Joe Biden is a good man. While I’ve never questioned that, I often found myself in 2019 saying, I wish Biden hadn’t gotten into this race. He doesn’t need to be president to be the senior statesman who can help bring our country back together.
But as a person of faith, I try to be open to the Spirit and to be prayerfully willing to grow in my understanding of a situation. I am now on fire for Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris. Biden and Harris are my dream ticket, period. They are in no way simply my choice as a vote against our current president. At Coyote Run Farm, Patrick and I are excited, hopeful, and filled with joy in our support for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Right now, our country absolutely needs a regular Joe to move us into a brighter, more hopeful future. I was wrong in 2019, and I see clearly now that when Joe Biden responded to his personal call to seek the presidency, he was right.
The role Joe Biden is playing right now is exactly the role I wanted him to play in 2019. I now realize that in his own deep faith and commitment to serve his country, he needed to play the role of senior statesman right now. And he is doing an amazing job of leading our country forward into a new period of greatness. He has a vision to bring our nation together. He sees Americans for who we are: diverse in our experiences but united in our deep identities as members of the one nation we all call home.
I’m fortunate that during the Iowa Caucuses, I got to meet Joe. I got to see him up close and personal. I got to know that the persona projected by his campaign is authentic. Joe is a good American. He is a decent person. He is a man of deep faith. He is committed to using public office to advance the lives of everyday Americans. Two stories from his time in Iowa last year convince me of this.
The first came through a Facebook personal message from someone I grew up with in rural Iowa. My friend and I aren’t on the same “political team,” but we still respect and honor each other’s insights and experiences. Joe and his wife Dr. Jill Biden showed up in my friend’s small-town church on a Sunday morning in December. They sat in front of my friend who shook the Vice President’s hand and thanked him for his service. I doubt my friend will vote for Biden and Harris, but I believe the story was shared with me because they saw what I see in Joe Biden, a regular American who was at church on a Sunday in rural Iowa, not because it was a campaign event, but because that’s what Joe and his family have done his whole life: go to church on Sunday morning to practice his faith with his fellow Catholics and worship his creator.
When Joe talks about his Christian faith, he’s talking about a deep, life-long commitment to both belief and practice. When he talks about religious freedom, he means for everyone, not just members of “his” team. This is not a political position to help with his election. His faith is an authentic part of who he is that shapes his commitment to service and public life. No cameras to capture this. No press release. Just a fellow rural Iowan experiencing the authenticity of Joe Biden.
The second was at our farm in November, and this time it was a campaign event. There were at least 25 members of the national press. And I was the star. I was leading the tour of the farm and “managing” the message. Harris had been to Coyote Run Farm in August, Beto O’Rourke in June, Bill Weir of CNN in August, and Harry Smith of NBC in September. I have nearly perfected the art of leading the national press around our farm and talking with top tier candidates. Patrick, on the other hand, prefers to hang back. He’s not interested in advancing the talking points. He’s happy to wrangle the dogs and offer logistical support like where someone can find a bathroom.
But during the Biden visit, something happened off camera I didn’t know until after everyone had left. Patrick told me that as things were winding down, Joe grabbed his elbow and said, “I’m so proud of you and Matt. I’ve spent my life fighting for you. Congratulations on all you’ve accomplished in your life together.”
All the talk about Joe being a regular guy, those stories about him being so present in the moment with people, not because it’s a campaign move, but because it’s who he is, is absolutely true and real. With all the staff and reporters and talking points and must have photo ops, Joe sought out Patrick to have a personal, private moment. He made sure that Patrick knew he was seen and appreciated. Joe, in his natural ability and desire to make authentic connections with people, took the time to hang out with Patrick. Joe made sure he acknowledged Patrick in the exact way Patrick likes to be recognized: off camera in a personal, private, authentic exchange. Joe took the time to honor and recognize how important Patrick is to everything that happens at Coyote Run Farm, even as he’s seldom the one on camera, quoted in national publications, or hammering home a talking point with a candidate or elected official.
Joe doesn’t go to church on Sundays because it might help his campaign. Joe didn’t make sure he had a one on one conversation with Patrick because he wanted to make a political point that he supports same sex marriage. Joe did these things, and does things like this all the time, because his deep faith, his tireless commitment to service, and his genuine love for all people are not something he puts on for political life. In my personal interaction with Joe, I know that it’s the other way around. These fundamental aspects of his character are why he has dedicated his life to politics. His character is why he responded to the call to run for president.
And that’s why we need to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Joe isn’t merely the safe bet against our current president. Joe is the senior statesman, patriotic American, faithful leader, and all-around good person who will rebuild our country grounded in the very best of our shared values.
