made Marriage Equality the law of the land.
The Violence Against Women Act
Joe Biden co-sponsored this landmark legislation and led the fight for its passage.
Helping to End the Genocide in the Bosnia
Joe Biden was an early and outspoken critic of the United Nations arms embargo on the new nation of Bosnia in the early 90s. As tensions rose with neighboring Serbia, Biden pushed for an amendment in a Senate bill to call for the revoking of the arms embargo and authorizing the president to provide arms to Bosnia, so it could defend itself. As the conflict led to genocide, Biden was a leading voice in calling for swift action, including military intervention, to save civilians. At one point during a meeting with Serbian leader Slobodan Milošević, Biden shook his fist at him and called him a “damn war criminal” to his face. The threat of the United States’ “lift and strike” policy — early championed by Biden — helped force all sides to signing a peace agreement in Dayton, Ohio in 1995.
The Assault Weapons Ban
Biden was a leading voice in taking on the NRA and getting the Assault Weapons Ban included as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Joe helped secure the votes necessary for its passage by working with both Republican and Democratic senators. The full impact of this ban is hard to determine since it was not renewed in 2004, but some studies have shown it helped decrease the number of lives lost to mass shootings during its 10-year enactment.
His Stance on Marriage Equality
You can review above how Biden’s record on LGBT rights is complicated, yet reflective of us as a nation above, but Joe ultimately got this right and arrived at the stance before many in his own party. Joe famously came out in support of marriage equality before President Obama, making him the first nationally elected politician in US history to do so, during their 2012 reelection campaign. The thought at the time was that the stance could potentially hurt the ticket in the election, but Joe took the stance anyway. A few years later, the Supreme Court made marriage equality the law of the land with Justice Kennedy — the man who only sat on the Court because of Joe’s efforts to block Robert Bork — writing the historic Opinion.
Overseeing the Obama Recovery Package
Not only did Joe do what he does best — worked both sides of the aisle to secure votes — for the Recovery Act, but he also oversaw its implementation. The Recovery Act is taught in Public Administration textbooks for its transparency and lack of waste. Biden was instrumental in this effort. He was so tough on spending going where it needed to go that he was nicknamed “Sheriff Joe” and frequently spoke with local officials personally solve their problems. In addition to being extremely efficient in its spending, the Recovery Act also stemmed the worst of the Great Recession and led to a record period of job growth during the Obama/Biden administration.
Securing Votes for the Affordable Care Act
Even with a supermajority in the Senate, getting the Affordable Care Act through Congress was a difficult feat. In the over year long debate around the legislation, its fate was in doubt on numerous occasions. President Obama, newly elected with soaring approval numbers, expended much of his political capital selling the idea to the American people. However, when it was time to nail down the votes, it was Biden’s experience and relationships in the senate that got the deal done. It is a fact that millions of people currently have healthcare because of Joe Biden.
Now, a lot of what we’ve focused on so far revolves around facts and policy, but as you probably know, a lot of people vote on their gut. With that in mind, let me share with you some of my favorite tidbits from Joe’s life that I think illustrate his character and enhance his likability. These would probably be more naturally brought up in actual conversations, or if you’re just making a general case (as I’ll do later) for why you support Joe Biden.
Best Biden Tidbits
Here are few quick tidbits that I think show Biden’s relatable life story, as well as his character and leadership. Most of these stories are from Jules Witcover’s biography of Biden. However, I don’t know if I can do better than this short film:
Leading Walkouts of Restaurants
When Biden was student and football player, there were times where his black teammates or classmates were not being served at restaurants. In these moments, Biden led his fellow classmates and teammates in walkouts of those restaurants in a show of solidarity with their peers of color.
Quitting to Become a Public Defender
When civil unrest around issues of racial injustice gripped the city of Wilmington, Delaware and National Guard troops occupied the city for weeks on end, Joe Biden quit his job as an up and coming lawyer at a prestigious law firm to become a public defender in order to represent low-income citizens, most people of color.
Meeting his First Wife
In college, Joe went on a trip to Florida with some friends. During the trip, they discovered they could get a cheap flight to the Bahamas. In the Bahamas with no plans, they were trying to find somewhere to hang out. Through the gate at one of the resorts, Joe saw a beautiful girl. He and his friends snagged towels from the resort’s fence and walked inside. Joe approached the girl, Neilia, and struck up a conversation. They spent the rest of the week together. Once back home, Joe decided to change from a more prestigious law school to go to Syracuse, where Neilia lived.
His First Senate Run
Remember the excitement surrounding Beto’s run in 2018? That was Joe in 1972, except Joe took it a step further and won. He improbably took on an incumbent in a red state, campaigned vigorously throughout the state, and became the second youngest person ever elected to the United State Senate.
His Handling of Grief
The tragedies in Joe Biden’s life have been well-documented, but it is worth noting here once more what it says about the man. When his first wife and infant daughter died in a car crash shortly after he won his first Senate election, Joe wanted to decline his seat in the Senate but was urged to serve by current senators. He commuted by train from DC to Wilmington every day to make the arrangement work as a single father. When Beau passed in 2015, Joe couldn’t bring himself to run in 2016, but here he is in 2020 serving the country once again. There is no doubt experiencing these losses has made Joe a more empathetic person and compassionate leader.
His Faith
As a Christian myself who does not understand why most Christians are conservatives, I appreciate how Joe approaches his faith. He takes strength from it and it informs his morality, but he never tries to impose it on anyone; including through policy.
