Is Biden a Man Out of Time?
The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election has been among the most contentious and polarizing in American history. In the midst of rising extremism on both sides of the political aisle, former Vice President Joe Biden has emerged as the Democratic nominee, many times touted as a return to a saner, less contentious era of American politics. But is Biden an anachronism, the right man for the wrong time? As we consider the question, we’ll look at the policies he supports, his track record as Vice President, and his vision for what America can be.
Who is Joe Biden?
Joe Biden served eight years as the Vice President of the United States under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Before that, he was a senator from Delaware for over 35 years, and prior to his run for the Oval Office in 2020, Biden had sought the Democratic nomination in presidential campaigns twice before.
Throughout his political career in Washington, Biden has championed a wide range of progressive policies, including a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and an expansion of the Affordable Care Act. He was a strong advocate of the Paris Agreement on climate change and was one of the most influential figures in negotiating the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Biden’s Track Record
While Vice President, Biden planned and oversaw the implementation of the US’ economic recovery from the Great Recession, the Affordable Care Act, and the Iran nuclear deal. He developed and implemented the Obama White House’s entire agenda on foreign policy, national security, and economic issues.
He was instrumental in the Paris climate agreement and Obama’s attempts to close the Guantánamo Bay detention center. He was also known for his work on LGBT rights and advancing criminal justice reform.
Biden’s Vision
Joe Biden has declared his commitment to restoring the soul of the United States, noting that this would require a return to basic values and a rejection of extremism on all sides, with a focus on restoring the spirit of bipartisanship and political decency in Washington.
He has promised to reduce economic inequality through a focus on expanding the middle class, strengthening labor unions, and reforming the tax code.
On climate change, Biden promises to advance the Green New Deal, streamline energy regulations, and support renewable energy. He also is committed to rejoining the Paris Agreement, and investing ramped-up resources into research and technology that can promote carbon capture.
He pledges to protect and expand access to healthcare by making health insurance available and more affordable, including through a public health option. As he puts it, “healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.”
Biden also promises to tackle climate change with a focus on strong investment in renewable energy and research, as well as to restore trust and decency to politics through an embrace of bipartisanship and rejection of extremism on all sides.
Biden’s Age
One of the aspects of Joe Biden’s candidacy that has raised some eyebrows is his age, as at 77 years old, he would become the oldest president to ever enter the White House, should he win the election.
The age question has come up specifically in relation to whether Biden is physically and mentally able to serve as President, and handle the rigors of a job that often require long hours and quick decisions in tense situations.
To this end, Biden has on numerous occasions addressed this issue head on, asserting that he is in good physical and mental health and absolutely capable of handling the job. While some of his more strenuous appearances, such as when he appeared behind a podium for five hours straight in the Democratic primary, have certainly taken a toll on him, he affirmatively responds that he is up to the task of President of the United States.
Joe Biden has built a career that has been dedicated to restoring an ethic of decency and bipartisanship to Washington. From his stated policies and promises to his record as Vice President, Biden has proven himself to be a man of progressive values and a vigorous commitment to all Americans.
The primary factor that has cast doubt on Biden’s ability to bring his vision to life is his age. Though Biden himself has expressly stated he is in good health and can handle the job, his age and subsequent physical and mental capabilities will likely remain a point of contention throughout this election cycle.
Though Biden has embraced his reputation as a “return to normalcy” of American politics, it remains to be seen if he is indeed a man out of time.
In the end, only time will tell if Biden can make history in one of the most significant – and divisive – presidential elections in American history.
