My Word as a Biden: Uncle Joe and 2020

Emily Harvey, Elizabeth Tadlock, Anniston Nooks

Dr. Grant, Dr. Black, Dr. Cummings

Mercer University

POL 390: Presidential Primaries Former Vice President has worked in politics for nearly half a century. He’s served as a Senator, a committee leader, a Vice President, and is campaigning to make his final role the biggest yet, President of the . Still, Biden’s path to the 2020 election has not been an easy or predictable one. Over the course of his career, Biden has changed and grown both as a politician and as a person. But, the more dramatic change is between himself and the public. Most young Americans are familiar with two versions of Joe Biden. They know 2008-

2012 Vice President Joe Biden very well. Joe ate ice cream, laughed with children, and seemed to be a bright and strong figure in our country’s executive office. But, since his return to the political stage as a contender for the Democratic nomination for President, a new Joe Biden has emerged. This Joe uses references people don’t understand, misspeaks, and acts in a way that makes many question his ability to perform as an effective politician. The dramatic shift between those two personas and the media coverage that has followed both is essential to understanding what the current perception of Joe Biden means for the 2020 election. Joe Biden’s career and character consistencies and the reputation he built as a career politician laid the groundwork for the controversies and critiques that have mounted in the past few months.

Joe Biden’s self-created narrative revolves around his middle-class upbringing, personal sacrifice, and desire to protect American values. Biden’s campaign website details his “Humble

Beginnings” in Scranton Pennsylvania, where he was born on November 20, 1942 (Joe’s Story).

Early during his teenage years, Biden’s father lost his job and relocated the family to Delaware.

Biden’s father was a middle-class worker and is frequently cited as Biden’s connection to the average working American. Biden attended a prestigious private school through high school and then attended the University of Delaware where he studied history and political science. From all indications, he was a good student and a hard worker. He earned a law degree from Syracuse

2 University and began a career as a lawyer upon graduation. Soon after starting out as a lawyer,

Biden married his first wife Neilia Hunter and they had three children. With his personal and career life taking shape, Biden would decide to enter the political arena.

In 1972, Joe Biden ran for a U.S. Senate Seat in his home state of Delaware. The odds were not in his favor. Biden, then a city councilman, was 29 years old and facing off against an established Republican incumbent, Senator Cale Boggs. But against the odds, Biden was elected by nearly 3,000 votes (Newell 2019). While it may be hard to imagine given the nature of the modern narrative of Joe’s 2020 campaign, his 1972 election was wholly focused on his youth, energy, and desire to depart from the old, tired, politicians. His campaign distanced himself from

Boggs and criticized the Senator for being “out of touch” with that generation (Newell 2019).

Many of his ads included a slogan at the bottom that read, “Joe Biden. He understands what’s happening today” (Newell 2019). Many of his positions on environmental action, drug addiction, and taxation were considered progressive during that time. A huge credit to Biden’s victory was his ability to mobilize young voters. Not only was 1972 the first year that 18-year olds were legally allowed to vote, but they were considering political choices under the shadow of the impending Vietnam War, environmental crisis, and general political unrest. Joe Biden’s age and platform seemed like a long awaited departure from the status quo. Joe Biden frequently visited high schools and had a large base of young voters to canvas in their local communities (Newell

2019). The primary motivation for this was to gain the youth’s support, but Biden was also after the votes that the population could get in their own home. Many parents cited their children’s dedication and enthusiasm for Biden as being a key reason they considered his campaign

(Newell 2019). The context of national and world events at the time of his election made a young candidate like Biden seem inevitable, even in the face of such stacked odds. Simply, the start of

3 his political career was won by his youth, his empowerment of young people around him, and a harsh critique of old school politicians. Examining Biden’s 1972 senate election reveals a deep irony in his current presidential campaign. He went from the young unknown to the aged incumbent, and much like the 1970s, the times may be calling for a fresh candidate.

