Ian Haworth

Ian Haworth

Why Is The Unelected “Doctor” Jill Biden Speaking On Our Behalf?

Why do we nod along and smile as the unelected partners of politicians gallivant around the world?

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Ian Haworth
May 20, 2022
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Can we stop pretending that the spouses of our elected officials are important?

“Jill Biden is embarking on a high-stakes, six-day diplomatic tour of three Latin American countries, as part of a flurry of activity that marks her most prominent time as first lady on a global stage,” reported a breathless Jada Yuan for The Washington Post.

“You know Joe, and I hope that you know that he cares deeply about you,” Jill Biden told an audience in Ecuador on the first leg of her “high-stakes” diplomatic tour. “And I do too. And that’s why I’m here today.”

Er…what?

The notion that the unelected husbands/wives/boyfriends/girlfriends/f***-buddies of elected figures hold any level of authority or official influence has always baffled me. The American people — for some unknown reason — voted for Joe Biden to be President of the United States. But Jill Biden was never on the ballot.

Then why on earth is Jill Biden — whose entire professional career culminated in being a professor of English at a community college after earning a doctorate in education (whatever that means) from the University of Delaware (ranked 39th in “Best Education Schools”) — now embarking on a diplomatic tour on behalf of the United States?

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