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Remarks: Joe Biden Addresses a Fundraising Event in New York City - September 20, 2023
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Joe Biden Person
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Douglas Emhoff Person
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"Thank you, Brad. [Applause] Thank you, thank you, thank you. [Applause] Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] After that introduction and reception, it's been nice being with you. [Laughter] Well, Brad, thank you, pal. And I really mean it. And, Doug, thank you for being here. You're doing double duty."
1
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"Look, Amy and Cary, thank you for welcoming me into your home. You know, maybe the worst sentence -- worst sentence in the English language is: In the middle of the week, the President is coming. [Laughter] It means about 6,000 other people show up beforehand. And thank you so very, very much. You know, normally in events like this we talk about -- I find myself talking about what we've accomplished and what we will further want to accomplish."
1
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"The -- you know, Doug not only made history as the first Second Gentleman -- [Laughter] -- I don't know how the hell you do that. [Laughter]"
2
Joe Biden
Leans Negative
"And things like, we -- we have created more jobs in the first two and a half years than any administration has created in four years. We're in a situation where we -- we rallied the world, and it took a little rallying at the time to take on Russia's invasion of an innocent country that has caused and made him, literally, designated as a war criminal across the world."
2
Douglas Emhoff
Slightly Positive
"I married well."
3
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
"And how we passed the biggest investment in history of the world in climate change. And it's beginning to have some real impacts. But I want to talk about what's at stake for the country. And this is a bit of an unusual way to go about this. First of all, I -- when I left the vice presidency at the end of the Obama-Biden administration, I had no intention of running for office again, and that's a fact."
3
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"Well, you -- well, the thing we have in common: We both married above our -- above our stations. [Laughter, Applause] Kamala has been a great, great partner."
4
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
"This was an -- anyway, I had no intention of running again. I had just lost my son -- my son, who was attorney general and a decorated war veteran. And -- anyway, and I was going to go -- I was going -- I was going to write a book. I was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. They had set up the Biden School of Foreign Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, gave me a substantial budget to hire some staffers, like -- staffers like Tony Blinken and others that -- of consequence."
4
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And normally at these events, I talk about the record, but it seems to me that Brad did a better job than I could do. [Laughter] Folks, look, we're in a situation where -- and, by the way, there's a guy standing back there who is one of the smartest guys ever, one of my closest friends in life, and a guy who you've probably heard about."
5
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"And -- and then at the University of Delaware, they set up a -- they set up, at the University of Delaware, Biden Domestic Policy Institute. And so, I was -- I was occupied. And that's what I did. But then along came, in August of 2017, Charlottesville, Virginia. You remember those folks walking out of the fields literally carrying torches, with Nazi swastikas, holding them forward, singing the same vicious, anti-Semitic bile -- the same exact bile -- bile that was sung in -- in Germany in the early '30s. And a young woman was killed."
5
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"He ran my operation for a long time. I don't remember his name. He has a mask on. [Laughter] But I don't -- Ron, thank you buddy. [Applause] Ron started working with me when he was 12 years old and -- [Laughter] -- but, Ron, thank you. It's great to see you, buddy. Hey, look, you know, because there is a -- there's a lot of things that we have to do between now and -- and next November -- not this coming November, but next November."
6
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
"A young woman was killed. And this was -- and I re -- you may remember it. There was a consequential piece of business going on. And the former guy was asked, "What do you think would happen?" He was the sitting president. And he said, "I thought there were some very fine people on both sides." And I mean this sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, that's when I decided I -- I was going to run again."
6
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And -- and part of it is to talk about my record as -- and what we've done -- our record -- and what we've accomplished thus far. But -- but the fact is that, you know, we did create more than 13.4 million jobs. Well, that's more jobs than any president has ever created in four years. We did that in two and a half years with Ron's help and others."
7
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"And in the process, I might add, I was -- the only thing that was holding me back was my grandchildren because I was worried because, you know, when you're running a presidential campaign, your children or grandchildren become the targets of -- of a lot of things. And I knew it was going to be an ugly campaign with the guy I was running against."