Inexplicably tied up in his career beginnings and political narrative, is the tragedy of his first wife and daughter’s death in a car crash. Although he considered resigning from his newly elected Senate position, Biden would continue through his term and embark on a long career in the Senate and eventually as the Vice President. His perseverance over personal tragedy would help shape his strong yet empathetic public image. That persona was reinforced in 2015 when his son Beau Biden, a veteran and Delaware’s Attorney General, died following complications from his brain tumor. Biden’s association to loss and grief has manifested itself into a persona that seems steady against changes. It’s a type of nostalgia that has followed him through the Obama administration but seems at its end in this election.

Beyond his first election, Biden would see a long career in the Senate and not one, not two, but, now, three Presidential campaigns. His transition from a candidate for the youth to a candidate representative of age and experience is best pinpointed to when then Senator Barack

Obama chose him to be his running mate in the 2008 Presidential election. Although, historically, most President and Vice President nominees do not have an established working relationship, Joe Biden and worked on the Foreign Relations Committee together.

According to analysis in The Obama Presidency: A Preliminary Assessment Biden led that committee and initially clashed with the young senator (Watson 2012). Obama entered the political sphere long after Biden had begun his own career, in fact, when Joe was initially elected to office, Obama was just starting his junior year of high school (Watson 2012). Because of their

4 differences in age, experience, and roles on the FRC, the two senators were certainly an unlikely pair. As a nominee and then as a President, Barack Obama came to embody the fresh and youthful candidate that Joe Biden had once advocated for. However, just because Biden lost his place in that role, did not mean he was without one. The Chicago Tribune, when covering the

2008 election, detailed how “Obama wisely chose Biden to solidify his points of potential weakness on national security and foreign affairs” (Anonymous 2008). After the election, Biden would continue to balance out Obama’s lack of experience and connections. In fact, after

President Obama’s first chief of staff left, Biden stepped in as an official liaison to Congress “in order to make compromises and lobby hesitant members of Congress” (Watson 2012). During his term as Vice President, Biden remained very active in working with Congress and the

President to get legislation passed and funded.

Just as former Vice President Joe Biden is known for his extensive political career, he is also known for his extensive history of political gaffes. As a personal figure, Biden’s seemingly positive and supportive relationship with President Obama made them popular on the internet and with young voters through his vice presidency. There were countless memes, jokes, and comments about people wanting a friend and partner as supportive as Biden appeared to be to

President Obama. On many occasions, Biden’s propensity to create political gaffes has aligned with his ability to be a part of significant political moments. Whether it was memes of his Vice

Presidential Debate with Sarah Palin or a profane comment made to President Obama that was picked up my microphones at the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of

2010, Joe Biden has an extensive and documented history of finding himself on headlines and internet news feeds (Tay 2012). While some may argue that all press is good press, as news and information is able to spread more quickly and sometimes, with less context, these stories could

5 grow to harm Vice President Biden. “Embracing LOLitics: Popular Culture, Online Political

Humor, and Play” a report by the University of Canterbury found that “gaffes, as candid moments, strongly undermine carefully-constructed images prominent in political presentation and can potentially harm a candidate’s credibility” (Tay 2012). While some of his gaffes have earned him a relatable and human public image, they are not being used to his detriment.

Whether people agreed with all their policies or not, it is clear that Biden’s time as the Vice

President was a clear marker of how his image was morphing. Over the decades that saw his own

Presidential aspirations and continued work in the Senate, Biden’s career makes a clear shift in how he is seen and valued by the public and by himself.

Although he used to champion the youth and fresh, progressive policies, Biden would come to embody expertise, political longevity, and, to some degree, a level of wisdom that comes from experience. Although his age and perspective on certain policies has changed, there is a sense that Biden has not changed much as a person. All of his campaigns have been marked by gaffes or odd actions. Whether it was an offensive remark made in his 2008 election or one just last month in New Hampshire, Biden does not seem to have a strong desire to censor his speech or perspective. In fact, Biden Time: Crazy Joe in His Own Words is a published collection of Biden’s odd colloquialisms spanning several decades (Towel 2015). The lengthy evidence that

Biden has always had a tendency for off the wall remarks highlights what will become a key revelation in this election: that it is not Biden who has changed, but the times. And for Biden, that’s the problem.

