Transcript - Speech: Joe Biden Speaks at a Political Event in Duluth, MN - September 18, 2020 | Factba.se

Joe Biden

00:00:00 - 00:00:29 ()

Hello, Minnesota. It's good to be back. [Laughter] As Amy was saying, I've been here number of times up in the Iron Range and it's a magnificent part of the world. Magnificent part of the world. And I want to thank you so much, Amy, Senator, you've been a great friend and a great, great senator and Senator Smith you're something else.

Joe Biden

00:00:29 - 00:00:59 ()

I tell you what. Thank you for the job you're doing and I'm on it continuing another six years. You know, I know you're both fighting around the clock to take care of Minnesotans who are hurting in these multiple crisis we are facing today. We have everything from COVID to unemployment to a country that is divided along these being divided along race lines.

Joe Biden

00:00:59 - 00:01:20 ()

We have institutional racism we are dealing with a whole range of things. And the people of Minnesota know that they have two of the best senators in the country on their side. And Matt, thank you so much for that introduction and for showing me around today. This incredible apprentice program at the Carpenter's Training Center.

Joe Biden

00:01:20 - 00:01:41 ()

What a lot of people don't' know if they're not involved in labor is apprenticeship program has not only trained the best workers in the world -- and I'm not being facetious that's a fact. But they get paid while they're doing it. They're getting paid not full wage but they are getting paid while they're doing it.

Joe Biden

00:01:41 - 00:02:06 ()

And that's why these union apprenticeship programs are so, so critically important they stay this way. It matters. People who still make it while they are learning a trade. A trade that is going to put them in good stead the rest of their lives. It was great to see some of the practical hands on experience that apprentices and journey men and women here receive.

Joe Biden

00:02:06 - 00:02:34 ()

And while, as I said, earning a wage as a benefit. You know, it's a bit quieter here because than usual, because of COVID-19 restrictions. But the pride of these workers who are learning the skills and carrying them throughout their careers is still unmistakable. My father, and I apologize to the press who follows me for repeating this but it's worth -- it's worth saying it every time -- my dad used to have an expression.

Joe Biden

00:02:34 - 00:02:53 ()

He said, Joe, your job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It's about your dignity. It's about respect. It's about your place in the community. Then he ends it by saying, it's about being able to look your kid in the eye and say honey, it's going to be ok and mean it. You know, that's the lesson I've never forgotten.

Joe Biden

00:02:53 - 00:03:15 ()

It's the way I grew up. Surrounded by hardworking families in Scranton, Pennsylvania and a lot of steelworkers in Claymont, Delaware. All those jobs are gone now those steel working jobs. And you know, and that's what I saw here at this training center -- dedicated women and men investing in their dignity -- in their dignity.

Joe Biden

00:03:15 - 00:03:40 ()

Here in the Iron Range, we can see the resilience and the grit the communities that built America, the metal they are made of. And fortified by the strength of union power, worker power. I think I was saying to you that -- that you know, my dad has another expression -- the only way to deal with the abusive power is with power.

Joe Biden

00:03:40 - 00:04:05 ()

And the only real power for workers in America is union power. You are the folks that keep the barbarian on the other side of the gate in making sure that people can make a decent living. And folks, here like everywhere else times are hard. Unemployment is way up due to the pandemic. Few workers can be on the job at one time in order to abide by social distancing rules.

Joe Biden

00:04:05 - 00:04:31 ()

And economic outlook for next year including for the building trades is more uncertain than it need be. Here in Minnesota and all across the country there are plenty of folks who are hurting. They are worried about making their next mortgage payment. They are keeping their rent payments in check. They -- they see the people at the top of the heap doing very well an incredible number.

Joe Biden

00:04:31 - 00:05:01 ()

Billionaires in America during this pandemic made another $300 billion. Hear what I just said? In the middle of the pandemic. You're left to wonder as a consequence, ordinary folks, who is looking out for me? You know, that's been the entire story of Donald Trump's presidency. Now in the midst of this unprecedented national crisis Trump has given up on even pretending to do his job.

Joe Biden

00:05:01 - 00:05:32 ()

Almost 200,000 lives lost in the last six months. And experts tell us now the same studies have relied on the administration has relied on to predict what is coming next that we are going to lose another 215,000 lives between now and January 1st. The United States has lost has another 36,000 new COVID cases per day -- per day.

Joe Biden

00:05:32 - 00:06:01 ()

Another average 1,000 deaths a day. Just across the border figuratively speaking a stone's -- stone's throw into Canada -- one day earlier this month the United States had 1,000 deaths from COVID, Canada had zero. Just two days ago, three days ago I believe it was. America had 1,200 deaths Canada had nine.

Joe Biden

00:06:01 - 00:06:32 ()

Nine. So many lives lost unnecessarily because the president is only worried about the stock market nd his re-election. He refused to do what you are doing right here in this program, social distance, wear a mask, sanitize. You're protecting your apprentices. He's not protecting America. It's estimated by the scientists that if we just wore masks nationally we'd save 100,000 lives between now and January 1st.

