Never give up your dream. This is an advice that should be taken to heart by anyone who is truly determined to serve his people. Joe Biden has just demonstrated to us that it pays to be resolute; that dogged determination bears fruit in the end. Biden won the presidency, the greatest gift that the American people can bestow on a deserving citizen, after three serious attempts to capture it—in 1988, 2008 and 2020. After long and arduous years, he finally achieved his lifelong ambition by becoming the 46th president of the United States.
He was a US senator representing the State of Delaware from 1973 to 2009. He served as President Barack Obama’s vice president for two terms. Every vice president of a graduating president naturally aspires to succeed the latter, including Biden. But he did not pursue that logical course of action when President Barack Obama’s term ended in 2016. After his son, Beau, the Attorney General of Delaware, unexpectedly died from cancer, Biden had reservations making the presidential run. The other practical reason was that Senator Hillary Clinton, a former powerful First Lady and incumbent New York senator, had sought his party’s nomination ahead of him and it was reported that even President Obama had doubts about his chances of beating Hillary in the Democratic primary. So he gave way. Many believed that it would be Biden’s last real opportunity to bid for the presidency as he was nearing 74 years old at that time. But when Hillary lost in her bid, another opportunity was opened to revive his quest for the highest office. In an interview before President Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017, Biden said, “I’ll run if I can walk.” The press picked it up and said that Biden will be a potential candidate for the 2020 Democratic nomination. He formally launched his bid on April 25, 2019 and was considered by both friends and foes as his party’s frontrunner. It was a turbulent primary contest with almost a dozen Democratic aspirants including, among others, Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar and Kamala Harris joining the fray. After losing the initial caucuses and primary contests, many thought that Biden’s hope was again dashed early. But miraculously, he won the South Carolina primary with the strong support of Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina who is a powerful and influential black congressman. And the rest is history.
He soon became the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party after Sanders withdrew from the race. Despite the ruthlessness of the 2020 campaign, Biden survived the onslaught of lies and brickbats thrown at him by his opponent. The barrage of unfounded attacks and baseless claims against Biden and his family by Trump did not kill him; it strengthened him. When he takes his oath as the 46th president of the US, Biden, 78, would be the oldest person to occupy the White House. But his dreams for America were started over the years. The long delay only strengthened his resolve to make them come true. His election has turned a new page for the new country’s leaders—Biden and Kamala Harris—to unite America, a nation torn apart by the heated political struggle and extreme partisanship that marked the last campaign.
Biden’s triumph sparked spontaneous rallies and celebrations across the country. People were dancing in the streets, motorists were honking their horns and everyone was waving pennants and placards supportive of the president-elect. The White House was surrounded by cheering partisans of Biden from all sides who erupted into wild cheers which no doubt cracked the walls of the White House. No doubt, Trump heard it and we can only hope that the reality of his defeat has finally sank in. This is the time, when the rubber meets the road, to concede. It’s the most patriotic thing to do under the circumstances.
Biden vowed that under his term, there will be no racial injustice; no room for bigotry and white supremacy. It will be a color-blind leadership where every individual, regardless of race and station in life, will enjoy equal opportunity. America cannot afford to be divided amid this pandemic, racial injustice and economic crisis. In the words of former Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich, it’s critical that the leaders of both parties speak with one voice confirming the legitimacy of the election results. Kasich, who openly campaigned for Biden despite his political affiliation, has said: “Forget about politics. Disregard what is popular. Do what makes sense.” Now is the time to heal the deep wounds inflicted during the campaign. The elected leaders should listen to the other half of America and understand their interests and needs. To borrow the words of one observer, the president-elect should be the president of the whole country. He should avoid demonizing the Republicans but rather find the best in them.
Biden wants to be known as the president who heals and unifies America. He was elected by the Democrats and his legions of partisans but he will aim to be the president of all Americans.
In his victory speech, Biden, in referring to the Republicans, has said: “They are not our enemies. They are our fellow Americans. This is the time to heal America… I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide but to unify.”
I can’t think of better words that can bring America together.