Let’s Look Beyond A Single Debate To Policies And Progress

By Ajay Bhutoria, Deputy National Finance Chair, Democratic Party

While Trump faced felony convictions, Republicans stood united, defending him. Yet, a single poor debate performance by Biden leads to calls for his replacement. This is absurd.

ATLANTA, GA – I was here last week attending the watch party with the Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign and was dumbfounded by the deluge of misinformation from the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. I lost count of the falsehoods Trump uttered. Despite the media’s fixation on President Joe Biden’s performance on debate night, we must look beyond a single debate and focus on the remarkable progress made over the last three and a half years. Compare the Presidencies and work done during both the Presidencies and not just 90 minutes of Debate night.

In a contest between a confident liar and an honest truth-teller, the liar often appears to win. But we must look beyond debates to actual presidencies. President Joe Biden isn’t just the right person for the job—he’s the only person for the job. The alternative is a convicted felon.

President Biden’s leadership has been transformative. Under his administration, we’ve seen the creation of 15.6 million new jobs—eight times more than the combined total of the last three Republican presidents. The administration has passed crucial gun safety reforms, reduced prescription drug prices, and launched a historic infrastructure plan. President Biden has proven his capability, and it’s crucial that we support him now more than ever—for his sake, and for the future of the Democratic Party.

When Joe Biden and Kamala Harris assumed office, they were met with unparalleled challenges—a devastating pandemic, economic turmoil, a climate crisis, and deep-seated racial inequities. They campaigned on the promise of addressing these issues swiftly and effectively, which is exactly what they have done.

One of their landmark achievements is the Inflation Reduction Act, which not only lowers costs for families but also addresses climate change, reduces the national deficit, and ensures that the wealthiest corporations contribute their fair share. For the first time, Medicare is empowered to negotiate the prices of certain expensive drugs, senior citizens’ insulin costs are capped at $35 per month, and recommended adult vaccines are free for Medicare beneficiaries. Additionally, seniors will see their out-of-pocket expenses at pharmacies capped at $2,000 annually. Thanks to strategic actions by President Biden, including a significant release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, gas prices have fallen by more than $1.60 from their peak in the summer of 2022.

Thanks to President Biden’s economic strategy, 2021 and 2022 saw the most robust job growth in history. Nearly 11 million jobs have been created since he took office, including 750,000 manufacturing positions. The unemployment rate is at a 50-year low, and we’ve seen a record number of small businesses launch since Biden’s inauguration. Unemployment rates for Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and people with disabilities are near record lows.

Additionally, President Biden has warned that the outcome of the 2024 election could shape the Supreme Court for years to come. The next president will likely have the opportunity to nominate two new justices. Trump’s previous appointments—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—have already shifted the court significantly to the right. With more appointments, Trump could further erode rights, including voting rights, reproductive rights, and affirmative action. Biden has emphasized the importance of appointing progressive judges who will protect and expand individual rights.

Our democracy, our country, and the world depend on us right now. Politicians should be evaluated based on their deeds, their policies, their compassion for people, and their respect for the law and the Constitution. Their past actions should weigh more heavily than their debate performances.

We should not allow a 90-minute debate to overshadow four years of dedicated leadership. We don’t choose our moment in history, but we can choose who guides us through it. In these perilous times, there is no one I trust more in the Oval Office than Joe Biden.

Joe Biden speaks the truth, while Donald Trump seizes every opportunity to deceive. I stand firmly with Biden for 2024. His accomplishments and relentless fight for us are unmatched, and a single debate does not diminish that.

During the debate, Trump continuously lied. He refused to denounce the January 6 violence, did not commit to accepting this year’s election results, and confirmed his intention to sign a national abortion ban. Trump has shown us who he is: a threat to democracy and our fundamental freedoms.

Trump faces 34 more reasons (or 88 felony counts) to step aside as the Republican nominee, far surpassing any reasons for Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee. Just because Trump speaks loudly does not mean his words are more coherent—in fact, they are often less so and far more dangerous. While Trump faced felony convictions, Republicans stood united, defending him. Yet, a single poor debate performance by Biden leads to calls for his replacement. This is absurd.

We are now the party of law and order, the party best for the economy, families, workers, farms, households, businesses, stability, democracy, justice, equality, the environment, freedom, and fairness. This has always been true, but the contrast is clearer now than ever. It’s not just Biden’s responsibility to demonstrate this; it’s on all of us.

Biden has overcome a significant stutter, he carefully considers his words, and he speaks truthfully—a task far more challenging than spouting the vitriol that Trump does. Biden is human and fallible, but he is relatable. He isn’t just experienced; he’s wise. He’s forgotten more than most of us will ever know because of his extensive experience.

Changing our candidate now would be self-destructive. Biden is at the top of the ticket, and that won’t change unless he decides otherwise. His record of legislative, public health, economic, climate, and social achievements is unparalleled in modern history. It’s up to each of us to double down on this campaign, organize, mobilize, vote, and ensure victory for President Biden-Harris 2024.  South Asian Voters will play a crucial role in the battleground states and will be the margin of victory.

Joe Biden has clarified that this election is a choice between someone who deceives and someone who leads. A president with a cold is far better for America than a self-serving felon. Joe Biden is the Democratic candidate who will defeat Trump in 2024. I wholeheartedly support President Biden and Vice President Harris and urge you to do the same. The alternative is Trump—a convicted felon.

Additionally, we must recognize the dangers of Project 2025, an alarming initiative pushed by Trump’s allies. Project 2025 aims to consolidate presidential power, dismantle key federal agencies, and undermine democratic norms. This is a direct threat to our democracy, underscoring the urgency of re-electing Joe Biden to protect our institutions, freedoms, and future from such perilous schemes.

Let’s not be swayed by the chaos of a single debate. Let’s stand firm and continue to support the leader who has shown us what true progress and integrity look like. Joe Biden has proven that he is the president we need for these challenging times. I am proud to stand with him, and I urge all of you to do the same.