For the first time in history, a sitting president and a former president stood on stage tasked with defining and debating their policy positions, defending their respective records, and sharing their vision for our country's future.
I watched as Joe Biden struggled to focus and present his position. I watched and heard Donald Trump make one false claim after another. While Biden seemed incapable of articulating his ideas, Trump clearly could, and his strategy was to generate as much anger and division as possible during the 90 minutes of the debate.
In the aftermath of the incident, commentators began questioning whether Biden was fit to serve as president for another four years, and only occasionally commented on Trump's outrageous rhetoric.
One of the former president's false and inflammatory claims about immigration policy was that President Joe Biden is “allowing millions of people to come into our country from prisons, psychiatric hospitals, mental institutions and drug dealers.”
He repeated the same comment multiple times throughout the debate. After Trump spoke, I turned to my wife and asked, “How long will it be before we see another hate crime against Hispanics?”
Since Trump announced his candidacy for his first term, the United States has seen a significant increase in hate crimes nationwide. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice reported 5,843 hate crimes. In 2022, that number was 11,643. The Department of Justice acknowledges that hate crimes are significantly underreported because victims are often afraid and hesitant to come forward and report crimes.
The day after the debate, a 74-year-old man shot and wounded an entire Hispanic family in Crete, Nebraska. The victims of the attack were four children, including a three-year-old, and three adults. By the grace of God, they all survived.
According to police reports, the shooter had previously uttered Trump's usual rhetoric, telling his family to “go back to your country” and “speak English.” When surrounded by police, the shooter took his own life. Since the shooter is no longer alive, no one can link his comments at the debate to this attack, but the correlation between Donald Trump's comments and the number of hate crimes is clear.
What's even more striking is that in these attacks, the perpetrators often invoke the former president's name, repeating his claims in speeches, online comments or, in the case of the El Paso shooter, in their manifestos.
A few days after the debate, I was invited to appear with President Biden at a July 5 event in Madison, Wisconsin.
It all started with a phone call. I was told there was an event with the President and I “might” have a chance to talk to him briefly. I accepted the invitation and began to think about what I would say if I had the chance to speak to the Commander in Chief of the United States.
Like most Americans, I had doubts about his mental state, his ability to debate policy, and his ability to recall past events and experiences.
When I arrived at the event site, Sherman Middle School, on the morning of July 5, I checked in and was shown into a room with a small group of people from all over Wisconsin. On one side of the room was a wall of blue velvet piped and draped curtains, and along one wall was a makeshift hallway made of the same pipes and curtains.
When the time came, I was introduced to the President of the United States, who greeted me with his trademark smile, extended his hand, and we exchanged greetings and took photographs.
I began the conversation by expressing my gratitude for the recent Executive Order that provides a legal pathway to permanent residence for immigrants who were brought to the United States at young ages through no fault of their parents, as well as for immigrant spouses and children of U.S. citizens.
He went on to tell me his reasons for taking these actions, and concluded his comments by stating that strengthening families is the right and moral thing to do.
I then told him how much I appreciated his strong support for the men and women of the United States military, from making sure they had the best equipment and training to always ending his speeches with a “God bless our troops” prayer.
Upon hearing my comment, he immediately looked at my lapel and noticed that I was wearing a “flag pin” with a single star on it. He asked me, “Which service?” I proudly replied that my son served in the United States Air Force.
I then mentioned that a few years ago, the President actually stopped by the overseas base where my son was stationed. He asked which base, and I told him. I then began repeating a story my son had told me about the visit. As I was telling the story, the President began chuckling, and then he finished.
He then thanked me for my son's service. Mindful that my time with him was limited, I held out my hand, said “thank you,” and moved to leave, but he continued to hold my hand, causing me to stop. He placed his other hand on my elbow. With a look of genuine empathy and gratitude, he said, “I want to thank you and your wife, and especially your son, for their service. Without him and the others, we would have had nothing. We owe it all to them.”
Moved by his words, I paused and replied, “Thank you, Mr. President, and I want to thank you and Mrs. Biden for your son's service and sacrifice.”
His son, Beau Biden, died of brain cancer several years after serving in Iraq with the Army National Guard, where he was exposed to toxic incinerator fumes that have been linked to cancer cases in U.S. soldiers.
It was a moving, powerful, and totally unexpected moment. After one more serious look, he let go and I walked away, heading to the auditorium where the public portion of the event would take place.
After only a few minutes with President Joe Biden, I was confident in his ability to debate policy, remember minor details from years ago, and generally trust his judgment.
Although I got answers to my questions, what impressed me most was his humanity, decency, and love for his country. I'm not a doctor or a Democrat, but I'm not in a position to say whether he should continue his campaign or give way to another candidate.
All I can say is that, either way, he deserves our recognition for his many accomplishments: record economic growth and jobs, record numbers of small businesses starting up, increasing numbers of people with health insurance, and a dramatic reduction in the number of children living in poverty.
Most importantly, he deserves our respect for his work to protect the Constitution and the rights of all people, regardless of party affiliation, and to unite our country rather than divide it.
After the long drive home, my wife and I recounted the truly surreal experience.
Hopeful for the days to come, my phone rang later that evening: another Hispanic family had been attacked here in southeastern Wisconsin.
They needed assistance.
