The 2012 election has now come and gone and while some
personalities, themes, and events will be forever singed in the minds of
Americans, for better or worse, one personality that America won’t forget
anytime soon is Joe Biden. Like him or not, Biden is a lightning rod political
figure that draws proponents and opponents as readily as Justin Bieber sells
out concert arenas.
On Monday, ‘travelin’ Joe came to Roanoke, Virginia for a
final campaign push before Election Day, November 6th. Vice President Biden was accompanied by U.S.
Senator Mark Warner.
As Biden spoke to a couple seated at a locally owned
pizzeria known for its large pieces of pizza, he exclaimed, “Look at that size
of that pie! Holy moley!”[1]
He then added, “Whoa! That is one big pizza, man.”[2]
When Vice President Biden finally moves off the political
stage, it will perhaps mark the end of America’s last true “man of the people.”
There are many other politicians in America who “get” their
constituents or the American people as a whole; they really empathize with the
ups and downs, highs and lows, good and bad fortunes of the American people.
But no one comes to mind quite like Joe Biden.
Biden represents some odd feel-good mix of gregariousness,
charm, political astuteness, and genuine concern for the people he meets every
day. It might be politics for Joe, but it’s good politics, it’s politics with a
heart.
Unfortunately, Joe’s “brand” of politics won’t ever be
replicated. It’s not a model that can be studied and emulated precisely by
future politicians (assuming they would want to). Joe is just Joe. Labels and
categories won’t ever be able to capture ‘Joe’s essence’.
As my generation, a younger generation, rises to the
challenge of governing America, it will be interesting to see if Biden-like
politicians attempt to make their way onto the political stage.
Joe, like all Americans, has many faults. But Joe also
represents a truthfulness and sincerity that so many Americans, including
myself, appear to want to strive towards.
Joe is just Joe, and that’s all right by me.
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