President Barack Obama Endorses Joe Biden for President

April 15, 2020 JanF Democratic Party Values, Editors' Choice, Election 2020 7

President Barack Obama has endorsed his former Vice President, Joe Biden, for president.

Text (bolding added).

“Hi everybody. Let me start by saying the obvious – these aren’t normal times. As we all manage our way through a pandemic unlike anything we’ve seen in a century, Michelle and I hope that you and your families are safe and well. If you’ve lost somebody to this virus, or if someone in your life is sick, or if you’re one of the millions suffering economic hardship, please know that you’re in our prayers. Please know that you’re not alone. Because now’s the time for all of us to help where we can and to be there for each other, as neighbors, as coworkers, and as fellow citizens.

In fact, over the past weeks, we’ve seen plenty of examples of the kind of courage, kindness, and selflessness that we’re going to need to get through one of the most difficult times in our history. Michelle and I have been amazed at the incredible bravery of our medical professionals who are putting their lives on the line to save others. The public servants and health officials battling this disease. The workers taking risks every day to keep our economy running. And everyone who’s making their own sacrifice at home with their families, all for the greater good.

But if there’s one thing we’ve learned as a country from moments of great crisis, it’s that the spirit of looking out for one another can’t be restricted to our homes, or our workplaces, or our neighborhoods, or our houses of worship. It also has to be reflected in our national government. The kind of leadership that’s guided by knowledge and experience; honesty and humility; empathy and grace – that kind of leadership doesn’t just belong in our state capitols and mayors offices. It belongs in the White House.

And that’s why I’m so proud to endorse Joe Biden for President of the United States.

Choosing Joe to be my Vice President was one of the best decisions I ever made, and he became a close friend. And I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a President right now.

He’s someone whose own life has taught him how to persevere; how to bounce back when you’ve been knocked down.

When Joe talks with parents who’ve lost their jobs, we hear the son of a man who once knew the pain of having to tell his children that he’d lost his.

When Joe talks about opportunity for our kids, we hear the young father who took the train home each night so he could tuck his children into bed – and we hear the influence of Jill, a life-long teacher.

When Joe talks to families who’ve lost a hero, we hear another parent of an American veteran; a kindred spirit; somebody whose faith has endured the hardest loss there is.

That’s Joe. Through all his trials, he’s never once forgotten the values or the moral fiber that his parents passed on to him, and that made him who he is. That’s what steels his faith – in God, in America, and in all of us.

That steel made him an incredible partner when I needed one the most.

Joe was there as we rebuilt from the Great Recession and rescued the American auto industry. He was the one asking what every policy would do for the middle class and everyone striving to get into the middle class. That’s why I asked him to implement the Recovery Act, which saved millions of jobs and got people back on their feet – because Joe gets stuff done.

Joe helped me manage H1N1 and prevent the Ebola epidemic from becoming the type of pandemic we’re seeing now. He helped me restore America’s standing and leadership in the world on the other threats of our time, like nuclear proliferation and climate change.

Joe has the character and the experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and heal us through a long recovery. And I know he’ll surround himself with good people – experts, scientists, military officials who actually know how to run the government and care about doing a good job running the government, and know how to work with our allies, and who will always put the American people’s interests above their own.

Now Joe will be a better candidate for having run the gauntlet of primaries and caucuses alongside one of the most impressive Democratic fields ever. Each of our candidates were talented and decent, with a track record of accomplishment, smart ideas, and serious visions for the future.

And that’s certainly true of the candidate who made it farther than any other – Bernie Sanders. Bernie’s an American original – a man who has devoted his life to giving voice to working people’s hopes, dreams, and frustrations. He and I haven’t always agreed on everything, but we’ve always shared a conviction that we have to make America a fairer, more just, more equitable society. We both know that nothing is more powerful than millions of voices calling for change. And the ideas he’s championed; the energy and enthusiasm he inspired, especially in young people, will be critical in moving America in a direction of progress and hope.

Because for the second time in twelve years, we’ll have the incredible task of rebuilding our economy. And to meet the moment, the Democratic Party will have to be bold.

