When fictional Democratic President Andrew Shepherd was the subject of constant unfair criticism from his Republican opponent, he took the high road. While the fictional Bob Rumson focused on the President’s girlfriend (Shepherd was a widower), Shepherd focused on policy and governing, spurning any attempt from the media to distract him with personal attacks. Finally, after months of non-stop chatter about his girlfriend (Rumson never expressed any policy ideas), Shepherd opened up with both barrels in what is one of the best political speeches ever written.
It’s time for President Joe Biden to have his Andrew Shepherd moment.
So far this year Biden’s team seems intent on having him focus on what they have dubbed “Bidenomics.” That’s the rational, high road approach. After all, there are plenty of signs that America is well on the road to recovery from the complete economic meltdown that was the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden’s team was largely responsible for the production and distribution of hundreds of millions of free vaccines, and his stimulus efforts jumpstarted the foundering economy. He’s passed numerous monumental bi-partisan bills, none more vital than his signature Build Back Better, which tackles immigration reform, climate change, early childhood education and a wealth of other initiatives.
Unfortunately, people’s eyes tend to glaze over when it takes more than 15 seconds to explain something. I’m pretty good at explaining things, but I have zero idea how to break Build Back Better down into snippets the average person could grasp. Maybe the Biden administration needs to hire the Kardashians or the Duck Dynasty guys to do a reality show about it? Each episode could be one aspect of the BBB law? I wouldn’t watch it, but I am well aware that I am not the target audience for most of what passes for American entertainment these days.
No, it’s time for Biden to stop worrying about his policies and start talking about the opposition. He needs to start answering his critics down on the level where they operate, in short sound bites, headline-worthy quips and with strong language. He has to be frustrated that everyone’s talking about age even as he’s uniting the global community to stop Russian Premier Vladimir Putin’s attempts to reestablish the USSR. He has to be at least a little bit miffed when the media run with “Mumblin’ Joe” instead of talking about how remarkable it is that a man with a debilitating speech impediment has risen to be the leader of the free world. It has to irritate him that the media focuses on the childish behavior of Republicans in Congress and the increasingly dangerous rhetoric of the psychotic and/or senile former President in the rants he delivers between courtroom appearances.
It’s time to take all of that frustration and irritation and unleash it. Donald Trump wants to challenge Biden to an IQ test? Take him up on it! It’s stupid and it’s a distraction, but the only way to deal with a bully is to challenge the bully. It also seems to be the only way to get the media’s attention. It’s time for Biden to call out Trump’s increasingly insane Hitleresque rhetoric about “rounding up the vermin and putting them in detention camps.” Trump says only he can stop World World 3 (or two in some cases)? Fine. Let’s talk about answering China’s challenge around Taiwan, standing up to Putin in Ukraine and Hamas in Gaza. It’s now been proven than Hunter Biden didn’t take money from Ukraine in exchange for access to his father, but why not immediately point out Jared Kushner’s $2 billion deal with Saudi Arabia or all of those patents Ivanka Trump got from China? How about calling Trump out for his many documented attempts to overturn the last election despite knowing full well he had lost by millions of votes?
Wait! I have the perfect finale for the speech!
“We have serious problems and we need serious people to solve them. I promise you Donald Trump isn’t the least bit interested in solving them. He wants to make you afraid of them and tell you who’s to blame for them. The time for such childish behavior has past and Mr. Trump, your 15 minutes are up. If you want to talk about real issues and real solutions, just tell me when and where and I’ll show up. My name is Joe Biden, I actually won the election and I am the President.”
Mic drop.
Man, would I love to see Joe Biden deliver a knockout punch like that. After all, the other choice next November will be a man who wants nothing less than become the next global dictator and end America as we know it. We can’t afford to let that happen. Biden needs to take control of the narrative so that he can continue to be the honest, scandal-free, experienced leader his country needs, whether they realize it or not.
-B
Ishmael's Legacy 