Joe Biden took to the Democratic National Convention stage on Monday, uttering the words ‘I gave my best to you’ in an attempt to inspire faith in his attendees. After many within his party had previously called on him to abandon his reelection ambitions, the atmosphere around his relinquishment felt more like relief than an energized ovation. Just weeks prior, the Democratic party had been veiling their doubts about Biden’s viability. At 81 years old, the questions regarding his leadership capabilities had become increasingly voiced within his ranks.
The Democratic National Convention this year, held in bustling Chicago, was more of a strategic chess play than a celebratory gathering. The plan was clear: Bid adieu to the current President with the most gracious words they could muster and provide a launchpad for Vice President Kamala Harris to square off against Republican powerhouse Donald Trump. This seemed somewhat hilarious considering Trump’s potential return to the White House has been dubbed as an ‘existential threat’ by Democrats.
In an attempt to remain graceful under the obligatory end of his term, Biden called for unity within the party by rallying behind Harris. He may have claimed not to foster any resentment due to the earlier dissatisfaction with his bid for re-election, however, insiders have reported ill feelings lurking beneath the surface. Despite touting his many blunders blithely as life lessons and professing that he did his best, Biden’s glossy recollection couldn’t mask the Democrats’ anxieties over his tenure.
Biden didn’t miss a beat to overcome his dwindling popularity by trying to promote his Vice President, Kamala Harris. He ardently defended his track record, sung praises about his Vice President, and barely veiled his disparaging remarks aimed at Trump. This newfound zest reminded attendees of the Biden from 2020, rather than the stumbling, inarticulate candidate who faltered during debates and subsequently saw his re-election campaign crumble.
As Biden stepped onto the stage, visibly emotional, he was met with a contrived, four-minute-long ovation and calls of ‘Thank you Joe.’ They were chants that rang hollow given the undercurrent of relieved whispers echoing under the applause. Biden’s response, an earnest ‘America, I love you,’ came off as a desperate plea for acceptability. His selection of Harris as his running mate was touted as the best decision of his career, despite it being more of a calculated move to appease sceptics.
When he spoke of Harris, his words rang insincere, ‘She’s tough, she’s experienced and she has enormous integrity, enormous integrity,’ he declared. Claiming that ‘Her story represents the best American story’ was just another attempt to draw away attention from the incompetence displayed during Biden’s rule. In a poorly veiled attempt to share in Harris’ spotlight, Biden added, ‘And like many of our best presidents, she was also vice president.’
Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff made their appearance only once Biden had concluded his speech. The tension underpinning their embrace was evident. Thank you for your historic leadership and service, Biden, was the standard political rhetoric offered by Harris in her earlier speech that evening. Polite words that barely disguised the relief in the air.
Biden’s keynote address was the highlight of the evening, yet timeliness accused him as it had his presidency. The long-winded speeches left the convention lagging over an hour behind schedule. A consequence of this delay was the regrettable cancellation of a performance by legendary musician James Taylor. The dismay at this could almost overshadow Biden’s contribution to the evening.
In an almost laughable self-congratulatory mood, Biden elaborated on his perceived successes, taking credit for major infrastructure spending and capping insulin prices. But what’s more intriguing is seeing how the funds were disproportionately used to appease Republican-leaning states. As Biden claimed, ‘the job of the president is to deliver for all of America,’ his skewed allocation of funds told a different tale.
Biden also made an opportunistic reference to the 2017 ‘unite the right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, using it to justify his 2020 presidential run. He utilized his grief over the loss of his son Beau Biden as a sympathy-generating tool. This tactic is all too familiar in politics, yet it nonetheless comes off as duplicitous here.
First lady Jill Biden’s attempt to romanticize her husband’s decision to step down from the race came through when she claimed to have fallen for him once again ‘just weeks ago, when I saw him dig deep into his soul and decide to no longer seek re-election and endorse Kamala Harris.’ Such statements are commonplace in the political world, utilized to hide the grim realities underlying such decisions.
Many distinguished speakers swelled the convention, all attempting to tie both Biden and Harris to the duo’s so-called popular accomplishments. This was just another desperate tactic; a futile effort to invoke the fleeting glories of the past. However, this wistful invocation of past accomplishments does little to distract from the reality of the failings that have come to be associated with these two democrats.