thinking about sunday's debate

It will be fascinating - and instructive - to see how Senator Sanders and Vice-President Biden handle themselves in Sunday's up-coming debate. For that reason alone I am glad Bernie has not yet thrown in the towel. This could be a lively conversation about issues that really matter to ordinary Americans instead of regurgitating the shrill sound-bytes of their stump speeches. After the next few primaries - March 17 (AZ, FLA, OH, ILL) March 24 (GA), April 4 (HI, LA, WY and AK) and April 28 (DE, MD, NY, PA, RI) - there will be even greater clarity even as Sanders tries to push Biden to the left. It will all be for the good.

Wouldn't it be insightful - if not totally refreshing - on Sunday to see two wise and time-tested political elders with very different perspectives respectfully and accurately assess the chaos of our current health care system - and outline how they would pay for the necessary changes? How about saying something about their commitment to building coalitions? Sanders has come a long way in four years not only tapping into the energy of young voters but Latinos as well. Biden has earned the respect of older African-American voters along with white, working class and college educated women and men in the suburbs. Obviously, the constituents of those allied with Biden's coalition have so far proven to be more reliable and motivated than those in Sander's camp. But the age gap cannot be overlooked - short or long term - if the Democrats are serious about engaging their needs against Trump now but into the future as well. And how about exploring the state of race relations and gender equality in the land of the free and home of the brave? Or just compensation of American vets? Or what needs to be done to rebuild trust between the US and our international allies? And how are we ever going to manage to fix student debt?

That would be a debate and I would stay up late and watch until the end. Not that I think it is going to happen, mind you. Already some in the Sanders camp are doubling down on their disinformation about Biden's mental prowess. Their noxious and vulgar lies are as odious as anything spewed by Fox News. I worry, too about Senator Sander's historic inability to build non-ideological partnerships with rivals: his persistent equating of Trumpian fascism with the Democratic establishment is as unhelpful as it is vile. And then he acts surprised when few current players endorse him and many seriously mistrust him. 

And what about Joe? Like many of us who have lived long enough to try to make a difference in the public realm, he has been wrong way before he got it right. He has a complicated public track record, too that can document his multiple mistakes and sometimes it ain't pretty. Like almost all of the United States, he was once for the war in Iraq before he was against it. In the 80s and 90s, he advocated brutal judicial penalties for criminals that solidified the school-to-prison pipeline within the Black community. And he never gave Anita Hill the respect and credibility she deserved when bravely calling out the sexual harassment and intimidation she experience from Clarence Thomas. He is so NOT the perfect candidate - and was never my choice for the top of the ticket - but then there were two and that's how this shakes out.

To his credit, however, while often late to the party, Biden is willing to rethink some of his once popular positions that were wrong and ask for forgiveness. Humility matters and is rare in politics. I will never forget that Biden was instrumental in helping Obama find the courage to do the right thing with marriage equality and gay rights. And he was strong enough in character to sign-on as second fiddle for this nation's first African-American president - something he did with grace, good humor and integrity - and it was a joy to behold for eight years. 

I have loved ones and respected colleagues who see this race in profoundly different ways. I respect them and value the wisdom they have shared with me about all the candidates. Still, I have come to a different conclusion about who I think will advance the common good in the general election. The Biden coalition resonates with my heart and my experience - especially the support from the African American community - but I also appreciate his public temperament. If Sanders wins the nomination, I will support him without question. But I hope that does not come to pass. Rather, I pray for those who know how to bring people together to have some "come to Jesus" talks with both candidates as well as their campaign strategists: now is the time to find a way to work together and take some of the good ideas in both campaigns and make them the best ideas for the winning ticket. Again, I don't expect that is going to happen any more than Tom Friedman's proposal re: announcing a unified ticket with all former candidates committed to taking a role in a new cabinet. But as Bob Dylan often sings, "There MUST be some kinda way outta here said the Joker to the Thief. There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief." We shall see...