Indian American VP pick is ‘powerful voice for this nation’.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has vowed to end what he called the “season of darkness” and “restore the promise of America to everyone in America” together with his “great vice president” — Kamala Harris.
Accusing his Republican rival President Donald Trump of cloaking “America in darkness for much too long,” he said “it will be the work of the next president to restore the promise of America to everyone.”
“I won’t have to do it alone,” said Biden formally accepting the Democratic nomination on the closing night Thursday of the party’s four day virtual convention.
“Because I will have a great Vice President at my side,” he said pausing for emphasis, “Senator Kamala Harris.”
Harris, 55, daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, accepted her historic nomination as the first Black woman and the first Indian American vice presidential pick Wednesday night.
“She is a powerful voice for this nation,” Biden said. “Her story is the American story. She knows about all the obstacles thrown in the way of so many in our country.”
“Women, Black women, Black Americans, South Asian Americans, immigrants, the left-out and left-behind,” he said. “But she’s overcome every obstacle she’s ever faced.”
“No one’s been tougher on the big banks or the gun lobby,” Biden said. “No one’s been tougher in calling out this current administration for its extremism, its failure to follow the law, and its failure to simply tell the truth.”
Making the case against Trump without mentioning him by name even once, he said, “The current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long. Too much anger. Too much fear. Too much division.”
“Here and now, I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us not the worst. I will be an ally of the light not of the darkness,” Biden promised.
Arguing that America will choose hope over fear, facts over fiction and fairness over privilege, the former vice president cast Trump as a failed leader who has shirked responsibility while stoking hate and division.
America, said Biden has faced an unprecedented “perfect storm” of four simultaneous crises: the worst pandemic in 100 years, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the most compelling call for racial justice since the Civil Rights Era and the climate crisis.
READ MORE: Road to the White House
“Our current President has failed in his most basic duty to the nation. He has failed to protect us, he has failed to protect America,” he said.
“This is not a partisan moment. This must be an American moment,” he said. ”This campaign isn’t just about winning votes, it is about winning the heart and, yes, the soul of America.”
Though politicians often argue that each election is the most important, this year is different, Biden said, “We know in our bones, this one is more consequential.”
Outlining how he would handle the presidency differently than Trump, he condemned the President for failing to devise a plan to get the coronavirus under control.Trump, he contended, had wasted precious time focusing on his own grievances and political desires instead of trying to save lives.
“The President keeps telling us the virus is going to disappear. He keeps waiting for a miracle,” Biden said.
“Well, I have news for him: no miracle is coming. We lead the world in confirmed cases. We lead the world in deaths.”
“Our economy is in tatters, with Black, Latino, Asian American and Native American communities bearing the brunt of it.”
“And after all this time, the President still does not have a plan,” Biden said. “Well, I do.”
Even as Biden was still speaking, Trump dismissed his Democratic challenger’s agenda as “just words.”
“In 47 years, Joe did none of the things of which he now speaks. He will never change, just words!” Trump tweeted.
READ STORIES ON KAMALA HARRIS:
Indian American senator Kamala Harris tops Biden’s VP list (July 29, 2020)
Kamala Harris asks Trump to honor Supreme Court’s DACA ruling (July 17, 2020)
Kamala Harris, Pramila Jayapal, 100 lawmakers seek reversal of new ICE rule (July 10, 2020)
Kamala Harris exits the presidential race (December 3, 2019)
Kamala Harris and Mindy Kaling cooking a dosa is the best thing you would watch this Thanksgiving weekend (November 29, 2019)
Tulsi Gabbard unsettles Kamala Harris on the criminal justice issue (August 1, 2019)
Second Democratic presidential debate: All Indian American eyes on Kamala Harris (July 30, 2019)
Tulsi Gabbard outraises Kamala Harris among Indian American donors (April 20, 2019)
2 Comments
“In 47 years, Joe did none of the things of which he now speaks. He will never change, just words!” Trump tweeted.
Didn’t he do anything in 47 years??? We know for many years,
he used to be commuting every day for four hours!!!
Let us hope this is not true about the future!
“I won’t have to do it alone,” said Biden,
“Because I will have a great Vice President at my side,” he said pausing for emphasis, “Senator Kamala Harris.”
How come, President Obama didn’t say such things about VP Biden????:)