Joe Biden didn’t need to come to Charleston Sunday. There were no votes to be gained, no campaign cash to be collected.
He wanted to do something meaningful in Charleston and North Charleston on his last full day as president – to simply say thank you to the people of South Carolina for backing him when he needed it in the 2020 presidential primary. And to give a nod to the importance of civil rights by speaking at the 19-month-old International African American Museum.
One supporter said on social media that the visit highlighted who Biden really is as he “reminded us to keep our hope alive, even when the world feels heavy.”
Biden’s visit to red South Carolina stems from long friendships with the late U.S. Sens. Fritz Hollings, a Democrat, and Strom Thurmond, a Republican, and current U.S. Rep., Jim Clyburn, also a Democrat. It shines a beacon on the now-former president’s brand of character and honor – distinguished traits that are polar opposites of the newly-inaugurated president, who is known far and wide for vitriol and not telling the truth. The differences between the two men and their Americas couldn’t be starker.
While Biden’s popularity took a hit in recent months, he will go down as a good-to-great president, contrasted by the narcissistic new incumbent who will stay in the doghouse he created in his earlier term.
Just look at some of Biden’s myriad accomplishments since 2021 when he inherited a lackluster economy reeling from a pandemic:
Health care: More than 21 million Americans have health care now through Obamacare, an increase of 9 million people under Biden. That makes America healthier and stronger. He also worked to promote cancer research and tackle the nation’s mental health crisis.
Jobs. Job growth was up substantially for three years in a row, compared to a 9.2% drop in 2020, much of which is due to the pandemic that no president could control. But in Biden’s first three years, the economy added almost 15 million jobs and unemployment remained under 4% for the longest time since the 1960s. So give Biden credit for America’s robust economy today.
Green policies. Biden promoted green policies like no president before with Bloomberg News saying “he has sparked a revolution.” He made huge investments in electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Strong markets. The stock market almost doubled under Biden, leading to great wins for investors. Passage of Biden’s trillion-dollar push in infrastructure catalyzed a new era of public and private investments in electronics, electric vehicles, batteries, clean power, industry, public roads, bridges and more.
Violent crime is down. Federal reports suggest the nation’s violent crime rate will be the lowest since 1969 when 2023 data is compiled. Biden’s 2021 stimulus bill included $350 billion for state and local governments, which Biden urged them to spend on law enforcement.
More of Biden’s long list of accomplishments: fervently supporting freedom here and abroad in Ukraine, working to out-compete China, reducing gun violence, conserving millions of acres of land, promoting equality and standing up for justice for everyone.
We’re sad to see you go, Mr. President. But we’re happy you spent your last day with us.
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