"Do you want a president who isn't qualified to be secretary of state?"
I went in undecided, and I walked out confident that I could, should, and will vote for Joe Biden in the primary on January 5th. Previous to yesterday, I would say any one of the following about him: “He’s brilliant, but he isn’t getting any traction. He can’t win.” or “He’s always putting his foot in his mouth, isn’t it?” or “He’ll make a great secretary of state.” But watching Joe Biden move around the room, face-to-face with voters, and listening to the anecdotes, names, ideas and statistics that tumbled out during the hour and a half that he spoke convinced me that he is exactly who the US and the world needs in the Oval Office. If only the inauguration date could be moved up a year sooner!
His years of experience doing and living diplomacy, not simply thinking or talking about it, are key. He knows all of the world leaders – he’s worked with them for years in the many different positions that they’ve held. Moreover, he understands how to get things done, how to bring people to the table to craft compromise agreements that can move nations forward. The range of ideas he spoke of was extraordinary; his command of the material something to marvel at. His past record and his ideas right now are enought to convince me that he is right for the job.
He is exceptionally bright and smart, with a vocabulary that is refreshingly varied and complex. Moreover, regardless of all of his years in Washington, he’s not scripted, handled, or packaged in any way. What you see and hear is what you get – an intelligent man who isn’t afraid to show a wide range of emotions: anger, humor, horror, fear, and a sense of the absurd. In other words, a real human being, not simply a public face. There was an energy in the room that was contagious, and it emanated from Joe.
He knows his son is going to Iraq with the Delaware National Guard; while that isn't the impetus or justification for his plan for Iraq, it reminds me that he lives in the real world, and that he raised his family to honor public service and to accept the responsibilities that come with that service and leadership. We don't get to see that often in our world - the young people that our media celebrate and pay attention to are rich, self-destructive, and dedicated to partying and shopping, not improving the world or serving their community. Being in the room with Joe Biden allowed me to feel his energy and his passion as well as marvel at his intellect. When watching him on tv, I know that in the past I have felt that his behavior was perhaps too uncontrolled or hot-headed. But having the opportunity to hear him and watch him connect with the audience – often on an individual basis – revealed to me what a dynamic and engaging – and brutally honest – man he is. And any “blundering” that I’ve seen in the past or might see in the future is simply genuine exasperation with the media, politics as usual, and the dysfunctional nature of Washington, DC over the past decade. While I’ll never go to law school, I’d love to be a student in his constitutional law class.
I’m ready to work for Biden in some capacity to further his success here in NH, a state small enough that I hope he still has a chance. Throughout this process, I’ve been angry that money has paved the path to candidacy, not experience or ideas. The fact that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have raised so much money is a credit to their campaigns, certainly. But it’s also an attachment to big interest groups. I’ve enjoyed hearing John Edwards speak because he doesn’t take any money from lobbyists. However important his populist message has been to me, he doesn’t have the foreign policy experience that Biden has, and that is central. Ultimately, like Mitt Romney, John Edwards is also independently wealthy.
Up until yesterday, I was idealistic about Biden and Dodd, but not ready to give them my vote – concerned that I’d be “throwing it away” since “they can’t win,” despite the fact that they’re both the best qualified for the position of president. Now, I feel encouraged by what I heard Joe Biden say, and I’m ready to support his efforts – despite his lack of campaign funds. I’m tired of money driving everything in this country. I’m tired of corporate lobbyists. I’m tired of the greed that so often seems to drive decision-making on all fronts. We need another round of campaign finance reform that requires publicly-funded elections that even the playing field. Until then, I’m going to hope that in a small state like New Hampshire, with voters who take their task seriously, a man rich with experience, ripe with talent, and committed to big ideas such as Joe Biden still stands a chance. And not as secretary as state. As president.