In my third year at the University of Pennsylvania, I took a course called “Who gets elected and why.” It was taught by Ed Rendell, former mayor of Philadelphia, governor of Pennsylvania, and chairman of the Democratic National Committee. As such, Rendell addressed the class as if every student was a registered Democrat. In one class, he taught a particularly interesting lesson — no matter the shortcomings of a nominee, voters should still vote for them because of the greater good of passing a political party’s agenda. It’s a lecture Republicans could’ve used during the 2020 election, especially regarding student loan forgiveness.
Rendell’s advice was particularly analogous to former President Donald Trump and the 2020 presidential election. It’s no secret that a segment of the Republican Party did not support his reelection (or even his initial election). And rather than support Trump, they opted either not to vote, to vote for a fringe third-party candidate who had no chance of winning, or even vote for Biden. Yet, by doing so, they showed exactly why Rendell’s message was so important. By choosing not to vote for Trump (and, in some cases, actively working against him), they contributed to Biden fulfilling his campaign promise of student loan forgiveness.
One such example came in January 2021. Many Republicans who don’t like Trump blamed him for the Georgia Senate losses, claiming he encouraged people not to vote. In turn, this led to Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff winning the Jan. 5 runoff election. And those people have a legitimate point. Yet, while they are eager to blame Trump, they ignore that they essentially did the same thing by not supporting Trump in 2020. This may be a bitter pill to swallow, but, nevertheless, it’s true. In turn, this allowed the Democrats’ platform, and student loan forgiveness, to advance. It exemplifies the lesson Rendell was trying to teach.
Biden repeatedly touted student loan forgiveness on the campaign trail. It’s been a core issue of Democrats for several years now. Those who refused to support Donald Trump and what would have been a Republican political platform ensured Joe Biden’s election victory. Subsequently, this led to student loan forgiveness, and all of Biden’s other policies that have plagued the country. So, while the Republicans who opted not to support Trump did so out of principle, ultimately, they’re decision was detrimental in the long run.
Granted, every voter has the right to vote however they choose. That is their constitutional right. So, in that regard, no one should have any ill will because they allegedly voted based on principle. However, it would have been better to have President Donald Trump and his policies than a Joe Biden administration. I wish they could have seen the forest for the trees.
Hopefully, Republicans can self-reflect over 2020 and as they move toward the 2022 midterm elections and 2024 presidential election. Republicans should be working to build each other up instead of trying to tear each other down. Because, as the election of Biden has shown, the country’s future depends on it.
Regardless of anyone’s personal feelings about Trump, his administration accomplished a great deal for the country. Trump did an effective job at advancing a Republican agenda, which would have continued in his second term. Objectively speaking, which is honestly the better scenario for any Republican: Having a President Trump, which would have meant no student loan forgiveness, an administration tough on illegal immigration, Republican judges, an administration tough on crime, and still have the right and ability to criticize him whenever they felt necessary? Or what we currently have with Joe Biden?
Personally, the choice seems pretty obvious. If not, I’ll try to contact Professor Rendell to see if he’d be willing to teach a masterclass.
