Former Vice President Joe Biden has continually run with the notion that he's more than willing to work with Republicans in Washington to get things done and accomplished for the American people. He has repeatedly referenced his track record of getting legislation passed on a bipartisan basis based on that willingness. In fact, he even went so far as to say that he would consider a Republican running mate should he win the Democratic nomination, something that Democrats chided him for.
While most moderates and independents appreciate the former vice president's ability to be bipartisan and work with the other side, progressives seem to believe that working with Republicans somehow compromises their values. They want a candidate who holds firm to their progressive beliefs, like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Essentially, they want someone who is so far left that nothing meaningful will get accomplished and the status quo will continue.
According to Jack Kingston, a senior adviser to Donald Trump's campaign in 2016, Biden would be more effective at getting things accomplished based on his willingness to meet with and work with his Republican counterparts.
“The Senate is a club — it’s one of the most elite clubs in the world,” Kingston told The Hill. “I think he would have the ability to sit down and get some things done in a way that Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders — also members — would not be able to do."
Bipartisanship isn't a bad thing. It's actually something that should be praised and worked towards. In fact, if you look at some of the significant legislation that has been passed over the last few years, it's things that average Americans want and can agree with. Just look at the Advancing Support for Working Families Act, which helps families to offset expenses associated with having a new baby or adopting a child, or the Fix NICS Act of 2017, which mandates all federal agencies to report criminal convictions to the Attorney General so those convictions are put into the background check system. These are the types of bills and laws Americans want to see and they were achieved on a bipartisan basis. As much as we may shake our head at Joe Biden and despise him for some of his slimy behavior, especially with Ukraine, we have to give him credit where credit is due and his ability to work with Republicans is one of those instances.
