The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Sylvia Thorson-Smith
My husband Mike and I just got a flag to fly on our house that says “Dog loving, tree planting, book reading, social justice advocating, Blue voting, feminist.” We are active Democrats who watched the Biden-Trump debate with exasperation and fear. Not over President Biden’s performance. He had a bad cold and was not as strong and sharp as he would have been. There’s so much hand-wringing over Biden’s weakness, but no one seems to be suggesting that Trump should step aside because all he spouts are lies and rants. A man who is a convicted felon can attack opponents with a string of untruths and hateful speech? And he’s the one who’s qualified to be President?
One moment in the debate crystalized my response to what was going on. Donald Trump blasted Biden with the claim that America is a horrible country, the worst in the world, and the most hated by other countries and leaders. Just as President Biden started to speak, I started to weep. With his voice breaking he looked astounded and proclaimed his love for America and its democracy that other nations admire. Trump’s despicable comment provoked Biden’s loyalty, passion for America’s ideals, and the very things that give us undying hope in the future. Biden’s weak but emotionally sincere patriotism brought tears to my eyes. There are lots of people around Biden who can implement policy changes for the future, but you don’t often hear such unabashed devotion to this country, and its people. Why are Republicans not questioning whether the cynical, empathy-challenged Donald Trump should continue to run for President? He seems to think that our country is so despicable that the only things he can promise voters are retribution, purging, and punishment (with a lopsided tax structure, cruel mistreatment of immigrants, judicial tyranny for women, and marginalization and abuse of nonwhites and sex/gender minorities).
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To this forecast of another Trump presidency, I say boldly: Give me President Biden!! Joe Biden with a cold, a stutter, and a shaky articulation in a debate beats a dangerous narcissist who only promises more abuse of our laws, more attacks on his enemies, more danger to the world order, and no capacity to empathize with struggling Americans. If that isn’t a clear choice for American voters, I don’t know what is?
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Sylvia Thorson-Smith is a retired Sociology professor from Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA.
Sylvia Thorson-Smith is a retired Sociology professor from Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA.