You know, I could not be prouder of the incredible progress that we made together during my presidency. But if I were running today, I wouldn’t run the same race or have the same platform as I did in 2008. The world is different; there’s too much unfinished business for us to just look backwards. We have to look to the future. Bernie understands that. And Joe understands that. It’s one of the reasons that Joe already has what is the most progressive platform of any major party nominee in history. Because even before the pandemic turned the world upside down, it was already clear that we needed real structural change.

The vast inequalities created by the new economy are easier to see now, but they existed long before this pandemic hit. Health professionals, teachers, delivery drivers, grocery clerks, cleaners, the people who truly make our economy run – they’ve always been essential. And for years, too many of the people who do the essential work of this country have been underpaid, financially stressed, and given too little support. And that applies to the next generation of Americans – young people graduating into unprecedented unemployment. They’re going to need economic policies that give them faith in the future and give them relief from crushing student loan debt.

So we need to do more than just tinker around the edges with tax credits or underfunded programs. We have to go further to give everybody a great education, a lasting career, and a stable retirement.

We have to protect the gains we made with the Affordable Care Act, but it’s also time to go further. We should make plans affordable for everyone, provide everyone with a public option, expand Medicare, and finish the job so that health care isn’t just a right, but a reality for everybody.

We have to return the U.S. to the Paris Agreement, and lead the world in reducing the pollution that causes climate change. But science tells us we have to go much further – that it’s time for us to accelerate progress on bold new green initiatives that make our economy a clean energy innovator, save us money, and secure our children’s future.

Of course, Democrats may not always agree on every detail of the best way to bring about each and every one of these changes. But we do agree that they’re needed. And that only happens if we win this election.

Because one thing everybody has learned by now is that the Republicans occupying the White House and running the U.S. Senate are not interested in progress. They’re interested in power. They’ve shown themselves willing to kick millions off their health insurance and eliminate preexisting condition protections for millions more, even in the middle of this public health crisis, even as they’re willing to spend a trillion dollars on tax cuts for the wealthy. They’ve given polluters unlimited power to poison our air and our water, and denied the science of climate change just as they denied the science of pandemics. Repeatedly, they’ve disregarded American principles of rule of law, and voting rights, and transparency – basic norms that previous administrations observed regardless of party. Principles that are the bedrock of our democracy.

So our country’s future hangs on this election. And it won’t be easy. The other side has a massive war chest. The other side has a propaganda network with little regard for the truth. On the other hand, pandemics have a way of cutting through a lot of noise and spin to remind us of what is real, and what is important. This crisis has reminded us that government matters. It’s reminded us that good government matters. That facts and science matter. That the rule of law matters. That having leaders who are informed, and honest, and seek to bring people together rather than drive them apart – those kind of leaders matter.

In other words, elections matter. Right now, we need Americans of goodwill to unite in a great awakening against a politics that too often has been characterized by corruption, carelessness, self-dealing, disinformation, ignorance, and just plain meanness. And to change that, we need Americans of all political stripes to get involved in our politics and our public life like never before.

For those of us who believe in building a more just, more generous, more democratic America where everybody has a fair shot at opportunity. For those of us who believe in a government that cares about the many, and not just the few. For those of us who love this country and are willing to do our part to make sure it lives up to its highest ideals – now’s the time to fight for what we believe in.

So join us. Join Joe. Go to JoeBiden.com right now. Make a plan for how you are going to get involved. Keep taking care of yourself, and your families, and each other. Keep believing in the possibilities of a better world. And I will see you on the campaign trail as soon as I can.

Thanks.”

7 Comments

  1. From President Obama, the tone has changed from “we can work with Republicans because they care about America” to “Republicans have shown that they only care about power”:

    Because one thing everybody has learned by now is that the Republicans occupying the White House and running the U.S. Senate are not interested in progress. They’re interested in power. They’ve shown themselves willing to kick millions off their health insurance and eliminate preexisting condition protections for millions more, even in the middle of this public health crisis, even as they’re willing to spend a trillion dollars on tax cuts for the wealthy. They’ve given polluters unlimited power to poison our air and our water, and denied the science of climate change just as they denied the science of pandemics. Repeatedly, they’ve disregarded American principles of rule of law, and voting rights, and transparency – basic norms that previous administrations observed regardless of party. Principles that are the bedrock of our democracy.

