southernhybrid
Contributor
While I would be very surprised if Stacey agrees to what Biden is asking, assuming the rumors are even true, I think it's an interesting move.
While it's true that Biden opposed busing, it wasn't because he was racist, it was because he believed that busing was racist. A lot of us thought that busing was a good idea when it was first introduced, but in retrospect, it turned out to be a terrible idea. I've known black families from that era that didn't want their children to be forced to change schools, and spend long rides on buses. Busing never really integrated the schools.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bidens-tough-talk-on-1970s-school-desegregation-plan-could-get-new-scrutiny-in-todays-democratic-party/2019/03/07/9115583e-3eb2-11e9-a0d3-1210e58a94cf_story.html?utm_term=.81febd2e5462
The way to integrate the schools is the way it happened in my small city. All of our schools are well integrated because our neighborhoods have become far more integrated. But, Biden was right when he said that majority black schools should be given the resources needed to help their students achieve a better education. That was the real problem back in the day.
Biden has apologized for the legislation that passed in 1994, as it turned out to have an unexpected, negative impact on the black population. He wasn't the only one that supported that legislation and later regretted it. Hindsight is 20/20, so I doubt those who supported that legislation realized its impact. Biden has also apologized for the way he treated Anita Hill. Again, things have changed for the better since that episode and I'm sure Biden isn't the only politician who has learned from his past mistakes. Think of how loved Bill Clinton was during his presidency, despite some of the things that he did to women. I thought he should have resigned back then, but I was in the minority. I would like to say that things have changed since then, but the fact that Trump is our current president, despite being well known for having women claim that he sexually assaulted him, tells me that we still have a long way to go. At least Biden, unlike Clinton and Trump was never accused of sexually assaulting women.
Biden has been a champion of the civil rights movement and he certainly gets some cred for being the VP of the first Black president. So, it's fine if you don't support Biden, but don't exaggerate his past mistakes, while overlooking all the good he has done for minorities. Like other smart people, he has learned from the mistakes that he may have made during the earlier part of his life.
And, surprisingly enough, a few of my black acquaintances told me that Biden is the only person, should he decided to run, who they could enthusiastically support. These are older women, so I'm not going to claim that younger black women agree with this, but older black women, who follow politics realize how much Biden did to help move the civil rights movement forward. Besides that, they really want someone who can beat Trump and there have been plenty of rumors and leaks that Trump fears Biden more than the other candidates.
All of these candidate have done things in the past that make them less than perfect. All politicians have weaknesses and all of those who have been in office for any length of time have made mistakes.
Again, you don't have to support him, but don't make exaggerated claims against him. It wouldn't surprise me if he decides not to run due to his age. But, on the other hand, there is one candidate who is older than Biden and his supporters don't seem to be making an issue of it. There are several candidates who will be over 70 if one of them becomes the nominee, and the current president will be 74 should he win reelection. Just sayin'.
While it's true that Biden opposed busing, it wasn't because he was racist, it was because he believed that busing was racist. A lot of us thought that busing was a good idea when it was first introduced, but in retrospect, it turned out to be a terrible idea. I've known black families from that era that didn't want their children to be forced to change schools, and spend long rides on buses. Busing never really integrated the schools.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bidens-tough-talk-on-1970s-school-desegregation-plan-could-get-new-scrutiny-in-todays-democratic-party/2019/03/07/9115583e-3eb2-11e9-a0d3-1210e58a94cf_story.html?utm_term=.81febd2e5462
The way to integrate the schools is the way it happened in my small city. All of our schools are well integrated because our neighborhoods have become far more integrated. But, Biden was right when he said that majority black schools should be given the resources needed to help their students achieve a better education. That was the real problem back in the day.
Biden has apologized for the legislation that passed in 1994, as it turned out to have an unexpected, negative impact on the black population. He wasn't the only one that supported that legislation and later regretted it. Hindsight is 20/20, so I doubt those who supported that legislation realized its impact. Biden has also apologized for the way he treated Anita Hill. Again, things have changed for the better since that episode and I'm sure Biden isn't the only politician who has learned from his past mistakes. Think of how loved Bill Clinton was during his presidency, despite some of the things that he did to women. I thought he should have resigned back then, but I was in the minority. I would like to say that things have changed since then, but the fact that Trump is our current president, despite being well known for having women claim that he sexually assaulted him, tells me that we still have a long way to go. At least Biden, unlike Clinton and Trump was never accused of sexually assaulting women.
Biden has been a champion of the civil rights movement and he certainly gets some cred for being the VP of the first Black president. So, it's fine if you don't support Biden, but don't exaggerate his past mistakes, while overlooking all the good he has done for minorities. Like other smart people, he has learned from the mistakes that he may have made during the earlier part of his life.
And, surprisingly enough, a few of my black acquaintances told me that Biden is the only person, should he decided to run, who they could enthusiastically support. These are older women, so I'm not going to claim that younger black women agree with this, but older black women, who follow politics realize how much Biden did to help move the civil rights movement forward. Besides that, they really want someone who can beat Trump and there have been plenty of rumors and leaks that Trump fears Biden more than the other candidates.
All of these candidate have done things in the past that make them less than perfect. All politicians have weaknesses and all of those who have been in office for any length of time have made mistakes.
Again, you don't have to support him, but don't make exaggerated claims against him. It wouldn't surprise me if he decides not to run due to his age. But, on the other hand, there is one candidate who is older than Biden and his supporters don't seem to be making an issue of it. There are several candidates who will be over 70 if one of them becomes the nominee, and the current president will be 74 should he win reelection. Just sayin'.
