President Biden’s fumbling performance in the June 27 debate should not be taken out of context.

We did not elect Biden to be an on-stage debater. He has always struggled with verbal sparring on his feet. And he is old, not the man he once was in debates. His opponent, free of any constraint of truth, gave President Biden a hard time.

We elected Joseph Biden to be our president for his experience, his wisdom, his humanity, and for the kind of men and women he would recruit on his team to govern our country.

In his first term, Joe Biden has done a good job. In the debate, and in contrast to his opponent, he actually said what he plans to do when reelected in November – make the rich pay their fair share of taxes, save Social Security, expand child care, restore federal protection of women’s health care rights, and stand with our allies for freedom and democracy in the Ukraine and the Middle East.

The Biden team – Anthony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Lloyd Austin, Pete Buttigieg and many others – is made up of dedicated capable public servants, not toadies blindly loyal to their leader. President Biden leads this highly qualified team on the field. He does not have to do it all alone.

In November, the voters will decide. We will not be blinded by the disappointment of the debate night from choosing the candidate with the wisdom, experience, humanity and team to do the job: our president, Joseph Biden.

Peter Murray
Portland