7
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And we rallied the world to confront the aggression in Russia. That's true. And -- but we also appointed the first Black woman on the Supreme Court and the first African American woman on -- to be vice president of the United States. [Applause] And -- both of whom are smarter than that guy and me. [Laughter] But, look, folks, the -- you know -- or how we made the biggest investment ever in the history of the world in climate change, which is a passion of mine, and we're going to get it done. [Applause] We'll have a few major announcements about that in the next couple of days, as well."
8
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
"And -- and what happened was, I -- I saw -- so I got a phone -- we have a tradition in our family, for real -- my dad started it, and only been invoked, I think, 9 or 10 times -- that any child can ask for a family meeting, and it has to be taken seriously. Literally, the whole family meets, because they have something serious on their mind."
8
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
"But, folks, look, tonight I want to talk about something else. You know -- you know, when I left the vice presidency of the Obama-Biden administration, I had no intention of ever running again for office, and that's the God's truth. I had just lost my son Beau, a major in the U.S. Army, Attorney General in Delaware."
9
Joe Biden
Neutral
"I got a call from my granddaughter, who was -- I guess she was then a freshman of Columbia Law School up here in New York, and -- and I -- and all the rest of my then fairly grown grandchildren, five of them -- two of my deceased son's children and my -- Hunter's three children. And they wanted to meet. So, that was on a Thursday, and on a Saturday, we met with my wife, Jill, and my five grandchildren."
9
Joe Biden
Neutral
"And I was going to write a book instead. I was going to write a book to set up the -- talk about how we could -- that we were at a real inflection point in world history, and things that we're going to do in the next couple of years are going to affect what's going to happen in the next four decades or five decades."
10
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And they made the case in why I should run and how their whole lives, they've either had a grandfather or father who has been the attorney general, a senator, a vice president, or a -- you know, deeply involved their whole life. So, they weren't new to the political system. And then they made the case that -- that "You got to run, Pop." They call me "Pop." "You got to run, Pop, and Daddy would make -- would want you to run," and so on. And they said -- I said, "Well, you know, it's going to be a tough campaign if I run." And they said to me, "We know that." And my youngest, who is now a senior in high school -- his name is Hunter Biden; he's a grand -- he's my -- my son Beau's oldest son -- only son."
10
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
"It happens about every five of six generations, and we're in the midst of one of those kinds of changes. But, you know, I was going to write that book, but I -- and I set up an Institute of Foreign Policy -- well, the University of Pennsylvania did -- at the University of Pennsylvania. They gave me a couple million dollars to hire staff."
11
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"And he took out his cell phone, and he said, "We know it's going to be ugly, Pop," and he showed me a photograph of the -- on the cell phone of me walking out of the funeral of my -- a military funeral for my son. My hand was on the flag of the coffin, and I had my arm around my -- he was then about this tall -- around little Hunter."
11
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
"I hired some moderate staff, like the son of a woman that's here. His name is Tony Blinken. [Laughter] And a few others working with me at that -- and by the way, your son is incredible, Mom. [Applause] Your son is incredible. And I became a professor there, and we also had a Domestic Policy Institute at the University of Delaware."
12
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And I used to always hold Beau like that. I'd have my hand on his chin. And the caption on the bottom of the photograph was, "Biden molests another child." And he said, "So, we know, Pop. We know. But you got to run." And so, I decided to run. And from the help of a lot of people in this room, including a guy standing over against the window there and a few others, we -- we were able to get elected."
12
Joe Biden
Neutral
"And that's what I did. But then, along came Charlottesville. You may remember it in 2017. And, you know, these guys walking out of the woods, carrying torches -- literally, carrying torches, holding swastikas, singing the same anti-Semitic bile they sang during the -- that they chanted in -- in Germany in the '30s, accompanied by the Ku Klux Klan."
