Opinion: Biden showed America a different kind of leadership
Joe Biden is at his best in this format, easily connecting with audience questioners and frankly answering moderator Anderson Cooper’s follow-ups during the CNN town hall in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Biden was prepared and he was angry. It was a tautly restrained outrage as he described the failings of President Donald Trump, and he seemed to hold back tears multiple times as he fielded questions from Americans experiencing overwhelming fear and loss amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
A patient advocate at a cancer center, Joseph Farley, who makes under $15 an hour, fought tears as he described the economic devastation “these Covid times” had brought him. Biden explained that his plan would mandate a $15 minimum wage federally, interrupting himself to promise Farley, “If I can get your address, let me get to you.”
Throughout the night, Biden was deferential to the Americans asking him questions. He was detailed, he showed kindness, and he treated them with respect.
The very first question came from a grieving woman, Shani Adams, who had lost a sister to Covid-19 after she contracted the virus at work. Immediately, Biden answered that his heart goes out to her and her sister’s children. He acknowledged that there were “a lot of empty chairs” in America tonight. But he didn’t just dignify her grief with his empathy, he dignified it with a plan to keep people from contracting the virus in the workplace.
Joe Vadala, a high school teacher who lives with Multiple Sclerosis and whose wife had lost her mother to Covid, said “I love teaching. But I don’t want to die.” He asked Biden if he’ll mandate children to get a vaccine when schools reopen and a vaccine is available. Biden, after showing a heartfelt sympathy, deferred that he wouldn’t issue a mandate until a vaccine is tested and approved to use on children. Furthermore, and in stark contrast to President Trump’s stance on a vaccine, the Democratic presidential nominee was emphatic that “if Fauci says a vaccine is safe, I would take the vaccine. We should listen to the scientists, not to the President.”