    So our country’s future hangs on this election. And it won’t be easy. The other side has a massive war chest. The other side has a propaganda network with little regard for the truth. On the other hand, pandemics have a way of cutting through a lot of noise and spin to remind us of what is real, and what is important. This crisis has reminded us that government matters. It’s reminded us that good government matters. That facts and science matter. That the rule of law matters. That having leaders who are informed, and honest, and seek to bring people together rather than drive them apart – those kind of leaders matter.

    Let’s do this.

  2. Thanks, Jan, and thanks for providing the transcript. I rarely have time to sit through a video.

    I miss President Obama. The contrast between Turnip and our former president could not be more profound.

    • I have no patience for videos although I did watch part of this one just for the soothing voice of our president. I miss him too – I miss competence and a steady demeanor and having someone who cares about me and my family as the face of our federal government. Joe Biden is not my first choice but he will do and to the extent that he is “safe” for people who we need to make this a landslide – so that there is no chance to steal the election – that works too.

  3. Nancy Pelosi has given up on trying to appease the lying pile of garbage in the White House. Yesterday, she sent a letter to her caucus:

    April 14, 2020

    Dear Democratic Colleague,

    This Easter Weekend provided me with a time for deeper prayer and reflection. This is an unbearably sad time with all Americans sharing the same devastating experience: we are grieving for those who have died from the coronavirus, we are fearful for our health and especially the health of our loved ones and we are heartbroken for our children who are unable to be in school and with their friends.

    As Americans, we are suffering from pressures of economic hardship. All of us want to resume the precious and beautiful lives that America’s unique freedoms provide. We will overcome this moment, but success requires one fundamental from which all actions will follow: we need the truth. To succeed in this crisis, we must insist on the truth, and we must act upon it!

    In order to move forward, we must first understand the truth of what has put us in this position:

    – The truth is that Donald Trump dismantled the infrastructure handed to him which was meant to plan for and overcome a pandemic, resulting in unnecessary deaths and economic disaster.
    – The truth is that in January Donald Trump was warned about this pandemic, ignored those warnings, took insufficient action and caused unnecessary death and disaster.
    – The truth is that Donald Trump told his most loyal followers that the pandemic was a hoax and that it would magically disappear, thus endangering lives and paving the way for economic disaster.
    – The truth is that we did not have proper testing available in March despite Trump repeatedly claiming that we did; and even now, we do not have adequate tests, masks, PPE, and necessary equipment, which creates unnecessary death and suffering.
    – The truth is because of an incompetent reaction to this health crisis, the strong economy handed to Donald Trump is now a disaster, causing the suffering of countless Americans and endangering lives.
    – The truth is a weak person, a poor leader, takes no responsibility. A weak person blames others.

    The truth is, from this moment on, Americans must ignore lies and start to listen to scientists and other respected professionals in order to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

    Here’s more that is true: the American people want us to work together. In March, Congress passed three bipartisan bills to address this crisis. The first bill passed the House on March 4 and focused on testing, testing, testing.

    The truth is, one month later, we do not have appropriate testing. The President continues to obfuscate, saying we have more testing than any other country in the world. The truth is that only 1 percent of Americans have been tested. The failure to test is central to the spread of the virus and its impact on those most vulnerable in our society. The failure to test is dangerous and deadly, and without testing, we cannot resume our lives.

    The President has said that we are engaged in a war. Leaders understand that in war, force protection of our troops is the top priority. In this war, force protection means for health care, police, fire, EMS, food and other essential workers to have the protective equipment that they need to save lives without risking their own.

    The truth is that we do not have the necessary hospital equipment. Without ventilators and other equipment, our health care workers cannot save the lives of those they serve.

    Once we all share the truth of what took place and what is currently happening, including in our minority communities, we can work together to solve these problems.

    There are important decisions ahead. We can go forward confident that America, its competent and honest leaders and its people are fully capable of making the right choices and decisions to restore the American greatness that has been squandered.