13
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"But in the process of that, one of the things that happened was the -- we -- we found ourselves in a circumstance where it got to be kind of as mean as I -- as I had anticipated but even a little worse. You know, you may remember that, you know, those folks from Charlottesville, as they came out of the fields and carrying those swastikas, and remember the ones with the torches and the Ku -- accompanied by the Ku Klux Klan."
13
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"And a young woman -- I spoke to her mom -- was killed in the -- in the melee. And -- and the President was asked, "What do you think?" He said, "I think there are very fine people on both sides." That's when I knew I could no longer stand on the sidelines. I had to get engaged because the President of the United States had just made a moral equivalency between those who stand -- stood for hate and those who rejected it. And, you see, I believe that silence is complicity."
14
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"And in addition to that, they had -- there were white supremacists. Anyway, they were making the big case about how terrible this was. And a young woman was killed in the process. And my predecessor, as I said, was asked what he thought. He said, "There are some very fine people on both sides." Well, that kept ringing in my head."
14
Joe Biden
Leans Negative
"I really do. And -- and I wasn't going to be silent, so I ran. I ran because I thought everything this country stood for, everything this country believed in, everything this country -- that made America what it was, even our very democracy, was at risk. And I mean it. I believe that. We talked a lot about it, didn't we? And -- but I didn't think I had any choice at the time."
15
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
"And so, I couldn't, quite frankly, remain silent any longer. So, I decided I would run. And it became -- I ran because I thought everything this country stood for was up for grabs for the first time in my career. And I know I look like I'm 30, but -- [Laughter] -- but I've been around doing this a long time."
15
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"And, you know, I think -- I think people tonight understood what I was doing. But the truth of the matter was that they thought, when I talked about democracy being at risk, they thought I was being hyperbolic. But I wasn't. I really believed our democracy was at risk. And -- and did I -- and I got asked all the time when I said I was running because I wanted to restore the soul of America, wanted to restore a sense of decency, the idea that we talk to each other the way we do — I've been around -- I know I don't look it, but I've been around a long time. [Laughter] But, look, you know, people -- and I made a speech at Independence Hall about the threat to democracy and why it was so important."
16
Joe Biden
Positive
"I've been a senator for 36 years, a vice president for 8 years. And I had never quite seen it like this. And -- and so, you know, I think people thought I was being a little hyperbolic when I said that everything we stand for was up for grabs, including our very democracy -- our very democracy. And so, I -- I announced I was running."
16
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"I'm going to make another one very shortly. And -- and I -- but I think, you know, I taught at Penn. I taught -- and I taught constitutional law for 13 years on Saturdays at Delaware Law School. And, you know, you always hear that every generation has an obligation to protect democracy. And I thought -- well, you just think, "No, not in America."
17
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
"And it was a –people thought I was -- including my own staff -- thought I was being hyperbolic when I said our democracy is at risk. But I meant it. And -- and they'd ask, you know, whether or not I think –about democracy, how could it be at risk in America? Well, I think it was, and I think the response to the election where we won by 7 million votes is evidence to the fact that the old, basic principles of what constitutes a victory and how to deal with a win or a loss was really thrown into -- into jeopardy."
17
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"This is -- it's just automatic." But it really, I believe, is under siege. And I might add that, you know, I don't think anyone doubts any longer that democracy was at risk in 2020. And, you know, thank God, because people like all of you were here, and you jumped in and we won. And many of you are repeat -- it was your -- it was your fault the first time. [Laughter] The second time, I don't know why you did it, but thank you."
18
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And a victory that withstood 60 legal challenges, including to the Supreme Court of the United States of America, and the insurrection on January the 8th [6th]. And, you know, so -- so I decided this time around that -- after January 6th, that I was going to run again. And, you know, as you might have noticed, a lot of people seem a little focused on my age. [Laughs] I get it. And believe me, I know better than anyone."
