JD Vance, while introducing himself to the nation Wednesday evening as Donald Trump's vice-presidential pick, said of the relatives he has from Appalachia, "That is our homeland. People will not fight for abstractions, but they will fight for their home." Vance, of course, is on shaky ground factually — consider the American Revolution as only the first of many conflicts the United States has fought on behalf of the abstract ideal of freedom over tyranny. But since his speech, I keep returning to Vance's subtext here: The G.O.P. owns the mantle of American patriotism. President Biden on Sunday proved otherwise. In deciding to drop out of the race, he ensured that history will remember him for putting country over his own aspirations in the fight to prevent the lasting damage of a second Trump presidency. Biden listened to voters' and his party leaders' concerns about his age and infirmity and acted. As the editorial board wrote, "Biden has now done what Trump never will: He has placed the national interest above his own pride and ambition." Political courage and love of country also came in the form of those Democratic leaders who saw the pitfalls of Biden's candidacy and spoke up, even if only behind closed doors. Contrast the choices of Americans like Senator Peter Welch of Vermont; Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader; and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi with those made by Senator Mitch McConnell and so many others in the Republican leadership who have repeatedly excoriated Trump but never acted to stop him. One of the miracles of the American experiment is that it has, with little exception, seen the peaceful transfer of power. It's a lasting testament to George Washington's leadership. Today, we see the same. Our political system was built to handle this eventuality — among fellow citizens and his party, Biden's decision has not sparked violence but instead contemplation about the future. His exit from the race is a demonstration of patriotism, and it is also a sign of health for our nation. The Democratic Party is declaring its commitment to governance rather than to being a cult of personality. And Biden offered Democrats the chance to move on to their next generation of leaders. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, and as of Sunday, there have been no challenges to her for the nomination. Tressie McMillian Cottom, a Times Opinion columnist, made a compelling case yesterday that it should stay that way. "This election is not a competition between two equally matched candidates with merely competing visions for America," she wrote. "It is a race between a man who intends to be king and the party that stands in his way." "Anyone else would leave lasting intraparty animosities," wrote Michelle Goldberg, in her own case for Harris in today's assessment of potential candidates by a group of Opinion contributors. Our colleague Bret Stephens disagrees, arguing that Harris is even weaker than Biden as a candidate. "She's a blue-state Democrat who's hardly ever run a truly competitive campaign," he told Gail Collins. "She comes with all of the Biden policy baggage, particularly the rise in prices and the immigration crisis." This will not be the end of the conversation, either in Times Opinion's report or among voters. And of course, it's the Democratic Party that will make the call at its convention next month. One must hope it proves to be another opportunity for Americans to see the party demonstrate its patriotism in action. The next month will undoubtedly be a tense, serious time in the nation's history. Everyone who loves this country should be sure to stay engaged. Here's what we're focusing on today:
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Monday, July 22, 2024
Opinion Today: Biden and the true meaning of patriotism
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