“Trump and Biden, as different as night and day”; Fayette County News; 6-19-24

Trump and Biden, as different as night and day

“There is no “daylight” between Joe Biden and Donald Trump (regarding Israel) … Any liberal or progressive… who claims otherwise is a liar, too.”- Andrew Mitrovica, Al Jazeera columnist, 1-9-24

Mitrovica uses Israel/Gaza to express a frequently stated left-wing philosophical position- “Trump and Biden are both tools of XYZ. Therefore, I’m writing in (RFK Jr., West, etc.) …or not voting at all.” These views are especially strong among Gen Z, with 25% saying that they will not vote because they don’t like either candidate. Another 17% are not sure they will vote. 

These Gen Zers do a disservice to political discourse and our nation. Progressives, minorities and younger voters must understand that Trump and Biden differ greatly on major issues.  And electing Trump will cause them and our nation great harm.

For example, Biden supports the ACA (Obamacare). He advocates lowering the age for Medicare to 60 from 65. Trump attempted to abolish the ACA, permitting insurance companies to exclude you from insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions.  Trump’s non-existent, imaginary reform plan would have forced 21 million people off medical insurance.  

Look at climate change. Biden believes in the Green New Deal and got legislation passed. He acknowledges manmade climate change is causing an existential environmental crisis. He wants reasonable environmental actions that won’t cause economic harm, while lessening the health threat to our children and grandchildren.  

Trump thinks there’s no climate change problem. He wants to bring back coal, open public lands to drilling and do away with environmental regulations keeping pollutants out of our air and water. Do I wish Biden was more successful in implementing his plans? Yes…but are his views and Trump’s the same? Only a fool would believe that fallacy.  

Plus, Biden has a long history of public service. He has had a long record of supporting civil rights and women’s equality, leading him to choose a black woman as his running mate. She may be our first Black/Asian female President someday. 

Narcistic Trump has always done the opposite, embracing white supremacy and misogyny. His views and actions have been racist going back to the 1970s when the Trump organization was successfully sued for housing discrimination, settled… then sued again for not following the terms of the settlement. Trump also took out a full-page newspaper ad pushing for the maximum punishment for five black young men accused of raping a woman in Central Park. Even after DNA evidence conclusively proved that they had not done it, Trump never admitted he was at fault. 

He has allegedly said and done numerous outrageous things since, including- attempting to overthrow a fair election, promoting an assault on our Capitol, hiding classified documents, and committing fraud (for which he was convicted, the first felon x-President). Plus, stating Obama was Kenyan and not a citizen, calling Mexican immigrants criminals, accepting the endorsement of racists and QAnon conspiracy nuts, and failing to understand the difference between the Charlottesville white supremacists and the good people protesting against them. 

Further, Trump views women as property and playthings. He has been married three times, having affairs during each of his marriages. He also has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 20 women. His position on abortion is extreme, saying “there has to be some form of punishment.” He nominated 3 radical right wing Supreme Court Justices who overturned Roe v Wade, overturning long-standing precedent and infuriating Americans who believe in a woman’s right to control her body.

These two men are the exact opposites of one another. If you believe in throwing people off health insurance, rolling back environmental regulations, regressing on women’s rights and civil rights and having a “dictator on day one” … then Trump is your man. If not, Biden the moderate is the only feasible choice and must be supported by those on the left. 

If you want a more progressive America, re-electing Biden is the necessary first step on a long road to a better nation. As people I respect have said, “Dr. Cornell West has my heart… but Biden will get my vote.”