18
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"But I might add, we won convincingly by 7 million votes. The victory withstood -- [Applause] -- the victory not only withstood 60 legal challenges -- 60 -- but we also overcame what -- a literal insurrection. I have a dining room -- a private dining room off of the Oval Office. This guy sat there on January 6th watching what happened on television -- watching it, doing nothing about it. And so, I'm now running again."
19
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"But there's something else I know. I came to office when the nation was flat on its back, and -- and I think I knew what to do. Only thing -- as you know, a couple of you are over 50 here -- you know, with age comes wisdom. You have experience. And so, I knew what to do. I vaccinated the nation and began to rebuild our economy."
19
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"Because guess what? I think that it's likely to be the same fellow, and it's likely that I think I can beat him again. [Applause] But, you know, a lot of people talk about my age. I get it. I get it. Believe me, I know better than anyone, you know. [Laughter] But here's something else I know. When I came to office, the nation was flat on its back, but I think I knew what to do with the help of Ron and a lot of other people. [Applause] We rebuilt the economy."
20
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"When Russia invaded Ukraine, I said -- we went out, and we were able to rebuild alliances in Europe and rally the world to respond to Russian aggression. And above all, when democracy was at stake, I knew what to do, and that was we had to redeem the soul of the nation. I said I was running for three reasons: one, to, in fact, make sure that we restore the soul of the nation; two, we rebuilt the middle class from the middle out and the bottom up because, that way, when you -- those of you who are very talented make a lot of money, you do very well as well."
20
Joe Biden
Neutral
"We vaccinated the nation, rebuilt the economy. When Russia invaded Ukraine, I knew what to do -- because I've been doing it for a long, long time -- to rebuild our alliances and rally the world. And -- and above all, when democracy was at stake, I knew what to do to redeem literally the soul of this nation."
21
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"And -- and, also, in addition to that, I said we had to deal with uniting the country. And the press, understandably, was very critical of the last part because they said, "Things have changed, Joe. You don't get it. It's not like it used to be. You can't unite the country. You can't unite the country; it's so divided." And I asked my brother -- I didn't realize at the time, even though I sat in the vice president's chair in the Oval Office for eight years, I didn't realize the outgoing president had to be out of his office by 10 o'clock on Election Day -- on January 20th, the day you're sworn in. And the new guy or woman comes in not until four o'clock that day."
21
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
"So, look, I want to answer -- I want to answer the question very simply, as I can. I'm running because we've made progress, but our democracy is still at stake. There's a lot of specific things we have to do, and we will do them. Kamala and I will get them done, in terms of legislation and things we have to do. But democracy is literally still at stake."
22
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And -- or maybe -- maybe it was three, but I didn't get there until five. And the other guy never showed up. Anyway. [Laughter] But I asked my brother to do -- what they leave that space for is to pick what desk I would use, what rug, what lamp, and those kinds of things. And he asked for the help from a guy named Jon Meacham, a presidential historian."
22
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"I'm running because the most important freedoms -- the freedom to choose, the freedom to vote, the freedom to be -- have the right to be who you are and say who you are, love who you love — My dad, I remember I was -- when I was a kid, I wanted a -- I was involved in the Civil Rights Movement, and I wanted to be the only -- there's a woman from Delaware here."
23
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
"And so, I walked in, and, over the mantelpiece, there used to be, just over the years I was a senator and vice president, a portrait of George Washington. Well, it was gone. It was a gigantic portrait of -- of FDR. And then to the left, there was the George Washington portrait, and then there was Abraham Lincoln, and then Madison and Jefferson on the right."
23
Joe Biden
Neutral
"I worked in the east side. It's the only African -- an all-African-American community. And the -- the city swimming pool, and I wanted to be a lifeguard there. I was the only lifeguard -- of 13 lifeguards, I was the only white guy that worked there for three years. And I remember being dropped off at the Rodney Square, which is a -- which is the center of the city -- DuPont Building, Hercules Building, and so on. And I -- getting out of the car, my dad dropping me off to go and get an application."
