Letter: Impact of Biden’s Choices on U.S. Politics

Dear editor:

I truly believe that the Democrats got into trouble early in 2016 when Joe Biden was asked about his choice of running mate and he emphasized that he would be comfortable with a female candidate and/or a person of color. To my mind, his correct answer should have been, “I am compiling a list of people who are qualified for the job and will choose the best qualified person without regard to gender or race.” By failing to mention qualifications, Biden put his choice at a disadvantage. Some thought: “She was chosen for her gender and ethnicity. Does she have the proper experience to do the job?” Furthermore, Biden’s early statements about his search for a vice president emphasized that his candidate for the Vice Presidency would have to agree with him. Kamala Harris certainly met this obligation. The many 2024 ads that included her statement that she couldn’t recall any situations in which she had disagreed with President Biden definitely displeased voters who were not satisfied with the results of Biden’s policies.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/28/politics/joe-biden-potential-vp-pick/index.html

It’s also interesting to note that while Biden’s choice might have pleased people who think white men have too much power in America, Kamala Harris doesn’t exactly fit the description of a member of a minority group whose family suffered discrimination in the Old South. Her frequent claims of having had a middle-class upbringing in the home of a single parent deny the facts – both of her parents came from upper class homes (in Jamaica and India), both held doctoral degrees and worked at prestigious universities, and Harris and her sister were certainly not deprived of any necessities (or luxuries) while growing up.

https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/on-kamala-harriss-privileged-upbringing-f67

Just as Biden’s choice of running mate disappointed both Conservatives and Liberals, his stance on the war in Gaza angered both supporters and enemies of Israel. American Arabs were dismayed by his proclaiming steadfast support of Israel’s right to defend its people while American Jews (and other supporters of Israel) were dismayed by his constant calls for Israel to be careful not to harm civilians in Gaza and his slowing delivery of weaponry needed to ensure a decisive victory over Hamas.

Let us be clear. Military experts, such as Major John Spencer and Colonel Richard Kemp, have emphasized that Israel has gone to great lengths, even endangering its own soldiers, to avoid killing civilians in Gaza. It is Hamas’ embedding its extensive network of terror tunnels amid the Gazan populace which has guaranteed that, despite Israel’s exemplary efforts to minimize collateral damage, some civilians will be injured or killed. When tunnels are connected to mosques, hospitals, schools, businesses, and homes, civilian structures have been turned into legitimate military targets.

The atrocities inflicted on Israelis on October 7, 2023, and Palestinians’ cheering of Hamas’ vow to inflict thousands of October 7’s on Israelis, correctly convinced Israeli leaders that Hamas must be defeated, Gaza must be demilitarized, and the Palestinians must be deradicalized. Biden’s calling for ceasefires, calling on Israel to refrain from entering Rafah, and threatening to impose an arms embargo have only prolonged the fighting, There would have been fewer Gazan casualties had Western nations supported Israel, urging Hamas to free the hostages and lay down its arms so that the process of rebuilding Gaza could have begun.

https://www.jns.org/bidens-un-betrayal-of-israel-is-a-victory-for-hamas

Toby F. Block
Atlanta, GA 30341