The four-day Democratic National Convention (DNC) kicked off as an opportunity for thousands of party leaders and members from across the country to give U.S President, Joe Biden his flowers.
In a moment brimming with historical significance, President Joe Biden took center stage amid a chorus of accolades that painted him as not only a formidable leader but a heroic figure.
Ahead of the President’s keynote address, U.S Vice President, Kamala Harris led the chorus of the Democratic Party’s leadership in applauding Biden.
She thanked him for his “historic” leadership, lifetime of service to the nation “and for all you will continue to do.”
Former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said, “Let’s salute President Biden, democracy’s champion, at home and abroad.”
“He brought dignity, decency, and competence to the White House. And he showed what it means to be a true patriot. Thank you, Joe, for your lifetime of service and leadership.”
Hillary Clinton
Senators Raphael Warnock and Chris Coons also highlighted Biden’s leadership.
President Joe Biden received an emotional standing ovation when he came on stage at the Democratic National Convention.
He is now viewed as a hero in his party, not just for a legislatively substantial presidency, but for sacrificing his quest for a second term in the cause of beating Donald Trump.
In his speech, Biden recounted the accomplishments of his administration.
“As your President, I’ve been determined to keep America moving forward, not going back. To stand against hate and violence and all its forms, to be a nation where we not only live with but thrive on diversity, demonizing no one, leaving no one behind, and become a nation that we profess to be.”
Joe Biden
He also recounted his commitment to “rebuild the backbone of America — the middle class.”
Biden touted that the bills he passed “did more for red states than blue” because a President must deliver for all Americans.
Biden also listed his accomplishments; bringing America out of the Covid-19 pandemic, going from economic crisis to a strong economy, creating millions of jobs, decreasing racial wealth gap, covering more Americans under health insurance, lowering prescription drug prices, competing on semiconductor chips and passing a sweeping infrastructure bill.
“America, I gave my best to you,” he said.
Biden expressed that he harbors no ill will toward other Democrats who demanded that he drop out of the 2024 race.
“I love my country more, and we need to preserve our democracy,” he added.
Summing up his decades long political career, Biden stated that he was “Too young to be in the Senate because I wasn’t 30 yet and too old to stay as President.”
Biden Makes Case For Harris
Moreover, Biden made case for the party’s new presidential nominee, Kamala Harris.
He noted that choosing Harris as his running mate in 2020 was “the best decision I made my whole career.”
“She’ll be a President our children can look up to. She’ll be a President respected by world leaders, because she already is. She’ll be a President we can all be proud of, and she will be a historic President who puts her stamp on America’s future.”
Joe Biden
In a nod to his own experience, he added, “Like many of our best Presidents, she was also Vice President.”
“We need to preserve our democracy. We need you to beat Donald Trump and elect Kamala and Tim as President and Vice President of the United States,” Biden said.
Also, former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton cast Harris in the lineage of female political firsts as she praised the Vice President’s leadership.
The former 2016 presidential candidate remembered women who broke the proverbial glass ceiling, including former Rep. Shirley Chisholm who ran for President in 1972 and former Rep. Geraldine Ferraro who was nominated for Vice President in 1984.
Clinton underscored the potential for a first woman President.
Though she had fallen short eight years ago, Clinton said that she wanted her grandchildren and their grandchildren to know she’d been there for Harris when the “glass ceiling” finally shatters.
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