Most of the mass media’s coverage of the presidential campaign seems to be laser focused on Joe Biden’s capacity to perform well in debates and interviews, given his age. (Although Trump is only three years younger than Biden.) As usual, the mass media also is treating the election as a horse race, focusing attention on who is ahead in polls. They’re helping Donald Trump by neglecting to give adequate coverage to what he did as president and will do if re-elected and by failing to adequately cover what Biden has accomplished as president.

Trump appointed justices who are responsible for eliminating a woman’s constitutional right to decide for herself whether to remain pregnant. If he is re-elected, he will appoint more. Biden does more to protect a woman’s right to choose. Trump’s huge tax cuts primarily benefited the very wealthy and increased the deficit. If he is re-elected, expect more such tax cuts. Biden favors fair taxation that doesn’t privilege the very wealthy.

Trump appointed justices who oppose almost all gun regulations, however reasonable. In fact, he appointed judges who oppose almost all government regulations, however necessary they may be to protect the common good. If he is elected, expect more of the same when it comes to regulations to protect the environment and people’s health. Biden tries to use government to protect people’s lives and health.

In 2020, Trump lawlessly tried to stay in power despite his electoral loss. He encouraged insurrection. His appointees to the Supreme Court have made it easier for him to do it again in 2028 if he wins in 2024 by misinterpreting the Constitution to in effect place the president above the law.

I urge people to focus on what Biden and Trump have done as president and what they intend to do if re-elected, not on age, performance in debates and interviews, or who stands where in the polls.

Emmett Barcalow

Amherst