Why Biden’s Speech Matters

A Change in the National Dialog

Like you, I have read many analyses of President Biden’s January 6th speech on Thursday. Most have talked about the politics, which, like… how could you not? But that’s not what this is about. I have an eye for the country and how his speech will change our discourse.

Biden’s speech is creating a palpable change in the national discourse. Not just in the media, but among the people.

Until now, many Americans watched that certain “defeated former president” with horror and fascination. While in office, we wondered: How could he do that? Is that legal? We asked over and over only to realize that it didn’t matter. He was doing what he could get away with.

Once he was defeated, we wondered if he would leave the White House. The normal passage of the baton is through the peaceful transfer of power — a tradition that “former guy” would not follow.

On January 6, 2020, everyone could see what this man wrought. Even Republicans condemned it… until they didn’t. See Lindsay Graham, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell.

Then, that defeated former president continued to push the big lie that the election was stolen for a year while the new guy, President Biden, tried to put it behind him and behind us. Biden remained mostly silent about it.

But it did not work.

What I noticed is this: Until yesterday, people were hesitant to speak the truth about the right-wing movement Trump leads. It is a dictatorial, autocratic, lawless vision of America captured perfectly in the imagery of the January 6th insurrection. Trump, if allowed a return to politics, has us on a path that follows the historical precedent of fascism. Precious few people have been willing to say so.

Why? Because Trump’s world is a world of bullies. Armed bullies. Hateful bullies. Just look at the battle at the gates of the capitol. That’s all you need to see. Bullies who could not have it their way tried to force it to be their way. With violence.

People turn away because people don’t like bullies. They don’t like violence. Many are afraid. So, they turn. They do not speak. They remain silent.

I did, too.

Biden’s courageous speech is the cultural and political leadership of the body politic. He has changed the nature of the conversation. People who were afraid will be emboldened. He is a leader standing up for the principles of democracy. He is standing up to the bullies we encounter every day.

Last night at a gathering of a group of people I meet with every month, there was a palpable change in the tone and the rhetoric. For once, the right-leaning people with their bullying swagger demurred. The defenders of democracy were eloquent and outspoken. That is a change, and it is an important one. It would not happen without Biden’s speech. It had not happened in over a year.

I believe we will see that same dynamic throughout the country because this is what leadership and the bully pulpit of the presidency does. Trump used it to enable the bullies. He used it to give permission to the hate speech. And for six years, we as a country have endured the outspokenness of that hate, that bullying, and that violence.

President Biden’s speech said, “Enough!” He modeled an end to the silence, an end to the passivity. He showed us the way. He gave everyone the okay to name Trumpworld for what it is: A danger to democracy and the America we love and cherish. Voices will rise. People will speak.

President Biden’s speech changes the national dialog. Opposition to fascism, dictatorship, and autocracy suddenly has a strong voice. Standing up to the bullies is now a position of strength. The President needs to continue this kind of leadership — it will change the dynamics in the body politic. We will see it in the media and online, but this is not where the important change will happen. The important change is in the privacy of small groups, families, church groups, clubs, and social gatherings. Cowering to the bullies is over.

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Gadwall Jackson

Writing the Unspeakable Truth