I Will Not Vote for Biden—But I Will Cast My Vote for Him

This November, millions of Americans will vote for the next president of the United States. It is no secret that I am neither on Team Biden nor Trump. If you follow my blog and IG stories, you already know that my perspectives do not align with a single political party; rather, I shift based on what I believe is fair, lawful, and mindful of civility and humanity. I tend to lean toward traditional Republicans when it comes to fiscal responsibility, while leaning toward traditional Democrats on social issues. One thing I will not abandon in my view of governance is this: law and order are required for civility. To be clear, I do not consider today’s Republican or Democratic parties to be traditional. Both have become polarized in ways that are damaging to the nation.

Hammer Museum, March 2024

When stores like Target and Vons have to lock up razors, detergent, shaving cream, toothbrushes, and shampoo due to rampant theft and a lack of policing, we are not living in civility. When a call to the police in a city like Los Angeles can take over two hours to be answered, and an additional three hours to dispatch due to the volume of crime, it is not dramatic to describe the city as out of order. When tens of thousands of people live without access to running water, toilets, clothing, shelter, food, or medical care, it is not far-fetched to call the situation inhumane. This is not dysfunction at the margins; it is a broader erosion of order.

I agree that President Biden should retire from politics. He will be 82 years old this November. In that sense, I believe former President Trump should also retire. He will be 78 years old in June. Neither of them makes a compelling presidential candidate at this stage of life. The presidency is a demanding and grueling role. A capable leader understands when to step aside.

I am not unaware that stepping aside is easier said than done. Who would replace President Biden as the Democratic nominee—Governor Newsom of California? I once wrote that I would never vote for him. But absolutes tend to collapse under pressure. I would vote for him if the alternative were former President Trump. This is not because I believe Governor Newsom’s political agenda is best suited for the country. My view that his politics often lean toward vanity rather than substance has not changed. The vote, in that case, would not be an endorsement—it would be a refusal.

And that is how I will be voting this November. I will not be voting for Biden, but I will cast my vote for President Biden so that I am, in effect, voting against former President Trump. It is that simple. I cannot watch, even passively, a man I consider a chauvinist, a racist, and a bully become the 47th President of the United States. After reading former President Trump’s interview with TIME, published this week, I can say with clarity that his positions are not grounded in principle, fact, or disciplined thought, but in whatever best advances his pursuit of power.

He is dangerous—not because he is uniquely strategic, but because he is willing to discard civility, humanity, and decency without hesitation. Former President Trump has suggested that individuals who are unlawfully present in this country should not be considered civilians. But unlawful entry does not erase civilian status. A civilian is, by definition, a person who is not a member of the armed forces or engaged in hostilities.

In that same TIME interview, he expressed a willingness to override the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which restricts the use of the military on civilians, in order to deport millions of unlawful residents and migrants. This position rests on the premise that they are not civilians—a premise that is both legally and ethically flawed. While I support enforcing federal immigration law and its penalties, overriding such protections sets a dangerous precedent. There is a line between enforcement and erosion, and crossing it does not strengthen a nation—it destabilizes it.

To be clear, the wall is a flawed idea. The U.S.–Mexico border spans nearly 2,000 miles across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The logistics of constructing a continuous wall of that scale are implausible in both cost and time. I do, however, believe that consistent enforcement of unlawful entry and residency would act as a deterrent.

I am not going to claim that President Biden has been a great president. He has had his moments, but I disagree with several of his policies, including student loan forgiveness and continuous support for Israel. While I initially supported Israel’s response to Hamas, the scale and continuation of the conflict in Gaza have reached a point where enough is enough.

He is neither the perfect nor the best candidate, but he is not overtly dangerous. President Biden is not suggesting violence if he loses the election. He is not proposing that states monitor pregnant women. His supporters are not attempting to override constitutional limits to secure a third term. He is not threatening to weaponize the Department of Justice against individuals who oppose him or to remove those who refuse to comply.

I am not voting for President Biden because I like him. We do not align on many issues. But he remains the only viable option if the goal is to preserve some measure of civility, humanity, and institutional stability in this country.

More essays:

Should Los Angeles Remain a Sanctuary City?

Barbie, Margot & Greta… Thank You, but No Thank You

Trump et Gay

Can There Be Such a Thing as Humanity in War?

Donald Trump and His 74 Million American Voters

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