24
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And I looked at my brother, I said, "Why -- why FDR?" And he said, "Well, nobody has inherited this office in as much international disarray as since he was president." I said, "Well, that's wonderful." [Laughter] I swear to God. True story. And then the next thing I said, "Why -- why -- why having, you know, Abraham Lincoln?" And I said it was a simple proposition."
24
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And I looked over, and two men leaned up and kissed one another. And I looked -- I looked at my dad. I had never seen that before. He said, "Joey, it's real simple. They love each other. It's just simple." And so, folks, look, there's an awful lot that's at stake, including all the things that we teach our children to be proud of. I'm running because our children should have the right to go to school without fear of being gunned down at school. [Applause] I'm running because there are people banning books."
25
Joe Biden
Positive
"He said, "Not since that time has the nation been as divided as it is right now." And so, you know, things were looking not that great. But we -- we made some real -- we made some real progress. And so, I think I knew what to do when I got elected, and I think we've done a fair amount of it already. But let me answer this as simply as I can."
25
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"Did you ever think we'd be having debates in the United States of America in this year about banning books in our schools? I mean, it's bizarre. I'm running because, all across America, hate groups have been emboldened. I'm running because too often it's still the case that you can get killed or attacked on our streets because you're Black or because you're wearing a symbol of your faith."
26
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"I'm running because we made progress -- that's good -- but because our democracy, I think, is still at risk. And I mean it. I don't think it's hyperbole to suggest that. Because our most important freedoms -- the freedom to choose, the freedom to vote, the freedom to be -- the right to be who you are, to love who you love -- is being attacked and shredded today, right now."
26
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
"That's happening in America today in ways that it hadn't happened in a long, long time. And I'm running because, no, I'm not going to side with any dictators. And I know Putin, unlike the other guy doing it. [Applause] I mean it. I won't, and I'll stand up to him, and I always have. Look, I'm running because I -- hear this: I want the entire nation to join me in sending the clearest, strongest, most powerful message possible that political violence in America is never, never, never, never justified. [Applause] I mean it. Think about it. I'm running because our democracy is at stake in 2024. Democracy is on the ballot again."
27
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"I'm running because our children should not have -- have -- should have the right to go to school without fear of being gunned down with weapons of war while they're in a classroom. I'm running because there are people banning books in our nation. Did you ever think you'd be going through a period where they're banning books in -- in school library -- for school -- fights -- fights at the town meetings?"
27
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"And I really mean it. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but think about it. Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy, the institutional structures. Listen to some of the things -- you know, and the idea that -- that, you know, the country we live in is, I think, so special; he talks about it being a failed country, about how the American people are doing -- it goes on and on. We're the only country in the world that is -- we're unique in the world."
28
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"And I'm running because all too often, for far too often, I can still -- and it's still the case -- you can -- you know, you can be killed or attacked by just walking down the street because you're Black or because you're wearing a symbol of your faith. That hasn't happened in a long time. And I'm running because, no, I will not side with dictators like Putin."
28
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"We're the only country in the world that's not based on our ethnicity or our religion or geography. America is built on an idea. It's not hyperbole. America is built on an idea: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all women and men are created equal. It goes on. Think about it. That's who we are."
29
Joe Biden
Leans Negative
"Maybe my predecessor and his MAGA Republican friends can praise him, but not me. I think he's a dangerous, dangerous man. And so, I'm running because I hear -- you know, because I -- because I want the entire nation to join me in sending the strongest, clearest message -- most powerful message possible -- that political violence in America is never, never, never, never acceptable, period."
29
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
"We're the most heterogeneous nation in the history of the world. Not a joke. That's who we are. But, ladies and gentlemen, the idea that we're all created equal is something that the -- that this other team doesn't seem to buy into. You know, we've -- you know, we've never fully lived up to the commitment, but we've never walked away from it before."
