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Congratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: People trust Joe Biden... they like him on a gut level.. [View all]Gothmog
(152,006 posts)78. 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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I get what you're saying about "most comfortable"... that's how many feel about Bernie too.
InAbLuEsTaTe
Sep 2019
#1
Yup, couldve sworn the DNC has welcomed Bernie as a Democratic candidate & he's embraced it as well.
InAbLuEsTaTe
Sep 2019
#50
Will we ever get to the day when we could occasionally tune out as we did under Obama?
hlthe2b
Sep 2019
#2
I am not hearing from other candidates that they have any realization of the momentous
emmaverybo
Sep 2019
#56
This is an old story. Always a lot of he said she said stuff. Don't buy it, i wouldn't regardless of
Thekaspervote
Sep 2019
#30
It won't work...people know Biden...but now Warren will be marked as a socialist..and as some
Demsrule86
Sep 2019
#47
You do. Many people do. But many of us don't. I look at him and I see that young, good looking,
pnwmom
Sep 2019
#17
So what? I would, too, against Trump. But she did NOT say he'd be her first choice,
pnwmom
Sep 2019
#34
I'm still humbled by the immense trust and faith you placed in President Obama and me.
Gothmog
Sep 2019
#18
Yes, people trust Joe on a gut level, If he is our candidate, he will win. Why?
Stuart G
Sep 2019
#19
I like Joe Biden. But I get a little uncomfortable when you start talking about "gut feelings."
Nitram
Sep 2019
#20
That has not happened despite the media's best efforts...and I don't consider them gaffes
Demsrule86
Sep 2019
#48
it is ASTOUNDING..... that Joe is not tearing anyone else down!!! He is a hero in my book
trueblue2007
Sep 2019
#22
I'm in the 55+ AA Female Demo But Biden Also Has Deep Support with My White Friends/Colleagues
Indykatie
Sep 2019
#27
I don't believe he was wrong...media questioned all these folks looking for this...
Demsrule86
Sep 2019
#49
And you think Obama would have spent whole days for eight years with Biden if his VP were high
emmaverybo
Sep 2019
#57
You're talking about the same Joe Biden Obama selected as VP to appeal to older white voters?
Act_of_Reparation
Sep 2019
#61
He selected him, a seasoned hand, to give him, relatively a newbie, greater credibility as well
emmaverybo
Sep 2019
#65
I never said he wasn't. So was my friend who was teaching the corrupting power of "white privilege"
emmaverybo
Sep 2019
#66
I can read your mind? Fine, no argument. I expressed the view that Biden has used his
emmaverybo
Sep 2019
#67
Washington Post-Opinion: Democrats want to beat Trump. Biden wants to be the one to do it.
Gothmog
Sep 2019
#44
Trust and like-ability. I think Americans also realize how competent Biden is despite the occasional
emmaverybo
Sep 2019
#52
Guess I'm not "people" b/c I happily voted for him x2 for VP(only times I ever had him on my ballot)
RockRaven
Sep 2019
#55
Obviously. some people here don't trust him so much. But, that's not the point...
TreasonousBastard
Sep 2019
#58
We all have a responsibility to stand up and speak out when we see abuse of power.
Gothmog
Sep 2019
#73
Biden's Electability Advantage Will Be Hard to Shake Among Risk-Averse Democrats
Gothmog
Sep 2019
#80