Opinion: What we can all learn from Biden’s refusal to feed the troll
CNNEditor’s Note: Jan Erkert is a professor and the head of the Department of Dance at the University of Illinois. Biden likely developed his calm through life’s hard knocks, but it only became crystal clear to me that he had attained a dancer’s skill during the first presidential debate. As the two opponents faced off, Biden, at certain points, swayed gently from side to side, as Donald Trump’s erratic gestures signaled an invitation to fight. Afterwards, some pundits dismissed Biden’s performance, saying his words lacked finesse and his performance was merely “adequate.” But his win wasn’t in the policy proposals or his promises to the American people – he won by refusing to take the bait, despite Trump’s many attempts to provoke him. In late November, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni acknowledged his own penchant for focusing on Trump and wrote, “It’s a tic, not one I’m proud of.” Biden, on the other hand, has delivered a masterclass on keeping calm.
History of this topic
Biden falls flat against Trump in first 2024 US presidential debate
Al Jazeera
‘Sucker,’ ‘loser’ and other insults Biden and Trump lobbed in presidential debate
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First sons at war! Hunter Biden takes a swipe at Donald Trump Jr
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Hunter Biden jokes that keeping his pants was a 'problem' when he was taking crack
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