Were We Hoodwinked by Biden, or a Broken Political System?
The most shocking aspect of the Biden debate fallout wasn’t just the poor performance itself — many of us didn’t have high expectations for him to begin with. While it was surprising that his performance was that bad, what has been even more mind-boggling is the “shock” reverberating around since, by so many DNC power brokers, pundits, and the political media class.
Poll after poll has obviously indicated a lack of faith in a second term for President Biden, with his age and stamina being a top concern (though certainly not the only one). Some prominent public figures sounded the alarm early on, mostly to be mocked and sidelined. Too many within these power circles worked in lockstep to prop Biden up as the sole candidate. Mainstream politicians who might have made a better case for getting elected shied away, all arguing “precedent.”
The few candidates brave enough to challenge Biden in the primaries were summarily sidelined. Was it really wise to drown out voices like Marianne Williamson? She eloquently argued that Biden was not the best candidate to address the fundamental changes our nation and world need right now, yet she was locked out of the democratic process by the DNC and, disturbingly, the mainstream media who are supposed to be unbiased vessels for informing the public, not gatekeepers for a powerful elite political establishment. The sidelined candidates questioned Biden’s ability to fight Trump, focusing not just on his age but on his message. For example, how could they repeatedly claim the economy was doing well when people were struggling? Some high-level economic indicators were positive, but with inflation and decades of a growing economic gap between the haves and have nots, it’s undeniable what people are feeling. Leaders need to be astute enough to read the room and respond to people’s visceral concerns and feelings, not just ignore them or point to things like stock market performance, for example, which primarily benefits the higher earners among us.
This moment should be a powerful reckoning for the DNC’s worldview and trajectory, as well as for the establishment power brokers who prop it all up. (It should also be another damning condemnation of our broken and corrupt two-party system as it exists today). If Biden’s poor performance is only now sinking in for these power brokers, it begs the question: what other consequential issues are they misreading? It’s easy to see from hindsight that Biden’s debate performance should prompt a shift in gears. But why didn’t these leaders, supposedly at the top of their game, notice much earlier what was obvious to many of us and advocate for a change in course? Were they really hoodwinked, or just bought and paid for?
Now that the potentially catastrophic choice of having Joe Biden run again is finally in clear site, even among many of the most mainstream political/media elites, it should beg the question: what else have we been getting wrong on so many fundamental political fronts? This should be THE big question we are reckoning with right now
Maybe the political establishment is also missing the boat on the nation’s trajectory and the type of candidates we should be fostering. A powerful example: we had the chance to rally behind Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020. He inspired and directly connected with people, pulling in thousands to his rallies and igniting energy and momentum not seen on the true left in generations. Bernie forged a real movement that could have had powerful consequences for a run against Trump and for our country’s future on many crucial fronts. He championed progressive ideas and values in ways that resonated with the masses. Yet the establishment squelched him and pretty much ramrodded Biden onto the ticket in 2020 (as they also did in his run against Clinton in 2016), believing his form of progressivism couldn’t work. This entire mindset has now allowed Trump a strong chance again with an obviously poor rival in Biden. It’s not just Biden’s age and slowness frustrating Americans; it’s also what he has done, or not done, while in office.
The establishment wants to continue with a weak and tired worldview, not just a candidate.
The current “shock” over Biden’s viability should be turned inward, also prompting a deeper examination of the Democratic establishment’s direction. The problem of Biden is just one cog in a much bigger wheel that is clearly falling apart. One important deliberation should be on the potential of a left-leaning, progressive agenda often mocked by the mainstream but which actually speaks deeply to the masses. It addresses fundamental issues and concerns in people’s lives, speaking to the human condition and the key elements of what it means to be alive. We long for a more loving and supportive community where we proactively care for one another, that must be supported systematically by our governmental institutions. We can’t continue to put band-aids on gaping wounds. We need good quality universal health care, affordable housing, clean air and water, fundamental human freedoms, and countless other key progressive issues — many of which are standard in other advanced democracies. Baby steps aren’t enough; they won’t inspire votes and support.
The same people who propped up Biden are those who have long been apoplectically opposed to a fundamentally populist/progressive trajectory. Serious soul-searching is needed, not just about Biden’s future as the head of the ticket, but about how Democrats are organizing and setting up an agenda that truly speaks to people. A profound humility is needed to acknowledge not only the mistakes regarding Biden as the 2024 candidate but also the fundamentals of how to move forward and secure a truly transformative agenda that will excite and inspire the masses.
Matthew Albracht is the former Executive Director and a Board Member of The Peace Alliance (www.peacealliance.org), a U.S. based NGO which advocates for domestic and international peacebuilding priorities. His writings have appeared on CNN, HuffPost, Salon and other outlets. Follow on X and Instagram.