As a character in our country’s political show, Joe Biden has held the esteemed pleasure of a recurring role. His familiarity to the American people has proven to be comforting for some, and redundant to others. Joe Biden’s political career has been shaped by an array of gaffes,

6 speeches, and decisions made while in his many elected positions. Joe Biden’s early stance of

“anti-elderly” was geared toward eliminating the old guy and bringing fresh faces into this nation’s government. These remarks were made while Biden himself was the underdog and searching for a foothold in the political sector. In his initial positions, including the former Vice

President of the United States, Biden laid the foundation for his new political facade and ultimately cultivated a precedent for his current endeavors. Spanning from 1972 up until now,

Biden has experienced a major shift. Whether due to his difficult family tragedies, his 2009 win, and/or his close correlation with President Barack Obama, Joe Biden has been able to increase his electability by offering himself up as an ally to the same voter demographic that elected him in the past. This association, with President Obama especially, gives him leverage in many other government settings because, to many Americans, the successes of the Obama administration are directly linked to that of Biden’s personal repertoire. Since Biden’s presidential campaign announcement in April 2019, he has made strides to define the trajectory of his administration and carve out the legacy that he desires to leave. Vice President Biden has used his personal expertise and past qualifications as a basis for his campaign. Unlike many of his competitors,

Biden has endured many private and public fiats that have tested his resilience. Many voters see

Joe Biden as a symbol of strength and ability to withstand the test of times, but there are times when this recognition has not panned out to his benefit.

Every American wants to elect the president that can be trusted. It is important for them to know that they can place their morals, dreams, and concerns into the hands of their elected

7 leaders and see that their possessions be held with the utmost care. The presidential election is essentially a trial and error period for American to test out various settings, questions, and topics in order to see how the different candidates will respond. By simply taking a glance at Joe

Biden’s resume, it is evident that he has had tremendous experience holding various positions, speaking to different audiences, and dealing with multiple departments of the government. In recent months; however, Biden has challenged his trustworthiness and physical ability in these arenas. Vice President Joe Biden is 77 years old, with a birthday right after election season. The average age of a president is 55 years of age, meaning that Biden surpasses this range by 22 years. Biden’s political resume can outlast many of that of his competitors, but there is always the lingering knowledge that quantity does not always equal quality, adding another blemish to his reputation. Due to his seniority, many voters have been hesitant to support his campaign because they are unwary about whether Biden can physically endure the presidency for four whole years. During this 2020 campaign, many reporters, news outlets, and concerned citizens have raised the question of whether age is more important than expertise. For example, during caucus time, specifically in Iowa and New Hampshire, there was much discussion about what more can Joe Biden contribute to the United States government. By being in the game so long, some caucus-goers questioned whether Joe Biden has outstayed his welcome, whether he is controlled enough to handle the position, and whether he has the stamina to rebuild this country post-Trump administration.

8 Biden believes that he has the best chance of winning back the working-class votes and beating Trump in the presidency. Both prior to and since the beginning of his 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden has been forced to maneuver some obstacles that have called his electability into question. He has done this by throwing obscure phrases and using loose language. "That’s a bunch of malarkey.” Almost every American has heard this phrase come from the Biden campaign, or the Vice President himself, on many occasions. He has used it as a way of saying that whatever has come out of his opponent's mouth is, in some way, degrading, false, or ridiculous. This phrase has become the metaphoric tagline of his political tenure. Joe

Biden first introduced his trademark on April 27, 2009 while regarding the work of Dick Durbin.

He stated, ”And I think sometimes in your own city, your own state, you go somewhat unappreciated because they know you as Dick, and you’re here all the time and it’s standing out.

