Will Hillary Clinton's endorsement do Joe Biden more harm than good? I doubt it

Most Democrats don't want to talk about the issues that trailed Clinton since the beginning. But admitting them doesn't mean calling her a bad Democrat

This week, Hillary Clinton was the latest in a string of high-profile endorsements of Joe Biden in his bid for the presidency of the United States. Just as with all previous endorsements, such as Barack Obama, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and countless others, the media, political strategists and social media junkies are pondering the impact of Clinton coming out in support of the former VP.

To put it simply, the question on many people’s minds is whether an endorsement from Hillary Clinton hurts more than it helps Joe Biden.

Being a Democrat since I came out of my incredible mother’s womb, I am not fond of elephants, much less when they are in a room. Let us face the uncomfortable truth. There were many factors and dynamics that contributed to Hillary Clinton’s loss to Donald Trump in 2016 — Russia, the FBI, misogyny, Bernie, apathy, flawed campaign strategies and more. Many of those issues had trailed her for years. And the one truth a majority of Democrats avoid like the plague is the high unfavorability ratings associated with Hillary Clinton previous to her second candidacy for the presidency.

Clinton’s guarded and protective approach could have resulted in a misperceived lack of authenticity. Her tone at times might have been misinterpreted as arrogance. It could be argued that she has contributed to some of the judgments levied against her. Who can blame her for building a wall around her heart and soul after several decades of relentless attacks, which were so often personal and cruel?

In many circles, Clinton is one of the most admired women in American history, and in others she is the most despised and reviled. She is a controversial yet powerful public figure, to say the least.

On the other side of the coin, Clinton shattered a huge glass ceiling as the first woman ever to be the presidential nominee for a major political party in the United States. Her exemplary leadership; lifelong advocacy for children, women, and the disenfranchised; her incredible public service as First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State; and her extraordinary grasp of politics makes her one of the world’s foremost authorities and opinion-makers.

Clinton’s endorsement is a timely reminder of the shared vision and all the positive qualities she has in common with Joe Biden. Like Biden, you can’t help but admire the role that faith has played in Hillary Clinton’s life, and how it has shaped both her and Biden in their commitment to leave the world a better place then they found it. They believe in an inclusive America where diversity matters, and have a shared commitment to equality and prosperity for all.

I am willing to bet that Clinton would be the first to admit she has baggage, but who among us does not? Like all of us, Hillary Clinton is a flawed human being. I know that I always want to be judged by the totality of my being and I believe that she is owed and has earned that opportunity as well. She has given voice to the voiceless, advocated for the least among us, fought for the underdog and exemplified the best ideals of humanity. All in all, she is fierce and powerful. The positive impact of her endorsement of Joe Biden far outweighs the petty opinions of her skeptics and critics.

Moe Vela is an attorney, entrepreneur, consultant, political commentator, opinion maker, author of Little Secret, Big Dreams and the first Hispanic American and LGBTQ American to serve twice in the White House in a senior executive role. He is the Chief Transparency Officer and on the Board of Directors of TransparentBusiness