    But if we are not working from the truth, more lives will be lost, economic hardship and suffering will be extended unnecessarily and our children will not be safe, happy and learning. Our future will be healthy and prosperous if we no longer tolerate lies and deceit.

    We must recognize the truth, we must speak the truth, we must insist on the truth and we must and will act upon it.

    Respectfully and sadly,

    Nancy

    (Bolding added)

    • Speaker Pelosi went on a cable news show and reiterated her insistence that we act on the truth and push aside the lies. The transcript is here. Excerpt:

      During the Easter Weekend, I had more time for prayer and reflection, and it just bothered me so that so many lives were at stake, so much livelihood on the table, and just – I had to say something.

      For a long time, we tried to be as apolitical as possible, working together; the American people want that. But the fact is that he ignored the facts and ignored the truth. You cannot possibly solve the problem.

      Our first bill that we passed – we had three bills in a bipartisan way in the month of March. The first one was prepared in February and brought to the Floor in the beginning of March – testing, testing, testing. It passed the House on March 4th, but we’re still not where we need to be with testing more than a month later – testing and trying to identify what the problem is. And what it means, and to our communities of color, having that documented. Other issues, other initiatives that the President failed to take but saying that he did, telling his supporters it was a hoax, and it would magically go away. Lives are at stake. People are dying, and so while it ran a risk of looking – people said it looked political if you say this, and I’ll say, well, lives are at stake and it looks political to insist upon the truth? So be it.

      Regarding the Post Office:

      Cable News Host: It seems possible that the Post Office, which has been around since the country’s founding just goes under, like is just a victim of the coronavirus, and we don’t have one anymore, is that a realistic possibility, and what needs to be done to stop that?

      Speaker Pelosi. Well, in the negotiations on CARES 1, we put forth an initiative for $20 billion for the Post Office in recognition of their ongoing needs, but also that they were delivering so much to people’s homes now, that we were advocating vote by mail and that requires more – and that may be why the Republicans are against it – but the fact is, we offered $20 [billion], they came down to three, we worked it up to $6 billion. Not enough, but it’s something. But that went, just like a piece of mail, right to the President’s doorstep. And he said ‘No.’ This was personal, in my view, with how it was reported back to me from those negotiating it, that the President said no to the postal service. What could he be thinking? Well, ‘thinking.’

      (Bolding added, full transcript at the link)

  4. The truth is Nancy, sitting in her kitchen being interviewed via a somewhat out of sinc video feed has more gravitas than tRump spewing from the Rose Garden.

    Our future will be healthy and prosperous if we no longer tolerate lies and deceit.

    We must recognize the truth, we must speak the truth, we must insist on the truth and we must and will act upon it.

    Thanks for the post Jan. It’s good to see President Obama’s face and to read his and speaker Pelosi’s words.

  5. Jan, thank you for the transcript. I listened to the video for a few minutes – nice to hear a sane voice – but nope, not even from Obama will I listen to how good bernie is. I think Joe can handle this. IF he surrounds himself with the right people – and doesn’t pull them from other elected offices. NM and KS are still suffering from Obama pulling their Dem governors for his cabinet. And we lost the Senate sooner than we would have because of all the Senators he pulled. Nancy’s right – and of course Kamala has been saying that since she declared, didn’t stop saying it just because she had to drop out – we have to function based on truth. Lies bring riches to the liars temporarily while it bankrupts and kills everyone else – but last man standing may have all the “toys” but he’s also dead man walking. The liars themselves will never realize that, but the rest of us need to ASAP.

    As to USPS the only thing needed to make that “crisis” go away is to rescind the requirement for them to put aside off the top 70 years’ worth of retirement benefits for all their employees. That’s not just 3x the average post-65 life expectancy (yeah, really, they’re gonna need benefits until their 135th birthday, right?) but that’s essentially setting aside benefits not only for new hires but for workers who haven’t even been born yet. It was a lame-duck 2006 law specifically designed to make USPS look incompetent. Wax that one regulation – hell, back it up to 35 years – and USPS shows a profit that can be used for research, innovation, and capital improvements.

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