The mood of the country

 

President Joe Biden
Democrat
Last night, late, I looked atsome election results, all what I considered good news: the re-election of AndyBeshear as Kentucky governor, the enshrinement of abortion rights in the Ohioconstitution, the takeover of both houses by Democrats in Virginia, theelection of a Democrat to the Supreme Court in Pennsylvania, which those in theknow says thwarts trump’s scheme to take the 2024 election, the defeat of Momsfor Liberty in numerous school board races. After reading in the media all daythat no one should take off-year election results seriously, I thought, “I don’tcare what they say. This is good news. The American people are not as easilyhoodwinked as some would have us believe.” Somewhere I read the comment thatthese election triumphs reflected the mood of the country, and I liked that phrase.People are tired of the constant turmoil, lies, deceit, baselessinvestigations, vague promises and real threats of the Republican Party. They wantour country back. I went to sleep, anticipating reading all about the triumphsof democracy this morning.

But a tiny corner of my mindsaid, “There’s a hitch somewhere. There will be something negative.” And ofcourse there was. Early this morning, I saw a New York Times headline tothe effect that Biden remains unpopular but voters like the policies of theDemocratic Party. I saw red, pink, and purple. Where did people think thosepolicies came from, if not from the president? Did they think Democraticlegislators were enacting Bidenomics, curtailing the pandemic, reviving theemployment rate, passing bills to rebuild our flagging infrastructure, passingthe chip act, passing the first meaningful act to reduce gun violence, workingto insure reproductive rights and safety for LGBTQ folks, rallyinginternational support for Ukraine, and working toward a peaceful end to theconflict between Hamas and Israel without Joe Biden? What kind of nonsense isthat? If his policies are popular, so is he.

During the day today I read inat least three other supposedly bipartisan sources about Biden’s incredibleunpopularity. I was astounded and angry. But I also read two sensible argumentsthat the news media is wedded to a message of doom for Democrats. It makesabsolutely no sense, and I hope every thinking person in America will rejectthat notion. The Republican party is disintegrating before our eyes, dividedinto warring factions, unable to agree on leadership or policy, unable even tocome to grips with preventing a government shutdown, rife with accusations and baselessaccusations. And yet they claim it is Democrats who are doomed to defeat? I don’tunderstand it, but I resent it a lot.

I don’t think it’s just ageismthat is behind this. If it were and it were an equally balanced approach toageism, trump would come in for as much negative press as Biden. He is onlythree years younger than Biden, is obviously in much worse physical shape (the presidentrides a bike, trump rides a golf cart), and is seriously out of touch withreality to the point that a cognitive assessment sems obviously called for. Thosearound him must be in acute denial. Biden has fallen several times, they say—sodo a lot of people, though I still maintain he was set up when he tripped over asandbag leaving the mike at the Naval Academy. Trump was scrutinized during hispresidency when he appeared uncertain walking down a ramp, holding a waterglass and other minor physical movements. But all that seems forgotten now.

Part of the problem may bethat trump is a flamboyant, over-the-top, charismatic, a dramatic personality.He not only attracts news, he is good news copy. The more outrageous he is, themore the media hangs on his every word. Biden, on the other hand, is going quietlybut doggedly about the business of guiding our country through a time ofterrible turmoil, both here at home and internationally. He has a steady handon the tiller. But he’s a low key, sometimes understated, almost quiet kind ofa guy—not good copy. Do I blame major media sources for not making thedistinction between the two? Yes, I do—and I want Walter Cronkite and some ofhis colleagues back.

Now is the time for each of usto speak out and protest this foolish blindness. Call out the negativity. Ifyou believe in Biden’s policies say so. Write a letter to the editor, write toindividual columnists, don’t let them get away with misinformation and loadedlanguage. Many Americans will be hoodwinked by this bias on the part of themedia. Don’t be one of them and do work to fight it. That’s my challenge toeach of you!