Transcript - Remarks: Joe Biden Attends a Jewish American Heritage Month Event at The White House - May 16, 2023 | Factba.se

Joe Biden

00:00:00 - 00:00:36 ()

Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Please. Please. I'm Joe Biden. I'm Jill Biden's husband. [Laughter] And I look around this room and, as they say in southern Delaware, there's a lot of -- you've brung me to the dance, man. [Laughter] I'm serious.

Joe Biden

00:00:36 - 00:00:58 ()

Thank you all for all you do every day, not just in fighting antisemitism but being engaged in your country's business. Before I begin, I just finished a -- because the press will want to hear this before they hear me say anything, and it's just to keep them quiet for a -- [Laughter] -- I'm only kidding.

Joe Biden

00:00:58 - 00:01:31 ()

But is that we just finished another good, productive meeting with our congressional leadership about a path forward to make sure that America does not default on its debt for the first time in its history. There is still -- there's still work to do, but I made it clear to the Speaker and others that we'll speak regularly over the next several days, and the staff is going to continue meeting daily to make sure we do not default.

Joe Biden

00:01:31 - 00:01:50 ()

I'm scheduled to travel tomorrow to the G7 Summit in Japan. And America's role in the world is vital, especially right now as we work together with other countries to support Ukraine and take on all the challenges that demand international cooperation, from tackling climate change to strengthening global econo -- the global economy.

Joe Biden

00:01:50 - 00:02:17 ()

And the nature of the presidency is addressing many of the critical matters all at once, so I'm confident we're going to continue to make progress toward avoiding default and fulfilling America's responsibility as a leader on the world stage. However, I'm cutting my trip short. I'm postponing the Australia portion of the trip and my trip -- my stop in Papua New Guinea in order to be back for the final negotiations with the congressional leaders.

Joe Biden

00:02:17 - 00:02:35 ()

And I spoke today with Prime Minister Albanese of Australia and -- a short time ago -- and let him know what was going on. There was an overwhelming consensus, I think, in today's meeting with the congressional leaders that defaulting on the debt is simply not an option. Our economy would fall into recession.

Joe Biden

00:02:35 - 00:02:52 ()

It would devastate retirement accounts, increase borrowing costs. And according to Moody's, nearly 8 million Americans would lose their jobs. And our international reputation would be damaged in the extreme if we were to let that happen. It's disappointing that in our discussions the congressional Republicans have not been willing to discuss raising revenues.

Joe Biden

00:02:52 - 00:03:13 ()

But the policy differences between the parties should not stop Congress from avoiding default. I made clear again in today's meeting that default is not an option. America pays its debt, pays its bills, and there'll be plenty of time to debate the policy differences. But the country is never -- we've never defaulted on our debt, and we never will.

Joe Biden

00:03:13 - 00:04:01 ()

Now -- [Applause] -- for the reasons why we're here this evening. Thank you, Doug. [Laughs] Thank you very much. It's always an honor to be introduced by the first-ever Jewish spouse of an American Vice President. Kamala is here as well. She was at these meetings with me as well. And it's always great to be with Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz -- where are you, Debbie? -- there you are -- [Applause] -- who many call the mother of the Jewish American Heritage Month -- you're too young, Mom -- [Applause] -- for working for nearly two decades to make it a reality.

Joe Biden

00:04:01 - 00:04:33 ()

And I also want to thank our special guest, Michel [Michael], who is sure that today's -- today is both delicious and glatt kosher. [Laughter] Where -- I don't know where the chef is. There you are. Well, stand up, man. And I'm honored he's on my Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. So, I know it's going to be good.

Joe Biden

00:04:33 - 00:04:56 ()

And, finally, I thank all of you for joining us as we celebrate Jewish Americans, whose values, culture, and contributions have shaped who we are as a nation. And that's not hyperbole. Over generations, the story of resilience, hope, faith of the Jewish people and the adversity, prejudice, and persecution and the promise of a better tomorrow has inspired people everywhere -- everywhere around the world.

Joe Biden

00:04:56 - 00:05:28 ()

Back in 1600, even before the founding of the American -- a small band of 23 Jews -- Jewish refugees fleeing persecution abroad sailed to the port of modern-day New York City. They came seeking religious freedom, helping define one of the bedrock principles on which this nation was built. And in the years since, Jewish artists, entertainers, and poets like Emma Lazarus, who Jill mentioned, helped me define -- helped us define America's vision of liberty for millions of people who came to our shores.

