This is such an important and moving story - take a moment to think about the last time a stranger, let alone a former VPOTUS, took this much time to empathize with you. Think about what it would be like to have someone like @JoeBiden, someone genuinely *kind* as a leader again. https://twitter.com/amandalitman/status/1275845500189761539

I have another story to share, not a personal experience with the VP, but one of close family friends who wouldn’t mind me sharing but are far too old to be on Twitter and post themselves.

My mother lost one of her closest friends, Richard Guadagno, in Flight 93 on 9/11. His family goes to Shanksville every year to commemorate his sacrifice. While Biden was VP, he attended those services for a number of years. And every time, he remembered Richard’s family.

They’ve met a lot of politicians because of Richard’s death, but they said that @JoeBiden was like no other. That he would look them in the eye and instantly understand their grief, and grieve with them. That his words came from the same place of pain and understanding.

There are many who argue that while these stories are touching, and nearly everyone can agree that Biden is a nice, kind man, those qualities don’t automatically translate to being a good President, or even a good candidate. And to an extent, I can agree. But also, fuck that.

Yes, Presidents must be prepared to make decisive choices that define our nation and chart a path for the future of 300M Americans. And yes, just because we have an idiot rn doesn’t mean we should set the bar low and settle with “at least he’s not Trump!” But again, fuck that.

Can’t we recognize that DECENCY and EMPATHY and THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE are core tenets of who we all want in a leader? Quite frankly, I’d just as rather have those traits in POTUS than being an expert in foreign affairs - which, just to be clear, Joe Biden is.

Polls show a general lack of excitement among Dems in voting for Biden. But I really don’t understand why. We need to reframe our thinking around what it is we value and desire in our country’s leadership. Stories like these are why I am ECSTATIC to vote for Biden. Food 4 thought