Dear Joe
Vice President Biden at a Middle Class Task Force meeting in Philadelphia (White House photo)
Dear Vice President Biden:
As you know, health care reform is in trouble. So-called “moderate” or “blue dog” Democratic representatives in both houses of Congress are raising a rawkus over cost projections. Your boss’s press conference last week, intended to drive the reform debate, instead caused you guys to lose a week over the Gates flap. Your poll numbers are sinking, and you’ve already missed your self-imposed August deadline. So here’s my question: where are you?
When you were selected as Obama’s veep nominee, I’m sure you’ll recall that you were expected to bring blue-collar bona fides to the ticket. Of course, we both know that this was in part a coded reference to your race. But it was also meant to convey that you have a gift the president does not. You can’t help but speak plainly, earnestly, and passionately; the president can do it, but isn’t a natural like you. He has to try. You were born connecting to voters, one imagines. Sometimes, you’re too invested, too there, which leads you to make the gaffes for which you’re famous.
Now, the fate of our nation’s health care system is hanging in the balance. If nothing gets done this year–or if very, very little gets done, or if something effectively counterproductive gets done–it’s hard to see how anything will ever get done for a long time. This is an issue crying out for your kind of politics. Yet according to the LA Times, yesterday was a “day of closed, secret meetings” for you. The most high profile event you’ve done this week has been on giving stimulus money to law enforcement; a worthy issue, surely, but again, an attempt at post-Gates damage control.
You know how to show emotion nearly better than any politician–I’ve seen you tear up twice in my two years in D.C.. The health care debate needs an injection of emotion. It’s time to discard the charts and graphs and focus on the human interest stories. Again, your reputed area of expertise was your grasp of middle-class economic anxiety. Time to show why you got that reputation in the first place.
There’s a huge opportunity here. Do a few town halls. Use your Middle Class Task Force to pump the issue. Get in the face of American voters; I’m sure your own family history contains some heart-tugging stories related to health care coverage. Tell them. You also know the Senate–where the action on reform is right now–nearly better than anybody, including your boss. You’re working behind the scenes right now, I’m sure, to get the Administration its desired outcomes. But get out in front, to press specific Senators on where to go. You still have high approval ratings, higher than many Senators. Use them!
Look, I’m sure the administration has already thought of this strategy. What’s curious, though, is that they haven’t pursued it. They’re probably afraid that you’ll screw up. Maybe you’ll confuse the concept of a co-op, or maybe you’ll admit that it’s unclear how much comprehensive reform will impact our long-term deficit. In other words, you’ll be honest, perhaps excessively so. But it’s a risk worth taking. The more the health care debate becomes the exclusive province of technocrats and uberwonks, the less likely reform is to succeed.
We really need you, bud.
Your friend,
Ethan
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You raise an excellent question here, particularly as the news cycle takes a depressing turn. (Old CW: Obama’s unstoppable! New CW: Obama’s on the ropes, and, um, what? What public option?) My guess is that the WH has let itself get forced into a defensive posture re: Biden and his alloeged “gaffes,” which are really just, as you note, the things any smart and emotionally voluble guy says when he’s turned loose even a little. But maybe that very volubility is what they need right now. Whatever secure location they have Joe in, they should let him out of the box.
Good letter!
Mr. Porter, an excellent letter. But as a great fan and long time admirer of Joe Biden’s, I pause at what you ask. I believe Biden to be the last of an honest, rare and emotional breed, of whom, we as a nation, are fortunate to have as Vice President. Simply, I love the man and the politician.
We seem to be a nation afraid of truth, would you agree? Straight talk and unvarnished if not at times unattractive honesty for which Joe is known, can create discomfort. Ironically, many prefer the lies and half-truths of the past eight years, knowing full well we were agreeing with questionable information and ethics, yet desiring being fed a combination of soothing words and fantasy pablum.
Biden’s foreign policy brilliance, his purity as a humanist, his reputation of honesty, fearlessness, affection and loyalty seem to take a back seat to attacks on his method of speaking. How very sad that such an exceptional individual…who by the way is highly respected, loved, and admired by many…is not appropriately embraced and appreciated.
My response to your perfect letter is this: initially I want to say, after all of the unkind and despicable things said about Mr. Biden on blogs and in the media in response to any misspeak he has made, America does not deserve Joe Biden’s service, his multiple talents. The way he has been treated is shameful and hurtful to have seen.
But, you are right, Biden is the one who has the true raw emotion of honesty that is best communicated in times such as these. And Americans like me know full well that Joe would be the first to take on such a challenging mission for the President’s healthcare reform message…without one moment’s hesitation.
I love Joe Biden.
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