30
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
"Never. I'm running because democracy is at stake and because, in 2024, democracy is going to be on the ballot again. And I think that my predecessor and the MAGA Republicans are literally determined to destroy the institutional structures of this democracy, the way they talk. You know, and I'm always going to defend it. Look, folks, the -- that's simply the reason I'm running."
30
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"And I don't believe America is a dark. I don't believe America is a negative nation. I don't think America is on its last legs. I think America is just getting ready to get up and roar. Folks, you know, I think this is a -- the other team is driven by anger, fear, revenge. You know, think of the things the guy who's likely to be their nominee is saying."
31
Joe Biden
Positive
"And I know the country we all -- I live in is so special. It's not a failed democracy. It's not a failed country. We're the only country in the world where it's not built on ethnicity, on race, on religion, on geography. We're the only country -- we're the most unique country -- we're built on an idea -- an idea; literally, an idea -- that we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal, endowed -- and the list goes on. We've never fully lived up to it, but we've never walked away from it -- never."
31
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"He tells his supporters, and I'm quoting him, "I am your retribution." What a hell of a good way to run. [Laughter] He goes on to say, "We are a failing nation. Either…" -- I'm quoting him -- "Either they will win, or we will win, and if we win -- if they win, we will no longer be a country. If they win, we will no longer be a country." He talks about the institutions."
32
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And we're not going to walk away from it now. I don't believe America is a dark, negative nation, a nation of carnage, driven by anger and fear and revenge. And, you know -- but my predecessor does, and he may be the nominee again. It looks like he is destined to be the nominee again. And so, you know, he uses phrases like, "I'm your retribution." Did you ever think you'd hear a president stand up and say, "I'm running because I'm going to be your retribution, and we'll get even with these people"? Or he says, "We are a failing nation." What president has said that when they're running for office? "Either they win, or we win, and if they win, we no longer have a country," he says. "If they win, we no longer have a country." Did you ever think you'd hear a president of the United States, a former president of the United States or a candidate run on that basis, talking about those things?"
32
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"He wants to fundamentally change the -- you're all lawyers. He wants to change the institutional structures of America. Not a joke. He talks about being -- having to hire -- firing a -- fire 100,000 people. He's going to un -- I mean, you know, he talked about the deep state. Guess what? When I got to be president, I found the deep state. [Laughter] I mean, think about what he's done. [Laughter] Think about what they've done."
33
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"Look, I believe we're a hopeful, optimistic nation driven by a simple proposition that everyone deserves a fair shot. Just a fair shot. As I said, my dad used to say, "Joey, a job is about a lot more than a -- than a paycheck. It's about your dignity. It's about respect. It's about being able to look your kid in the eye." And, folks, that's what's at stake."
33
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And, folks, look, I believe we are a hopeful and optimistic nation. I really do. And as I said, I've been doing this a long time. But I've never been more optimistic about America's chances. I really haven't. The rest of the -- I -- look, Madeleine Albright talked about America being the essential nation."
34
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And I -- it's very important. I need you. I need everyone in America who loves this democracy to join together in 2024. Because if we do that, we will have done something few of us have ever done, and that is literally save American democracy. Or if you think I'm exa -- and I -- you can -- sitting there thinking, "This guy has to be -- this is a little bit of a hyperbole," but think about it. Think about -- imagine what -- if he does anything he says he's going to do -- the next president, what he says he's going to do -- where will we be? Where will we be? I traveled the world."
34
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
"Well, as I go around the world, and I've known -- I've been to now 140-some countries. I go around -- I know virtually every head of state because I've been doing this for so long. Without exception, I have everybody come up to me and say, "You've got to win." Not because of me, but because of the alternative they fear."
35
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"I just literally came around the world -- circumvented -- circumnavigated the world in five days. Everywhere I go, even people of very different political philosophies said, "You've got to win." Imagine what happens -- what happens if we do -- if we don't. And, folks, look, if we do what we need to do, I think we'll have done something, as I said, few generations have been able to do. And I want to end on a note that is -- that I'm -- as long as I've been doing this job, I've never been more optimistic about America than I am today."
