It’s election season, and we’re listening to extra speak and chatter in regards to the age of Joe Biden and the way it may influence his potential to steer the nation.
Sure, Joe Biden is 81. Nonetheless, we have to ask ourselves why there’s a narrative round his age, which began earlier than he was elected over the past presidential election cycle. Many people have individuals in our personal households — who’re simply as outdated, if not older, than Joe Biden — who’re in nice form, and in some instances might outlive many people, and from a cognitive standpoint, are as sharp as tack.
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Relating to illustration and management, at present, three U.S. senators are older than Joe Biden: Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who will flip 82 on Feb. 20; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who will flip 83 in September; and the oldest member of the Senate, Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who will flip 91 in September.
As well as, there are at present eight members of Congress who’re older than Biden: Danny Ok. Davis, 82; Jim Clyburn, 83; Nancy Pelosi, 83; Steny Hoyer, 84; Maxine Waters, 85; Hal Rogers, 85; Invoice Pascrell, 86; and Grace Napolitano, 86. Eleven individuals in complete are older than Joe Biden. But, we don’t see the mainstream media and political speaking heads questioning their age, their potential to make selections, lead the nation, or their information of home and worldwide politics.
What’s behind the thrill about Joe Biden’s age? Kamala Harris.
Whereas most of them will not be always within the public eye, I can guarantee you that many stroll simply as slowly, if not slower, and extra gingerly than Joe Biden. What would they are saying about Mitch McConnell in the event that they needed to watch him side-waddle from Air Power One to the White Home? Republicans would most likely have you ever imagine that his strolling posture, indirectly, is a precautionary type of bodily remedy to assist keep his posture, flexibility, and agility.
So what’s behind the thrill about Joe Biden’s age? Kamala Harris.
The righteous individuals on this nation don’t need to see a lady, particularly a Black lady, because the face of freedom and democracy for the USA. As second in command, Kamala Harris would take over the duties of the presidency if one thing occurred to Joe Biden whereas in workplace.
Once we have a look at Nikki Haley, individuals marvel why she continues to be within the race to be the Republican nominee, although she has no likelihood of profitable. She continues to be within the race as a result of she’s not operating in opposition to Donald Trump. She’s within the race to strike worry within the hearts of People who can not abdomen the considered a Black lady operating the nation that their forefathers so valiantly shielded from being a spot that they might not solely management.
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Why is Nikki Haley speaking about Kamala Harris on the marketing campaign path? As a result of she and the Republican institution are attempting to make race a difficulty, whereas Donald Trump tries to sway as many Black people and different ethnic teams to assist him because the “greatest candidate to assist their curiosity.”
What can be fascinating to me is that folks will attempt to forged Barack Obama because the worst president that we’ve had — whereas additionally making an attempt to make a case for Donald Trump being the most effective. Once more, that is an try and say {that a} Black man was lower than the duty, and the Make America Nice Once more candidate is the most effective factor for America since Jim Crow.
This race shouldn’t be about age. It’s about gender and race.
Whereas I received’t debate who was higher and who was worse, I’ll ask you to take a deep have a look at the economic system and the standard of life based mostly on the final six presidencies:
George H.W. Bush: unhealthy economic system, nation at conflict
Invoice Clinton: nice economic system, nation not at conflict
George W. Bush: unhealthy economic system, nation at conflict
Barack Obama: saved the economic system from catastrophe and ended his time period with a terrific and rising economic system, took out Osama bin Laden
Donald Trump: inherited a terrific economic system and ruined it, and created an atmosphere of racial stress in America not seen for the reason that Jim Crow period
Joe Biden: saved the economic system from catastrophe, and efficiently navigated the nation via COVID-19
Whereas I’m not an individual who will get caught up in social gathering labels, I’m an individual who seems to be at historical past, and what historical past will inform us is that we’ve got to get away from scare techniques and inaccuracies in terms of voting. Historical past will inform us that race and politics have all the time been a foul mixture for America, particularly Black America.
This race shouldn’t be about age. It’s about gender and race. In spite of everything, Donald Trump, who can be 78 in June, is similar age as Joe Biden over the past presidential election, and nobody is speaking about his age the best way they have been and are about Joe Biden. However I think it will rapidly turn into a difficulty if he selected Tim Scott of South Carolina as his operating mate.
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Take a look at the big-ticket home political objects focused by Donald Trump and the Republicans — Affirmative Motion, DEI, and a lady’s proper to decide on. The truth is that these are the information of the iceberg as they relate to their political agenda, and they’re desirous to regain the momentum for his or her agenda that they loved whereas Trump was in workplace.
Realizing that the aim of profitable the presidential election relies on elevating the hairs of bias, racism, and sexism on the again of the necks of those that want to “take again” our nation is an indication all of us have to pay shut consideration to.
Vote based mostly on who you imagine greatest represents your curiosity, not on who you imagine will serve out the total time period or not. Tomorrow shouldn’t be assured, not even for the president of the USA — regardless of who they’re.
Chris B. Bennett is CEO and Writer of The Seattle Medium Newspaper Group and a founding member of Phrase In Black.
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