Joe Biden

00:06:32 - 00:07:03 ()

Let me say that again -- if we just worn masks nationally we'd save 100,000 lives between now and January according to the same study. You know, and it was estimated by a great medical school, Columbia Medical School, that if the president had just started one week earlier in March than he did we'd have 36,000 more people sitting at a dinner table tonight.

Joe Biden

00:07:03 - 00:07:37 ()

Being able to put your arm around grandma or grandpa tonight. In his own words, recorded by Bob Woodward, the president knew back in February that this was an extremely dangerous communicable disease. Think about it. How many people across the Iron Range? How many empty chairs around those dinner tables because of his negligence and selfishness?

Joe Biden

00:07:37 - 00:08:18 ()

How many lies said and lives lost? Imagine if he had just said it on the State of the Union that year spoke up and said, we got a problem. But we can handle it. Here's what we got to do. I can't' think of any president who has ever acted, in my view, so selfishly about his own reelection instead of his sworn obligation to protect and defend the American people.

Joe Biden

00:08:18 - 00:08:42 ()

As I said last night in my hometown, I view this campaign as between Scranton and Park Avenue. All Trump sees from Park Avenue is Wall Street. That's the only metric of the American disparity for him is the value of the Dow Jones. Like a lot of you I spent a lot of my life with guys like Donald Trump looking down on me.

Joe Biden

00:08:42 - 00:09:15 ()

Looking down on the people who make a living with their hands. People who take care of our kids, clean our streets. Maybe what bothers me most is the way he talks about reportedly talks about from too many sources confirmed by many outlets -- the way he's talked about the men and women who joined the military and gave full measure for their country as suckers and losers.

Joe Biden

00:09:15 - 00:09:50 ()

Unless you think it's made up remember how he talked about John McCain. A political opponent but a close friend who I did his eulogy. John McCain was no sucker or loser. He was a hero. My son volunteered to spend a year in Iraq to win the Bronze Star of the [Inaudible] . He wasn't a loser or a sucker. He was a proud patriot.

Joe Biden

00:09:50 - 00:10:16 ()

These are the guys who always thought they're better than me; better than us. 'Cause they had a lot of money. Guys inherit everything they got and still manage to squander it. I have to admit which I guess is coming out and pretty obvious particularly relative to Trump, I just have a little bit of my -- a little bit of a chip on my shoulder about these guys.

Joe Biden

00:10:16 - 00:10:53 ()

Recently -- and I probably shouldn't have said it last night but I did -- recently I read some stories and was asked questions by a leading columnist. It went like this. You know, if you get elected you're gonna be the first guy in a long time elected president without an Ivy League degree. Like somehow a kid who went to a state university isn't qualified to be president of the United States without an Ivy League degree.

Joe Biden

00:10:53 - 00:11:24 ()

Let me tell you something. I know how to do the job of being president. It's pretty clear no matter how wealthy Donald Trump is, no matter how much he doctors his -- if he does -- his tax returns he doesn't have a clue how to be president. One of the lessons my mother taught me -- not a joke -- a long time ago taught me and my siblings -- it's one that you probably were taught too out here in Minnesota.

Joe Biden

00:11:24 - 00:11:54 ()

Said Joey, remember, nobody's better than you. But everybody's your equal. Nobody's better than you; everybody's your equal. We don't measure people by the size of their bank accounts. I don't respect people based on how big the house they live in is. I don't look down my nose at people who are busting their necks just to make a living.

Joe Biden

00:11:54 - 00:12:16 ()

Nor do any of you. Trump says, by the way, I'm paraphrasing. Everyone's in the stock market. That's why he cares about the stock market. What the hell's he talking about? People I grew up with in Scranton and Claymont, they don't have money in stocks. Every penny we made was to pay the bills and take care of the families.

Joe Biden

00:12:16 - 00:12:50 ()

Putting clothes on their back and a roof over our head. In the market? That's why I have a different measure which I judge the health of the American economy. My measure is Scranton, Duluth, Hermantown. Places where I grew up and so many people I know grew up. I see hard working women and men who are just trying to earn an honest decent living to take care of their families.

Joe Biden

00:12:50 - 00:13:18 ()

They just have a little bit of confidence -- little bit of confidence -- they can just see around the corner. Where they don't have to live literally from paycheck to paycheck. Most do. But hope for a little bit of space. Now the American people have seen these women and men -- the essential workers. Workers who stock the shelves in the middle of these crisis at the grocery stores.

Joe Biden

00:13:18 - 00:13:41 ()

Drivers that drove the trucks, delivered the food. Farm workers. Nurses who risk their lives -- in many cases gave their lives in the middle of this pandemic to save other people. Essential workers. And when they walk down the streets and people come out and clap hands and -- and pots together, tell them how much they're appreciated that's not enough.

