“Honey, it’s gonna be okay.” – Joe Biden
That was Vice President Joe Biden near the conclusion of his statement Wednesday, during which he stated, “I will not be a candidate” (for president). He was recalling growing up in tough times, and his parents assuring him, his brother and sister that everything was going to be okay.
Was he trying to tell voters to hang in there; I’m here if Hillary goes south?
Joe Biden gave a lengthy speech via teleprompter to say he wasn’t a candidate for president as President Obama and Jill Biden looked on. (businessinsider.com)
There he stood, between President Obama and his wife, Jill, in the White House Rose Garden, taking us through his grieving process and the closing window to a realistic campaign for president.
But this political wonk believes “Ole Joe” has left that window open a crack to answer the call of the Democrat party should Hillary Clinton’s campaign sour. Will she satisfy the Select Committee on Benghazi, and escape criminal charges by the FBI for mishandling classified documents?
If not, why the Rose Garden appearance with Obama at his side? And did he really need a teleprompter to say, I’ve given it a great deal of thought, and want to thank all of you who encouraged me to run?
He went into his support of the middle class, who need a fighting chance on a level playing field. There was the support for free college education, child care tax credits. And it will all be paid for by wealthy folks, “and it’s my guess they’ll be happy to help build a stronger economy and better education America.”
On the use of the military – “The argument that we just have to do something when bad people do bad things isn’t good enough reason for American intervention and to put our sons and daughters lives on the line, put them at risk.”
Then there was the need for more funding for research and development with emphasis on beating cancer.
“I also believe we need to keep moving forward in the arc of this nation toward justice: the rights of the LGBT community, immigration reform, equal pay for women and protecting their safety from violence, rooting out institutional racism.”
He went on to say, “We are positioned to lead the world in the 21st century. We have to be one America again.” Wait a minute, Joe, wasn’t that Obama’s promise in 2008, before he began dividing us all?
He should have turned to the president when he said, “I believe we have to end the divisive partisan politics that is ripping this country apart. And for the sake of this country, we have to work together.”
Finally, sounding more like a candidate than not, he talked about his years in public service since age 25, and said, “I am absolutely certain that we fully are capable of accomplishing extraordinary things. We can do this … we can do so much more.”
There used to be a typing drill – “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party.” I think Joe is still ready and willing.