Joe Biden

00:05:28 - 00:05:47 ()

Jewish suffragettes and advocates who fought for women's rights, voting rights, workers' rights. Jewish activists who marched, petitioned, and b -- and boarded buses to demand civil rights for all. Jewish scientists, doctors, and -- who led to breakthrough science -- scientific breakthroughs in science and medicine.

Joe Biden

00:05:47 - 00:06:09 ()

And across the public service, Jewish Americans have proudly served the nation in uniform, in elected office, in embassies, in civil service, and on our nation's highest courts. And fearless American journalists, like Evan, who's being held -- of Wall Street Journal -- being held in a -- shed -- because he shed some light on the darkness in Russia.

Joe Biden

00:06:09 - 00:06:45 ()

My administration is working every day for Evan's release, along with Paul Whelan, who's also been wrongfully detained in Russia. We also know the contributions of Jewish Americans are shadowed by a long and painful history of the oldest and most sinister forces, hate and antisemitism -- like the story of Leo Frank you just heard from the -- for our performers on Broadway in the show "Parade." I thank them for telling the truth about what happened so it cannot be buried -- buried or erased.

Joe Biden

00:06:45 - 00:07:12 ()

It matters that the truth be made public. My dad first taught me about the horrors of the Shoah in our -- at our family dinner table. Our dinner table was a place you got together to have conversation and, incidentally, eat. I've taken -- and my dad talked about how outraged he was about why we didn't bomb the railroad tracks into the concentration camps, why we didn't let the ship in with Jew -- and just go on and on.

Joe Biden

00:07:12 - 00:07:51 ()

And he talked about the need to make sure every generation understood. And since then, I've taken my children -- every child, when they turned 14, I put them on a plane -- the first trip they've ever taken abroad. We fly directly to Dachau because I want them to see -- I want them to see how no one could pretend they didn't know, how you walk through that gate -- and all my colleagues went through that gate -- walk through that gate and you see, along the fence line of the entire area, beautiful homes with sa -- with beautiful roofs and windows and -- I mean, just -- and the idea they didn't know what was going on there is just bizarre.

Joe Biden

00:07:51 - 00:08:29 ()

Just bizarre. And so I wanted them to bear witness to the perils of indifference. I was reminded of the importance of that remembrance when I visited Israel again last year -- I've been there many, many times -- where I met two Holocaust survivors at Yad Vashem. You know -- and there, I reaffirmed America's unshakable commitment to Israel's security and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state, a commitment I reaffirm today with -- as rockets are launched indiscriminately into Israel from the terrorists in Gaza, forcing terrified families to hide with their children in bunkers to seek safety.

Joe Biden

00:08:29 - 00:09:00 ()

My support for Israel's security remains longstanding and unwavering, including the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks. And I'm proud -- I'm proud of our support -- and my colleagues that are here today as well -- for Israel's Iron Dome, which has intercepted thousands of rockets and saved countless lives in Israel.

Joe Biden

00:09:00 - 00:09:36 ()

But sadly, security for the Jewish people isn't just an issue abroad. I decided to run in 2017 when Jill and I were deciding we weren't going to run. We had just lost our son. We weren't going to back in. I was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. We weren't going to run. We turned on that television -- you all remember the night -- when you saw those people walking out of the fields in Charlottesville, carrying torches and Nazi insignias and literally singing the same -- chanting the same antisemitic bile that was all -- heard all through Germany in the early '30s. And a young woman -- I got to talk to her mom.

Joe Biden

00:09:36 - 00:09:59 ()

An innocent bystander was killed. She was killed by that mob. And what did we hear when asked? We heard, quote, "There were very fine people on both sides." That was the response that we got when asked about what -- what he -- what the person thought. That's when I knew we had to stay engaged in the work of our time.

Joe Biden

00:09:59 - 00:10:20 ()

Hate never goes away. I came out of the Civil Rights Movement -- I used to think you could defeat it -- you could defeat hate, wipe it out. But you can't. It just hides under the rocks until someone breathes oxygen under those rocks and it comes roaring back out. In the past several years, it's been given too much oxygen.

Joe Biden

00:10:20 - 00:10:41 ()

You know, the reports have shown that antisemitic incidents are at a record high -- this is hard to believe -- at a record high in our history, at a record high in the United States of America. Violent attacks on synagogues and Jewish businesses. Jewish institutions are under armed guard. Jews wearing religious attire beaten on the street.

Joe Biden

00:10:41 - 00:11:08 ()

Jewish students harassed and excluded on college campuses. Swastikas on cars, in cemeteries, and in schools. Antisemitism flyer -- antisemitic flyers in driveways and banners on bridges. Antisemitic conspiracy theories rampant online. It's unconscionable. It's almost unbelievable. It's despicable. These acts are a threat to other minority communities as well.

