The effort of those on the right (and the left) to make an issue of Joe Biden’s penchant for awkward comments is a product of political desperation, not discernment. He told a black radio talk show host who was giving him a hard time that if he was having trouble deciding between Trump and himself then he “ain’t black.” In a political reality where every comment is parsed and analyzed ad nauseam, and given huge significance, Biden’s comment here invites critical scrutiny. Of course, if we were actually in such a political reality Donald Trump would be in prison right now, not in power.
Joe Biden’s support in the black community is very impressive, impressive enough even to suggest that black supporters of Donald Trump are an aberration. Biden’s comment here wasn’t literal. Though one can easily imagine Trump making such a claim literally, no one thinks Biden was being literal. Some sincere critics think the comment reveals an insufficient appreciation for his black supporters because it suggests that all black voters think the same thing the same way. Others see the comment as evidence of Democrats taking the black vote for granted. However, in the context of a one on one race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump (a.k.a. our present reality), these criticisms are at best beside the point. In fact, Biden’s quip actually captures the present reality for all reality-based Americans extremely well. By saying “you ain’t black” what Biden was really saying to his combative interlocutor here was “you ain’t bright” and I think that is eminently fair comment.
The leadership of black voters will be the real story of the 2020 election. This episode will not cost Joe Biden black votes because black voters have proven their ability to distinguish between reality and rhetoric. Without the political maturity and intelligence of black Democratic primary voters, the Democratic nomination contest could have become a replay of the 2016 Republican contest and Donald Trump could have benefited as much in 2020 from Bernie Sanders’ revolution as he did in 2016. Instead, thanks to unwavering support from black voters, Joe Biden stopped the Sanders 2020 train wreck before it happened, and the party quickly consolidated around the most viable center-left coalitional candidate.
“You ain’t black” SHOULD become 2020 speak for “you ain’t bright” because it was black voters who secured the nomination for Joe Biden and Joe Biden is the best Democratic candidate to take on the worst president in American history.
The role of black Americans in building and preserving the republic deserves more acknowledgement, not less, especially in a battle against an openly corrupt political party that has embraced class warfare, racism, sexism, xenophobia and religious intolerance reminiscent of times we thought long past. If Trump and his Republican enablers are defeated in November, Black Democrats will have played a central leadership role in the accomplishment.
In this context, “calling out” Joe Biden for microaggressions is not a sign of intelligence or integrity. Calling for a principled stand against insufficiently liberal liberals right now is neither principled nor prudent. Trump and his Republican trolls cannot distract voters from their epic corruption and incompetence unless liberals and real journalists are willing to play along.
The 2020 elections are about flattening the curve of Trumpism. Attacks on Joe Biden’s character or competence deserve the same kind of attention given to protesters wearing hazmat suits and waving signs that read “COVID-19 is a Democratic Hoax.”