The very first Joe Biden Town Hall of his presidency has gone a long way in restoring America’s trust in its government and its leadership.
Current Events
Hosted by CNN on Tuesday at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, President Biden took questions from ordinary Americans regarding the coronavirus pandemic, vaccines, school reopenings, racism, White supremacy, and more.
In case you missed it, here are the top highlight’s from the Biden Town Hall:
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COVID Vaccine
President Biden vowed that anyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one by the end of July. He also urged everyone (and particularly those Americans who may be skittish or skeptical) that with new variants of the virus regularly emerging, it’s necessary for citizens to get any coronavirus vaccine available whenever they can. He added that although he is cautious in predicting a timeline, “next Christmas” is a good guesstimate as to when the nation may return to some sense of normalcy. This timeline, however, is predicated on Americans continuing to wear masks (even after receiving the vaccine), continuing to social distance, wash hands, and remain vigilant. Then and only then is when we might reach herd immunity and get back to our regular lives.
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White Supremacy
Unlike his predecessor, the president used the bully pulpit of the presidency in his Biden Town Hall to declare White supremacists as the greatest domestic terror threat in the US.
“It’s complex, it’s wide-ranging, and it’s real,” Mr. Biden said, adding “I would make sure that my Justice Department and the Civil Rights Division is focused heavily on those very folks, and I would make sure that we, in fact, focus on how to deal with the rise of White supremacy.”
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The ‘Divided’ States of America?
In a clear effort to paint a rosier picture than reality, Mr. Biden said he takes issue with the notion that the US is a politically divided nation, using coronavirus aid as an example of where there is unity.
“The nation is not divided. You go out there and take a look and talk to people, you have fringes on both ends. But it’s not nearly as divided as we make it out to be and we have to bring it together,” Mr. Biden said.
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NO MORE Trump!
When asked about the possibility of prosecuting Donald Trump for actions while he was in The White House, the president said any decision on that subject will be left up to the Department of Justice and that he will not interfere in any way.
“Look, for four years all that’s been in the news is Trump. The next four years I want to make sure all the news is the American people,” Mr. Biden said. He then added: “I’m tired of talking about Trump.”
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Other Takeaway’s
When a second-grader accompanied her mom to the microphone to ask a question and mentioned that she was scared of getting Covid in school and possibly dying, Mr. Biden was comforting.
“Don’t be scared, you’re going to be fine,” Biden told the young girl. “We’ll make sure mommy is fine, too.”
When a Kenosha County public defender asked about repercussions for law enforcement after the Jacob Blake shooting (a Black man who was paralyzed after being shot in the back by a police officer), President Biden was very relatable, noting that he, too, was once a public defender and that they deserve to be paid the same as prosecutors.
When a Wisconsin mother mentioned her frustration with failed attempts in getting a coronavirus vaccine for her 19-year-old immunocompromised son who’s suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Mr. Biden was compassionate.
“If you’re willing, I’ll stay around after this is over and maybe we can talk a few minutes and see if I can get you some help,” he said.
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So, if there was any central message in the Biden Town Hall, it was that there’s a new sheriff in town. Unlike Trump’s “Me, Me, Me” mentality, President Biden radiated authenticity and empathy and left Americans feeling assured that he genuinely cares about their issues, that he is on the job and getting the work done, and that help for getting through the remaining medical and economic issues regarding the pandemic is on the way.
It was a good night.
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CNN: As he gently told a traumatized 8-year-old girl, “Don’t be scared, honey. Don’t be scared,” Joe Biden showed that the days of presidential pandemic denial and indifference to America’s suffering are over. His reassuring words to second grader Layla Salas came during a CNN town hall in Wisconsin on Tuesday night when he also tried to move the nation on from the divisive aftermath of the impeachment trial of the predecessor he referred to as “the former guy.” “For four years, all that’s been in the news is Trump. The next four years, I want to make sure all the news is the American people. I’m tired of talking about Trump,” Biden said, depriving the ex-President of the attention he craves. That particular moment emphasized Biden’s chosen position in the center of American politics where he won the election. His unwillingness to seek public revenge against his just-impeached predecessor, or to join other… Read more »