MAMEWorld Forums - Welcome to the War Room - Re: from 1980s: Joe Biden lecturing George Shultz about Reagan's inadequate South Africa apartheid policy

>The man has ALWAYS said what he thinks his voters want him to hear. Then changes his mind
>if it looks like he's losing votes.

There have been past times in 20th century decades (80s and 90s) where I disagreed with Biden, but in that 1986 instance committee hearing, regarding S. Africa and apartheid, Biden didn't need to change his mind. The S. Africa government (led by DeKlerk iirc the name correctly) refused to do any form of negotiations or transitions governing S. Africa with the actual citizens that were there long before colonialism.

The S. African government was not going to change but neither was the opposition ANC (African National Congress), but there were a couple other organizations including the one that Bishop Desmond Tutu was affiliated with in mid 1980s that was willing to work with some members of the S. Africa government in some form of shared government arrangement.

That was derailed and then ANC interfered and all talks broke apart. The rest of the world's nations eventually went with then imposing sanctions and it was time for US to join in. Reagan Administration didn't want to get involved and let things be the same in S. Africa. It was time to shame the administration and Biden did a fantastic job in that committee hearing pointing this out. Even better that Biden didn't accept any of Schultz accusations towards Biden during that hearing. Good for Joe. One of the few times back then where I applauded Biden for his stance.

What's odd about watching the video now in 21st century, is it looks like watching one of the old newsreel 1920s era news clips even though the hearing was about 35 years ago.

Edited by gregf (02/22/21 09:40 AM)