76-year-old Presidential candidate Joe Biden believes he is the right choice for the Democratic Party in 2020. Many young Democrats, however, disagree, believing him to be a fondly-remembered, but ultimately antiquated figure of the party's past.
Biden seemed to reinforce this view in a resurfaced clip from his book launch earlier this year. In the video, he's interviewed by Patt Morrison from the Los Angeles Times, and the things he has to say about the younger generation are pretty damning.
“The younger generation now tells me how tough things are, give me a break ... I have no empathy” - Joe Biden https://t.co/UWswJDJLMI— Ibrahim (@Ibrahim)1556845284.0
When asked about millennials, Biden responded:
"The younger generation now tells me how tough things are. Give me a break. No, no, I have no empathy for it. Give me a break."
@IbrahimAS97 Imagine bragging about not having empathy.— Bryn Greenwood (@Bryn Greenwood)1556934805.0
Biden spoke about how his generation basically "finished" civil rights:
"Because here's the deal guys, we decided we were gonna change the world. And we did. We did. We finished the civil rights movement in the first stage. The women's movement came to be. So my message is, get involved. There's no place to hide."
@IbrahimAS97 @EricShapiro3 Best way for the young people to change the world is to vote out the old people.— Waiting for Biggiot. ⚾️ (@Waiting for Biggiot. ⚾️)1556924463.0
@IbrahimAS97 @posistress Nothing says "perfect candidate to lead the most powerful nation in the world" like "I have no empathy"— The Mars Travolta (@The Mars Travolta)1556925997.0
Despite the surge of millennial voters who turned out in 2018, Biden seems to be under the impression young people need to get involved!
"And so, there's an old expression my philosophy professor would always use from Plato, 'The penalty people face for not being involved in politics is being governed by people worse than themselves.' It's wide open. Go out and change it."
@IbrahimAS97 @libraryseedbank Yeah, Joe, we know. You have no empathy, and we need leaders who can serve the young,… https://t.co/IU68clbfvR— Ms Wilde Regrets (@Ms Wilde Regrets)1556940739.0
@IbrahimAS97 https://t.co/o2529aYLvP— Molotov Foxtails 🦊🔥 (@Molotov Foxtails 🦊🔥)1556929493.0
Of course, Biden failed to mention how, according to Indy 100, "young people are earning 20 per cent less than baby boomers did when they were the same age, despite being better educated."
@IbrahimAS97 @jlrindahl https://t.co/6cuNquGX1p— Helen Broom (@Helen Broom)1556908483.0
@IbrahimAS97 Joe's Bold New Campaign Strategy. https://t.co/SwGSWdaODo— Aoife, a Trans™ (@Aoife, a Trans™)1556941162.0
@IbrahimAS97 https://t.co/uCxmWu7h05— mikey (@mikey)1556923735.0
Biden also conveniently left out the climate crisis his generation (and he specifically, as a member of Congress) failed to prevent, or the soaring prices of healthcare.
“I have no empathy for the younger generation.” - Joe Biden Police brutality is at an all time high. Hate crimes… https://t.co/JWomQZHRPt— Shaun King (@Shaun King)1556980061.0
Millennials won't vote for someone who doesn't have empathy for their problems. The most educated generation in his… https://t.co/4E7JLFISOP— Dom Bauer (@Dom Bauer)1557122426.0
Biden's generation did not "fix" America, they imperiled it.
Joe Biden’s #noempathy for younger generations quote is exactly what we DON’T need in our representatives. I’d love… https://t.co/LiAiYBTXkX— Lindsey Mark (@Lindsey Mark)1557070828.0
Beto says some dumb shit, but it’s not as dumb (or out of touch) as this: “The younger generation now tells me how… https://t.co/4gC4LAY4uw— A Lowen (@A Lowen)1556945530.0
Biden's voting record in Congress is not an especially progressive one.
Throughout the years, he's voted to deregulate Wall Street, support discriminatory bussing practices, and took a major role in Bill Clinton's 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which is now remembered for its racist effects on our justice system.
Having said that, this isn’t really about age or generation. This is about greed and corruption. This is about a fu… https://t.co/jW1mwy5dgk— Amir (@Amir)1557080408.0
Joe Biden's generation brought about the literal apocalypse so he can go fuck himself. https://t.co/IT33cBlcR2— Jacob Weindling (@Jacob Weindling)1556992576.0
Comedian Michael Ian Black summed up his disgust with Biden's answer very well:
Joe, your parent’s generation changed the world. Yours sold it for parts to Wall Street. Don’t fall for your own se… https://t.co/51iaPdWS3r— Michael Ian Black (@Michael Ian Black)1556938658.0
A few years ago, I went to see the revival of "Hair" on B'way and hating it because it felt so empty. Young people… https://t.co/NlETXTGd7O— Michael Ian Black (@Michael Ian Black)1556981207.0
All the while congratulating themselves for being so open and enlightened because they were cool if black and white… https://t.co/4AJMufzcJV— Michael Ian Black (@Michael Ian Black)1556981544.0
If Biden wants to win the young votes he needs to win the Presidency, he's going to have to change his tune in a big way.
Many highly educated and motivated millennials are struggling to make ends meet, and mocking them is not what our nation needs right now.
@IbrahimAS97 My parents generation could afford college with a part time job. They also could afford housing and he… https://t.co/nEEjg7ugHH— Coco Mn (@Coco Mn)1556948027.0