35
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
"You know, when -- the first G7 meeting of the European nations, the major economies, was in February after I got elected, in England. And we're sitting down, and I -- we were introduced. It was very casual, all the heads of state. And I looked at Macron. I said, "America is back." Macron looked at me and said, "For how long?"
36
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"I think we have a chance -- I think we have a chance to do something really, really positive. I think we have a chance to begin to rebuild a country in a way that is more open, that is more wholesome, is more decent. I think we're economically situated, relative to the rest of the world, to lead the world."
36
Joe Biden
Very Negative
"For how long?" And then the Chancellor of Germany said to me, "What would you think, Mr. President, if tomorrow you picked up the London Times and found out that a thousand people stormed the British Parliament, broke down the doors of the House of Commons, killed two bobbies in order to overthrow an election?" And I hadn't thought of it from that perspective."
37
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"I think we're in a position where you see — Well, let me conclude with this. When I was -- when I wasn't going to run, I was going to write a book -- another book. And this was about, I was going to talk about when America was at an inflection point -- the world was at an inflection point where the things that are happening today and the recent past and the next couple of years are going to determine what this country looks like five, six decades from now."
37
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"But think what the rest of the world thinks and wonders about. And so, folks, that's what's at stake. Everybody, everybody, everybody should understand just how consequential this election is. Not because of Joe Biden; because of the potential alternative. And, folks, you know, I need your help. I need every American who loves this democracy to join us in 2024. Because if we do that, we'll have done something few generations get a chance to do: You will have literally -- not hyperbole -- saved American democracy."
38
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
"We go through these periods every six or seven generations. We went through the period -- this period after World War Two where we reorganized the world. But think of what's going on now. Think what's going on. And we have a chance -- we have a chance to make the world a hell of a lot better. We have a chance to deal with the environment."
38
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And, again, listen to the words they use. Listen closely. You've never heard them in politics in American history since a long time ago, since back all the way to Abraham Lincoln's day. Think about it. Think about what they say. Even if they didn't mean it, think about -- think about who used that. They make George Wallace look like a liberal. [Laughter] I mean, think -- I mean, it's just astounding."
39
Joe Biden
Positive
"We have a chance to deal with economic inequality. We have a chance to deal with bringing nations together. Because the rest of the world is looking to us. And so, I'm just telling you that -- rather than go through all the policy points, I wanted to tell you just why I'm running. I think it's at stake. I think that's what we're talking about now."
39
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
"So, look, folks, you know, as I said, I've never been more optimistic about America's chances. The rest of the world is looking to us. The American people are looking to us. And they do not represent a majority. They do represent somewhere around 30 percent of the American people. And one of the reasons is there's no longer any editors out there anymore."
40
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"And so, I appreciate your giving me the opportunity to be able to take another shot at this. Thank you very much. [Applause]"
40
Joe Biden
Positive
"Everything -- everybody gets their news in ways that they -- anyway, I won't get into all that. [Laughter] That'll be another story. But the point is that I need your help. We need your help. And there's no group of people who understand the Constitution, understand our democratic institutions more than this group here."
41
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
"I really mean it. And so, I can't thank you enough for your help. I can't tell you how much -- how important I think it is. And I promise you -- I promise you: You'll never have to wonder where I stand. The problem is no one ever doubts I mean what I say; I just sometimes say all that I mean. [Laughter] But we have a shot."
42
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"We have a shot to make an incredible contribution to America. The world is waiting for us. The American people are ready. They're ready. And, by the way, all the things he was kind of enough to mention that we've done, we did it at the same time we reduced the debt by $2 trillion. Okay? The last guy increased it by $40 billion."
43
Joe Biden
Very Positive
"So, folks, we can do this. It's not above our paygrade. I want to thank you all very much, and -- and I truly appreciate the help. Thank you, thank you, thank you. [Applause]"
44