The fact of the matter is, Dick, this act up would not have passed without your leadership. And that’s not malarkey” (Gavin). The usage of the term malarkey is something that Vice President

Biden has tried to use as a tool of reinforcement, objection, and/or reiteration, but in this case, it seemed to degrade the impact of the statement that Biden was trying to make. As a political figure with years of experience in the public sector, the voting public was now placed in a position to decipher both the meaning of the phrase, its relevance in the tropic was the first time at hand, and intent of its usage. As a figure for the American people, it is important to walk to the line of being different and being quirky. For Joe Biden, there are times when his presentation overpowers his motive, and it can cause some blowback.

9 By being elected as president there is a certain amount of prestige and personability that you must have when in the position. As the saying goes, the United States is a “melting pot” of different races, religions, languages, and ethnicities, so being able to interact and reach each person specifically is important. There are few people in this nation that will get the esteemed privilege of meeting the president one on one. Many of the interactions between candidates and voters are done in large forums, over a television broadcast, or in a blast email during election season. Unfortunately, for the few people that get that opportunity, it is often a once-in-a-lifetime kind of ordeal. While on the campaign trail; however, Joe Biden has proven to have struggles with that. For instance, while in New Hampshire, he attended multiple events and subsequently acted as multiple different events. There were some attendees that described him as cold, lifeless, and closed off. In Biden’s younger years, he stressed the importance of youth, vibrancy, and engagement, but it has come to pass that Biden has become his younger enemy. His personality complex is not his prominent downfall. For example, after one of his speeches earlier in the 2020 campaign, he kissed his granddaughter on the mouth. There was some argument that Biden simply had a close relationship with granddaughter; but it was ultimately felt that a man of his age was uncomfortably close to a minor, regardless of family ties. Seeing as though his granddaughter was 19 years old at the time and it happened a number of times, he was labelled as making this a habitual thing. Because of this action, many news outlets and voters themselves began to name Vice President Biden “Creepy Uncle Joe”. As a presidential candidate, your reputation precedes you and at times can be a blinder to viewers. The nickname of Creep Uncle

10 Joe can be taken two ways both through age and with his physical interactions. A topic of concern for the American people this election season has focused on competency through age.

Many of the candidates that began this journey were in the primes of their sixties and seventies.

Outside of electability through policy and stances, there is a health and physical standard that must be evaluated. With this blemish on his record, he once again contradicted his early comments on the old guy of politics. All of Joe Biden’ces and actions have brought him here to this moment. Over the past few weeks of the 2020 campaign, he has received increasing support from both voters and fellow candidates. Though he has a larger and more committed following, there is still room for error.

The 2020 Presidential Campaign has changed how the public sees Joe Biden and views his electability. The accusations of Biden being senile because of his age has come from various instances in debates where he would forget what was previously said or say things that did not make sense. In February of 2020, during a rally, he stated he was a democratic candidate running for the U.S. Senate and was met with attacks of him being delusional and “not all there.”

(Washington Post, 2020) Biden also received major criticism for his remarks at one of his rallies in Hampton, New Hampshire involving a Mercer University Student. After Madison Moore, a student at Mercer University asked the candidate why voters should believe he is a viable candidate after the Iowa Caucus fallout, Biden asked her if she had ever been a part of a caucus.

She nodded yes, to which Biden responded, “No, you haven’t, you are a lying dog-faced pony soldier.” The room filled with an older crowd laughed, many acknowledging his reference to a

John Wayne movie, while many conservative media outlets carried the story to the public as more proof of how Biden is an old and disrespectful candidate (The Guardian, 2020.) The rally

11 and the press around it turned many voters in New Hampshire toward other younger candidates in the country’s first primary, with Biden winning 8.4% of the vote and placing 5th overall

(, 2020). Biden’s age and use of older rhetoric have left him detached from many young voters who see him as “unfit” or too old to become the next President of the United States. His support from older voters and moderate Democrats, however, has brought great success to his campaign after Iowa and New Hampshire.

