President Biden and Vice-president Harris highlight importance of Black voters for November win and warn against Trump threat
Biden and Harris Emphasizes Unity and a “Battle for the Soul of the Nation
President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris spoke on Saturday at the Congressional Black Caucus’s Phoenix Awards dinner, bringing a message that its members were in a “battle for the soul of the nation”.
“In 2020, I ran for president to redeem the soul of America, to restore decency and dignity to the office of the president,” he said. “I ran to rebuild the backbone of America, the middle class. And I ran to unite the country and remind ourselves when we’re together there’s not a damn thing we can’t do.”
The spectre of Trump, Maga Republicans and the threat Democrats say they pose to the country loomed over Biden’s remarks, and his call to action for those CBC members gathered.
Biden highlighted his relationship with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Black voters.
President Biden emphasized his commitment to unity, stating, “I ran to rebuild the backbone of America, the middle class,” and highlighting the role of Black voters in his 2020 victory. He warned of ongoing threats from extremists, saying, “The old ghosts in new garments [are] trying to seize your power.”
Biden Condemns Trump’s Divisive Actions
Biden sharply criticized Trump for supporting Capitol insurrectionists while opposing racial justice protesters, stating, “My predecessor calls the insurrectionists… ‘patriots’” but sought military action against peaceful protestors.
Harris Calls on CBC to Lead for a Better Future
CBC attendees were jubilant when Harris, also the Democratic candidate for president, walked onto the stage to Beyoncé’s Freedom after the president introduced her as “Kamala Harris, for the people”. Members of Harris’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha gleefully greeted her with their trademarked “Skee-Wee” call.
Harris began by highlighting the importance of the caucus. For a November win, she said, the support of the CBC was necessary.
Vice President Kamala Harris rallied the crowd, asserting, “The baton is in our hands.” She emphasized the CBC’s role in ensuring victory in November, advocating for reproductive rights and healthcare. Harris declared, “When the CBC fights, we win.”
Harris: A Vision for the Future
Harris contrasted her platform with Trump’s, highlighting policies like reproductive rights and healthcare. “We actually have a plan for healthcare, not just ‘concepts of a plan,’” she said, emphasizing the importance of tangible solutions over empty promises.