Would you believe that I have begun and erased this letter to you all four times since I started trying to write it last week? This is not even the first one of these monthly missives that has suffered such delays for how rapidly the sands have shifted beneath our feet, but it has definitely been the MOST revised.
This month started with what could be the least surprising news in a year of jarring surprises: the President who proudly takes no precautions during a pandemic is now himself sick with the virus. We don’t wish any harm or illness on the President, as we don’t wish the same for anyone. However, that seems to be precisely the difference between us and the President.
Too many people who did not need to be sick have fallen ill and over 200,000 have died because of his ineptitude and intentional playing down of the severity of this emergency. This dangerous and cavalier attitude extended even to how he interacted with his own top advisors and donors. It boggles my mind, as I’m sure it boggles yours, how anyone could still support this man as it is clear that he truly does only care for himself – and not even enough to keep himself from illness.
In contrast however, we have much to be grateful for on our side. As a much different campaign season has at last taken shape, we have had the almost strange comfort of hearing sane, measured, and thoughtful words from our next President and Vice President. Scientific American broke with 175 years of tradition and openly endorsed a candidate: Joe Biden. The New England Journal of Medicine penned an unprecedented editorial about the leadership vacuum that has exacerbated this crisis. More and more people are stepping forward – old friends, the often unaligned, and even former opponents – to say that Joe Biden needs to be the next President, for America’s sake.
Each one of us also has a role to play. These last few weeks have shown, yet again, that Donald Trump and his Republican enablers must be excised from office on November 3rd. That means electing Democrats all the way down the ballot. We need your help making phone calls to voters to make sure they are able to cast their vote.
You can find more information about how to get involved here. Do your part; please sign up today!
Democratically yours,
Matthew C. Murray