Letter to the Editor: Biden would be a losing cause for Democrats in 2020

Kathleen Parker in her column of Friday, March 22 ("Too rich to run for office in 2020," The Herald News), tries to claim that there’s nothing wrong with rich people running for president. She especially supports Vice President Joe Biden, whom she quotes as claiming to have “the most progressive record of anybody running.” More progressive than Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has been a fighter for progressive ideals for decades? More progressive than Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has been working to protect consumers from predatory banks since long before she even ran for the Senate? The claim is laughable.

I remember how in 1991 Biden mistreated Anita Hill when she testified about the sexual harassment she suffered from Clarence Thomas. Biden could have called more witnesses to back up her testimony. He could have kept Thomas off the Supreme Court. I can never forgive him for this, nor should anybody else.

He voted to support the Iraq War in 2003, either out of conviction or political cowardice. I don’t know which. Bernie Sanders voted no.

The Democratic establishment is trying to get a so-called “moderate.” “Someone who can win.” Yes, like John Kerry in 2004 or like Hillary Clinton in 2016. Because they could “win.”

The progressives who are running support the $15 minimum wage, universal health care, higher taxes on the rich. Polls show majority support for all these issues.

We need a candidate who really means to work on those issues. Somebody the voters can trust.

Biden is not that person.

Peter B. Denison

Somerset