This conversation with Stephen Colbert shortly after Beau’s passing provides a good insight into how Joe approaches his faith:
Deciding to Run Again
There is simply something beautiful about Joe Biden running for president again. While his first run in 1988 may have been about hubris, and his second in 2008 about experience, I think this one is about duty. I truly believe he was ready to ride into the sunset after leaving office in 2017. He had given so much of his life to serving his country, and it seemed like the time when the country needed Joe Biden had passed. But it hadn’t. I believe Joe is running completely out of a sense of duty. A knowledge that he was best positioned to unite the party, defeat Trump, and save the country. All this nearly 50 years after he first came to the Senate, and 32 years after he first ran for president. It’s really quite poignant.
The Case for Joe
I find a lot of times that Joe Biden critics will simply say, “You only support him because you hate Trump!” And that can be one of the hardest things to respond to. So in this section, I’m going to try to give you the best general case — incorporating a bunch of the stuff from above — for Joe Biden that I can give. Obviously, the message should be tailored to your audience whether you’re speaking to a liberal, a conservative, a moderate, or the ambivalent.
Joe Biden is everything we should want a president to be.
Accomplished. Thoughtful. Humble. Strong. Authentic. Compassionate. Honorable.
You may not agree with him on every issue, and you may have heard more about his flaws and failures than his merits and successes, but they are numerous and impactful. Some claim that he got little done in the Senate, but the fact is he was one of the most effective senators of his generation. As a Senator, Biden was instrumental in such landmark events as passing the Violence Against Women Act, bringing an end to the Bosnian Genocide, and protecting the right to privacy by preventing Robert Bork from getting onto the Supreme Court. As Vice President, he restored dignity to office after years of abuse by Dick Cheney, implemented the Economic Recovery Act leading to a record period of job growth, oversaw the draw down of the Iraq War, and secured healthcare for millions of Americans.
His compassionate is evident when you see him interact with those going through grief of any kind, whether it’s due to a pandemic, mass shooting, or cancer. He connects with people, from fellow politicians to 12 year olds with a stutter, in a way that cannot be faked. This authenticity is attested to by everyone from President Obama to former staffers to former classmates. Joe Biden is simply a good person.
His strength is showcased throughout his life story. When football teammates were discriminated against because of the color of their skin, he led walkouts of those establishments in solidarity. When he met with Serbian leader, Slobodan Milošević, who was perpetrating a genocide in Bosnia, Joe called him a “damn war criminal” to his face. When his own advisors told him it was too politically risky, he declared his support for marriage equality anyway. Joe Biden is a strong leader.
The way I look at is: There is a job to be done. It’s not just any job, but it is a job nonetheless. And like any other job, we can easily infer what kind of person would be qualified for it by looking at its responsibilities. The person in this job will be responsible for the most powerful military in the history of mankind, ensuring the safety and prosperity of millions of Americans as well as millions of others worldwide, negotiating with leaders at home and abroad, managing the functioning of the federal government, maintaining the good standing and trustworthiness of our democracy, and providing stability and comfort to the country’s citizens when necessary. Joe Biden is not only the most qualified person to do this job of anyone running in this election, he may be the person most qualified to do this job of anyone. Period.
The choice is not hard. Yes, this is politics, but this should not be a political decision. Conservatives, moderates, and liberals alike should be voting for Joe Biden. Not because any single policy he’ll pass or not, but because he is the best person to do the job. A job that when done poorly can cost lives and livelihoods. We’ve seen what four years of having an incapable person in that job can lead to. I sincerely don’t know if the country as we know it will survive four more years.
We all must vote for Joe Biden.
Helpful Links and Content
In addition to what’s hyperlinked above, here are some links you may find helpful.
My Case for Joe Biden: https://medium.com/@cameronsettles/joe-biden-deserves-your-vote-735c3d4abc0a
My Overview of Joe’s Accomplishments: https://medium.com/@cameronsettles/a-quick-overview-of-joe-bidens-biggest-accomplishments-7f733d7f2347
My Moral Argument Against Voting Third Party: https://medium.com/@cameronsettles/the-trolley-problem-and-the-immorality-of-voting-third-party-in-2020-d9c4965bce2c
Joe Biden’s Excellent DNC Acceptance Speech: https://youtu.be/eZ3Ssxe8vsw
Michelle Obama’s DNC Speech: https://youtu.be/LMH_Aali19s
President Obama’s DNC Speech: https://youtu.be/aohkgMFfhS4
Kamala Harris’ DNC Acceptance Speech: https://youtu.be/JijFLcbIqMs
Joe Biden’s Policy Platforms: https://joebiden.com/joes-vision/
Joe Biden’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/joebiden
The DNC’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DemConvention/videos
Joe Biden’s Biography Videos from DNC:
His Life Story — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwjEHwPyJFQ
Never Just a Job — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLKoxgkkr9g
Standing Up for What’s Right — https://youtu.be/CDXbuVNJHjo
His Friendship with John McCain — https://youtu.be/FxKQWPDsAv8
High Quality Photos of Joe: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bidenforpresident/
Joe Biden Graphics: https://go.joebiden.com/page/content/team-joe-digital-toolkit-graphics/
Biden’s 2015 Colbert Interview:
Part 1 — https://youtu.be/opVaEC_WxWs
Part 2 — https://youtu.be/XwmMPytjrK4
Jon Stewart on Biden Being the “Man of the Moment”: https://youtu.be/iHVI6X_f3rM
The Advocate’s Endorsement: https://www.advocate.com/election/2020/6/24/joe-biden-donald-trump-lgbt-gay-equality
An In-Depth Look at Biden’s Acumen as a Dealmaker: https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/04/30/biden-bipartisan-dealmaking-backfire-226758
