Why I support Joe Biden for president

By David Quolke

I am more excited about this election than I have been about an election in a while. Because the stakes are so high, the importance of this election is crystal clear. I looked long and hard at the candidates, and, although there were many good ones out there, in the end it is Joe Biden I support. I believe he is best suited to take the White House back in November.

For a time, I struggled with choosing between Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vice President Biden. But his performance on Super Tuesday solidified in my mind that Biden is the candidate best positioned to move our country forward.

Biden’s plan to rebuild the middle class and focus on the dinner-table issues that are near and dear to the heart of working Americans is a message that is resonating in Ohio. He is on the side of working families. He will stand up for working people in Ohio and every other state.

Right now, Ohio is in a huge battle over education funding. Our members are also attuned to the lack of national support for public education from Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos. Biden is committed to public education. When he is president, I believe we will see an immediate investment in our schools, especially those that are dependent on IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and Title I funding.

Biden will stand up for the teaching profession and the children we serve. He has a plan to create more community schools and provide wraparound support for students and their families. And he says he will double the number of psychologists, guidance counselors, nurses, social workers and other health professionals in our schools, so our kids can get the care they need. His vision to put the country back together is aligned with many of the issues we are struggling with in Ohio.

Nationally, in the last few years, our government has been unable to truly lead and govern. Biden has the ability to pull Republicans and Democrats together on issues that affect all of us.

Trump’s presidency has been painfully divisive for America, but Biden can bring us together, mend divisions and unite this country.

I believe that every child should be able to hold the president in high esteem. Right now, children hear, see and understand too many cruel messages of hate coming from the White House. Biden will begin a healing process in America, bring dignity back to the White House, restore cooperation in our government, and promote respect for our diversity as Americans.

As we go into this election, I am committed to getting our members engaged to elect a candidate who truly believes in our values and our profession. I don’t doubt that it will take an overwhelming amount of work to make that happen, but when we fight for what we value, we can be successful.

David Quolke is the president of the Cleveland Teachers Union and an AFT vice president.