Joe Biden

00:11:08 - 00:11:32 ()

But more importantly, it's the -- literally the stain on the soul of America. We have to be clear. That expression is true: Silence is complicity. Silence is complicity. We can't remain silent. I will not remain silent, nor will any of you. Under my presidency, we're going to continue to condemn and combat antisemitism at every turn.

Joe Biden

00:11:32 - 00:11:49 ()

That's why I signed the bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to help enforce better -- and help enforce -- law enforcement better address these hate crimes. Appointed America's first ambassador-level Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Denora -- excuse me. Deborah. Is Deborah here? Stand up.

Joe Biden

00:11:49 - 00:12:12 ()

Deborah Lipstadt, thank you. She's worked closely with the Setl -- the Second Gentleman, who is a leading voice on this issue as well. I convened the first-ev -- first-of-its-kind White House summit on combating hate-fueled violence. And the Department of Justice -- and the Attorney General is here -- has made prosecuting hate crimes a top priority.

Joe Biden

00:12:12 - 00:12:40 ()

And the Attorney General is going to stick with that as long as he's there. We're also -- [Applause] -- We also helped secure the largest increase in federal funding ever for the physical security of non-profits, including synagogues, Jewish community centers, Jewish -- and Jewish day schools, because nobody should have to fear going to a religious school or in a school or walking down a street with symbols of your faith.

Joe Biden

00:12:40 - 00:13:06 ()

But all -- but that's not all. We'll soon be releasing the first-ever U.S. national strategy to counter antisemitism. This strategy reflects input from over thousands of -- a thousand Jewish community members and other stakeholders, including Jews from diverse backgrounds and all denominations. It also includes members of Congress, businesses -- businesses and civil society leaders, state and local officials, and so many more.

Joe Biden

00:13:06 - 00:13:41 ()

Many of you are in this room, and I wanted to thank you for your partnership. All of you who were involved in this, stand up. Come on. Come on. You're being too humble. It matters. It's the most ambitious, comprehensive effort in our history to combat antisemitism in America. This strategy includes over 100 meaningful actions that government agencies are going to take to counter antisemitism.

Joe Biden

00:13:41 - 00:14:00 ()

It also includes calls to action for Congress, state and local governments, technology, and other companies, civil society, faith leaders to counter antisemitism. My strategy consists of four key pillars. First, we must increase awareness and understanding of both antisemitism and Jewish American heritage.

Joe Biden

00:14:00 - 00:14:19 ()

Second, we have to improve safety and security of Jewish -- for Jewish communities. Thirdly, we must reverse the normalization in an -- of antisemitism and address antisemitic discrimination now and loudly. And finally, we have to continue -- we must continue to build coalitions all across communities to fight the hate.

Joe Biden

00:14:19 - 00:14:52 ()

You know, as we work together to implement this report, we're sending a clear and forceful message: In America, evil will not win. Hate will not prevail. The venom and violence of antisemitism will not be the story of our time. Let me close with this. We're the only country in the world founded on an idea -- an idea -- not on geography, not on religion, not on an et -- on ethnicity, but an idea.

Joe Biden

00:14:52 - 00:15:11 ()

A sacred proposition rooted in faith and enshrined in the Declaration of Independence that we're all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully lived up to that idea, but we have never, never walked away from it, even though we have leaders who try to get us to walk away from it.

Joe Biden

00:15:11 - 00:15:33 ()

This is the work of our democracy. In a literal sense, it's the work of our democracy. The Talmud says, quote, "It's not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it." You know, the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. And that's the American story.

Joe Biden

00:15:33 - 00:15:57 ()

It's been written in part by Jewish Americans who have turned their pain and purpose into bringing us closer to realizing the promise for all Americans. That was the message when we hosted the first Jewish High Holiday reception ever in the White House. It was our message on Hanukkah, when we lit the first permanent White House menorah, which is the first Jewish artifact in the entire White House collection.

Joe Biden

00:15:57 - 00:16:19 ()

And that's our message today for the Jewish American Heritage Month: celebrating and connecting, feeling the pride and heritage and community, remembering we are the United States of America. There's nothing -- nothing, nothing, nothing -- beyond our capacity if we do it together. I believe that from the bottom of my heart.

Joe Biden

00:16:19 - 00:16:39 ()

And the reason I'm so optimistic: this new generation of young people -- the best educated, least prejudiced, most engaged generation in American history. We're counting on them, but we got to help them. We got to help them get this right, finally. God bless you all. And may God bless America. Thank you.