For anyone in direct communication with the Biden campaign

[polichick]

(Yes, I support Bernie’s policies and see our future going in that direction - but if Biden is our candidate I want him to win.)

Yesterday, Joe appeared with Nicolle Wallace, both broadcasting from their basements. As always, Joe was kind, empathetic and an all around good guy.

Where he missed an opportunity is when he said he just doesn’t get Trump. Someone on the campaign needs to follow the experts who do get Trump - @BandyXLee1 and @duty2warn for a start - and craft a few lines that Joe can use to help educate voters about the dangers we continue to face with Trump in office.

It’s not Joe’s place to diagnose, but he can help people connect the dots by translating the insights of experts into descriptive language like mentioning “a drive to put profits over people,” “a need to make everything about himself, not about the people,” “having a cruel streak,” etc. etc.

Everybody needs to understand that Trump won’t change because he can’t change - we have to get real about the way we speak about the problem - especially the media and the candidates who want to lead our country out of this dark place.

Dems need to get Trump, in more ways than one. Our country depends on it.

[DonaldsRump]

1. Bernie and his surrogates also need to do that

rather than going after Biden.

[polichick]

2. Not the point - try not to deflect.

[DonaldsRump]

3. It is the point

Biden is doing a fine job...check out some of his commercials.

The deflection is by the Bern and his surrogates: if they REALLY wanted to "get Trump", they'd support Biden, not tear him down.

[polichick]

5. Bernie already follows the experts I cited and uses appropriate language...

in describing Trump.

Bernie has the right to run.

I voted for Bernie but also want Joe to win if he is our candidate.

This is an important issue - the Biden campaign would be smart to get someone on it.

Deflections like yours don’t help.

[fallout87]

10. Really??

I haven't seen him on any noteworthy appearances for at least a week.

[DonaldsRump]

12. Haven't seen the Bern in DC for awhile

Joe's been on The View etc and making commercials etc

[Gothmog]

30. Agreed

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Timing is almost everything

and when Trump has hung himself out to dry, after Easter in the rolling nationwide fallout from Trump's failed policies, that will be a gotcha moment when serious cases can begin to be built. I'd also say build a case, but save your best ammo for the October home stretch, then kick it into high gear.

[George II]

6. That's not exactly what he said and certainly wasn't what he meant....

Lifting part of a sentence from about 20 minutes isn't very fair. What happened just before and just after he said "he just doesn't get trump"?

I think he did a great job yesterday afternoon - on Nicole Wallace's show and with Jake Tapper on CNN a little early. His appearance on The View was a little awkward because they didn't have the sound well synched.

This is all a new way of "campaigning", it'll get better.

[Gothmog]

31. Who is surprised that Joe was misquoted by a sanders supporter?

[blm]

7. Elizabeth Warren can explain Trump to Biden AND the consequences of

his actions. Cruel, stupid, entitled, and dangerous frat boy mentality is something she would have dealt with every semester.

[LongtimeAZDem]

8. Don't be silly; it was a disparaging comment, not an actual statement of comprehension

[George II]

20. Exactly, it's not that Biden doesn't get trump, he said he "just doesn't GET trump", meaning....

...."I don't get why he doesn't realize what he's doing".

[jimfields33]

9. Needs to stop touching his face

And he was coughing and using his hand. He was told to use his elbow. He said I’m by myself no need.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/videos/politics/2020/03/24/joe-biden-cough-jake-tapper-lead-vpx-sot.cnn

[George II]

21. Oh STOP!!!!! Who gives a crap if he coughs into his hand alone in his basement. This is getting....

....bizarre with all the minute, picayune criticisms of Biden.

[Peacetrain]

25. +1000

[HarlanPepper]

33. Thanks for your concern

[fallout87]

11. Even worse than that...

He's been absent in these dark times. One would even forget we have a primary going.

[beastie boy]

18. For all practical reasons the primary is over. We have nothing of consequence going in the primaries

Besides, he, like everyone else still running, has "a fucking global crisis to deal with".

Do you find anything wrong with that?

[LongtimeAZDem]

19. Absent? He did tv shows yesterday

And we don't have a primary going; we have a presumptive nominee, and a candidate with no chance that refuses to quit.

[fallout87]

29. Just did a search and this was the first link that came up

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/entertainment/joe-biden-gaffe-alert-stuns-043232408.html


Joe Biden Gaffe Alert: Stuns ‘The View’ By Claiming Coronavirus Cure Will Make The Problem Worse

[George II]

22. Bullshit! He's been more visible than his opponent this last week. At least he isn't AWOL...

...from his job an responsibilities.

Except for his "round table" and rock concert on Sunday night (from Vermont, when the Senate was in session in Washington), Sanders hadn't been seen since Wednesday afternoon.

With respect to Sanders, to quote you about Biden, "One would even forget we have a primary going."

[Gothmog]

32. sanders lost the primary and cannot over come Joe's delegate lead

The real world is a nice place and I like living in the real world

BTW how is sanders magical voter revolution doing?

[HarlanPepper]

34. So many sour grapes.

[Hoyt]

13. Biden pretty much did that yesterday on Nicole Wallace. Besides, everyone knows what trump is,

some just don't care.

[beastie boy]

14. Can you provide more context on Biden's comment?

Perhaps a link to the conversation.

Because I have doubts that his "I don't get Trump" comment has to do with Trump's "drive to put profits over people", etc. Everybody gets it, even Trump's supporters. This kind of selfish darwinian not giving a fuck about anyone but themselves is exactly what appeals to them. I doubt that repeating the obvious will do Biden any good.

[George II]

23. It's been taken out of context here and blown way out of proportion. Sad that some have to do that.

[beastie boy]

24. That's what I suspected.

[George II]

27. He made the comment with an incredulous tone in his voice, like "I just don't get trump".

[TwilightZone]

36. Context would invalidate the OP.

That's why it wasn't provided. Biden's intent with the statement was clear, and OP's interpretation of same is laughable.

[ucrdem]

15. Sounds like he's shifting to GE mode.

That's where he has to try to win swing voters as well as Democrats. To do that he has to avoid disparaging comments about Trump or Trump voters. I doubt he'll succeed 100%, knowing Joe, but it's good to see that he's making an effort.

[karynnj]

16. When Biden says what should be done and why and then says he doesn't get Trump,

Last edited Wed Mar 25, 2020, 01:22 PM - Edit history (1)

the message is Trump is failing. His comment that he doesn't get Trump is in the context of why is Trump not doing what is needed. People listening can fill in their own reasons whether ideological or just that he is incompetent.

Biden leaves the focus on his sadness that Trump is failing the country in its hour of need. That is a strong message. Probably as strong as he can get given that he does not want anyone to be able to argue that he made Trump succeeding less likely by attacking him.

[ucrdem]

17. Exactly.

[NCProgressive]

26. Biden needs to stay above the fray and remain presidential

What you suggested is the job of surrogates and the VP nominee

[MineralMan]

28. That's Biden's Style, and It Seems to Be Working OK.

I wouldn't presume to tell him how he should deliver his ideas, frankly.

I'll just let him figure out how he wants to do that.

Remember, he sometimes says "That's Malarkey." He sometimes says things quite bluntly. Some people fault him for that, too.

Let him sell himself in his own way. He's doing OK with that.

[HarlanPepper]

35. Your concern is duly noted.