It’s been heartbreaking to see some people rush to use Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis as a political weapon. He’s spent his life fighting for this country. You don’t have to agree with every decision he’s made to acknowledge the truth: Joe Biden is a decent man. A good man. And he deserves respect during one of the hardest moments anyone can face—for his sake and for his family’s.
The erosion of basic decency in our politics is painful to witness. Yes, I want a stronger Democratic Party—one that will stand up to Trump’s GOP and protect people from the cruelty baked into their agenda. But that fight can’t come at the cost of our moral compass. If we lose our humanity, what exactly are we fighting for?
Biden deserves the chance to rest, to recover, and to spend time with his beautiful family. And honestly, if your first instinct in someone else’s moment of crisis is to chase clout or score cheap points, you need to take a hard look in the mirror. That applies to the far-right commentators exploiting his illness—and also to some of Biden’s loudest online defenders, who seemed disturbingly quick to dunk on anyone they saw as a political threat. What are we doing?
Yes, there’s a real and necessary debate about the last four years—what could’ve gone differently, and what comes next. That conversation matters. But let’s not lose the forest for the trees. Right now, Joe Biden needs space. His family needs our compassion. And as Democrats, we need to remember who we are, what we care about, and what kind of country we’re trying to build.
I’m keeping Joe Biden in my heart today. Wishing him strength, grace, and time. I hope you are too.
Thank you so much for this gracious article. Our nation’s politics have become so fraught that they threaten to destroy our fundamental decency. Cancer is an evil thing, but it’s not payback, karma coming around or God’s punishment for sin. I’m very grateful to you for reminding us of how important kindness is.
Joe is a genuine good person. Rare gem in today's world.