Democrats shouldn't take Joe Biden's folksy advice

Vice President Joe Biden during a campaign rally in Virginia on the eve of the November election. After his speech, Biden remarked backstage on the lack of apparent enthusiasm for the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.

Dec. 29, 2016 9:35 AM PT

To the editor: Vice President Joe Biden, explaining the Democrats’ 2016 loss, said, “All the people I grew up with ... we didn’t talk to them.” (“As Democrats ponder their future, Joe Biden makes a plea for a focus on the middle class,” Dec. 22)

Don’t buy it. We talked, but they didn’t hear. Put another way: You can give people answers, but not understanding. (You can also give them Russia, the FBI and Fox News day and night for 20 years, but that’s another story.)

Voters are fickle. Eight years of Democratic prosperity under Bill Clinton and Al Gore? Time for change. Eight years of disaster under George W. Bush and Dick Cheney? Time for change. Eight years of progress with President Obama? Time for a circus act.

I’m for Hillary Clinton — in 2020. Remember this, please: Ronald Reagan ran for president three times — in 1968, 1976 and 1980 — before getting to the White House.

S.R. Willen, Beverly Hills

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