Heed Biden’s Call for Bipartisan Civility
In an age of confrontation, his South Carolina victory suggests many voters have an appetite for comity.
Joe Biden has been mocked for touting his ability to work with Republicans, and for his optimism that he’ll do the same if elected president. There are good reasons to mock Mr. Biden, but this isn’t one of them. Politicians should be encouraged to respect their opponents. Voters tell pollsters they want elected leaders to put aside differences and work together for the good of the country, and politicians promise to do so. Mr. Biden seems to believe he can.
The former vice president’s emphasis on bipartisanship and collegiality is out of sync with the nation’s political mood, which is ironic given the rise in partisan rancor during the Obama-Biden years. President Obama was often wrong but never in doubt. He enjoyed destroying straw men to demonstrate his moral and intellectual superiority. He pursued sweeping legislation like the Affordable Care Act on a partisan basis, and thus gave rise to the tea party, Republican congressional majorities, and the spiraling partisanship that resulted in the election of leaders like President Trump and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. …
Read more: WSJ