Joe Biden has not always been known to be “disrespectful” or senile in his previous political work. Biden co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Act which provides funds towards investigation efforts and the prosecution of those who commit violence against women and mandates automatic and mandatory restitution on those convicted. This act and its offices have continued to protect women and provide them with the necessary legal assistance survivors need. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2020) Under President Barack Obama, he continued to be involved in public policy efforts such as his involvement with the Gun Violence Task Force after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School (RealClearPolitics, 2012.) Biden also assisted and supported President Obama through various events in his term. Although his experience and ability to work with others give him credibility, his age and how he has conducted himself during the campaign has gained precedence in 2020 with younger democrats. With 2020 being his third campaign for the Democratic Nomination after his attempts in 1988 and 2008, many see him as irrelevant and unelectable. If he could not do it then, how could he be elected now, especially in this political climate? The early polls for the 2020 nomination looked promising for Biden but the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary brought devastating blows to the campaign. Many political analysts did not see how he could continue after the losses, but Biden pressed on to campaign in South Carolina. Biden gained momentum in the polls with black voters, many that

12 had supported him and Obama in 2008 and 2012 in South Carolina and other southern states. On

Super Tuesday, Biden kept up that momentum by winning 10 of the 14 states that participated.

These results stunned the media and the Democratic party. Biden was now to be seen as the new frontrunner for the candidacy amidst his rocky start and controversies in the media with his malarkey and campaign tactics.

The change in Biden’s reputation and his aged rhetoric has not kept him from gaining momentum and moving closer to gaining the 2020 Democratic Nomination. Older voters have continued to support him because of his ability to work across party lines and acknowledge the issues that older generations in the United States are concerned about. Although he lacks younger supporters that have gravitated to the progressive agenda of Bernie Sanders, older voters are statistically more likely to go to the polls and actually vote compared to younger eligible voters. Support for a candidate is irrelevant if people do not register to vote or go to the polls on election day to vote for that specific candidate. These findings have been seen in the primary results throughout the country that Biden’s demographic remains older but these older supporters are dedicated and consistent at the polls. He will have to convince younger voters to support him in order to win the nomination and, ultimately, the presidency.

Once discounted as irrelevant, Joe Biden’s wins in South Carolina and wins on Super

Tuesday show that his momentum makes him viable for the Democratic nomination. Older supporters and black supporters making an effort to support and go to the polls for Biden are to thank for this momentum and traction in the race. These two demographics look less toward extremism (like Bernie Sanders) and towards middle-ground candidates that can compromise and work towards a common goal of change. His more moderate-leaning agenda and ability to reach across party lines is his big electability factor to the majority of Americans who are

13 moderate and want things to be accomplished effectively in Washington. Biden has a history of being able to work with Republican lawmakers and officials and has made it clear he wants to work on bipartisan legislation as president. This appeals greatly to the average American who has seen how divisive and inefficient the government can become.

As primaries in some states have been pushed back due to COVID-19, Biden and his campaign staff must adjust to making connections with voters electronically. With 1,217 delegates and 774 more needed to win the nomination, Biden will need to continue campaigning strong and convince many younger voters to join his campaign to receive the delegates needed

(NPR, 2020.) Joe Biden is not the same Biden today as he was at the beginning of his political career and people are starting to recognize it. He cannot change his age or the public image he has been given but he can choose to campaign in order to appeal to voters across the spectrum.

He must be willing to appeal to the voters that have not been attracted to his campaign thus far.

Biden should modernize himself to win the votes of more than just older Americans by promoting his plans and not just running on his previous reputation. In light of ’s election, it is clear that political reputation does not have the significance it once held in previous elections. If Donald Trump can win the presidency with no political experience, having political experience does not make you any more electable in the 2020 election season. Plans for Biden’s administration and solutions to major political issues if elected should be at the forefront of his campaign because this is what attracts voters in 2020. This kind of appeal will especially be needed if he goes against President Trump in November, where the younger voter matters in a general election. Biden’s career and life are coming full circle in this election as he must recognize that he has become the candidate he started his political career trying to get out of office.

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