Joe Biden

00:13:41 - 00:14:01 ()

We're just add -- they're not asking for anything. They're just asking for a shot. I remind you, given a shot the American people have never, ever, ever, ever let their country down. So it's about time we start to pay essential workers for the fact that they're essential. The blinders have been taken off the American people.

Joe Biden

00:14:01 - 00:14:27 ()

I think they're ready. They're ready to insist that a minimum wage be $15 an hour. They're ready to insist that people have childcare and access to it. They're ready to admit and understand the needs that average Americans have. That's why my Build Back Better plan -- in fact my entire campaign is built upon a simple concept.

Joe Biden

00:14:27 - 00:14:54 ()

It's time to reward hard working America not wealth. Reward work not wealth. We don't have to penalize wealth. But it's the opposite now. Reward wealth and not work. We're gonna have to rebuild an economy in the wake of COVID-19. And as we do we have an incredible opportunity to make long overdue invest -- in investments for working families.

Joe Biden

00:14:54 - 00:15:22 ()

And to make sure the wealthy -- the very wealthy and the big corporations finally begin to pay their fair share. Not looking to punish anybody. Just pay your fair share. It's time we give hard working families who literally built the country through their skills and their sweat and their blood like the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners a leg up for once.

Joe Biden

00:15:22 - 00:16:00 ()

I have a big, ambitious plan that bets on the American worker. My plan's gonna create millions of good paying jobs building the products and technologies that we need now and in the future. And it starts with a pretty basic idea. When the government spends taxpayers' money we should spend that money to buy American products made by American workers in an American supply chains to generate American growth and opportunity.

Joe Biden

00:16:00 - 00:16:24 ()

My plan would tighten the rules to make buy American a reality. During my first term alone we're gonna invest $400 billion of federal money that you go out and spend -- you know -- that I have control over as the president or an administration -- to invest and purchase products and materials our country needs to modern -- modernize infrastructure.

Joe Biden

00:16:24 - 00:16:47 ()

To replenish critical stockpiles. To enhance our national security. I was just going through the apprentice program with one of your carpenters. He was showing me how to read blueprints. And I'm a frustrated architect. I just love building -- my kids years ago bought me a light board. I have no -- no -- no professional training.

Joe Biden

00:16:47 - 00:17:12 ()

But I like -- and I carry around a -- a -- graph paper. I'm always making up and designing homes and landscapes. It's my way out. Some people can paint, I can't. And he was showing me the blueprints and how they can change several walls in a particular building to conserve and save energy. And he pointed out what you have to learn to be able to read a blueprint.

Joe Biden

00:17:12 - 00:17:36 ()

And I pointed out to him that my bare -- my buy America plan -- he said by the way not me, this carpenter said and by the way we can kill two birds with one stone. He didn't use that phrase. He said we can do two things at once. He said we can improve the environment by using less energy to operate this building and create more jobs.

Joe Biden

00:17:36 - 00:18:02 ()

And I said I'm gonna send you a copy of my plan. My Senate colleagues know it -- exactly what it is. My Buy American Build America plan calls for literally what we started in our administration and couldn't finish -- retrofitting four million buildings in America that are leaking millions of gallons of energy now.

Joe Biden

00:18:02 - 00:18:40 ()

In the process creating the four million jobs for skilled labor replacing windows, installation that works, making sure that the unit is tight. Including retrofitting two million homes. All of it done at a prevailing wage with union labor. Creating hundreds of thousands of union certified jobs. That's not hyperbole that's a fact.

Joe Biden

00:18:40 - 00:19:20 ()

That's how it will happen. And saving millions of barrels of oil in the process. Improving our environment. That's why the IBW and a lot of other unions support what we're doing. We're gonna put in 500,000 charging stations along our highways. Why? So we can own -- own -- own the electric car market. Estimated creating a million new jobs in Michigan and Detroit in automobile industry.

Joe Biden

00:19:20 - 00:19:42 ()

Look, we can out compete anybody if we set our mind to it. You know -- my infrastructure plan's gonna revitalize American infrastructure so the future is made in America. You know -- the president keeps talking about he's gonna invest in infrastructure right? How many times has he said when you guys are there he had a plan -- in 17 for his infrastructure plan.

Joe Biden

00:19:42 - 00:20:15 ()

It's coming. Then he had one in 18. Then he had one in 19. Then he has one for 20. Just like his nonexistent healthcare plan that's coming next week. He has no plan. When I got started, this wasn't a partisan issue, dealing with infrastructure. The public has wanted to build solid infrastructure to make us first in the world, now we rank 28th, just like Democrats did.

Joe Biden

00:20:15 - 00:20:41 ()

It was totally non-partisan, and creating thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of good paying jobs. We're going to invest over time two trillion dollars to build resilient infrastructure. Roads, bridges, ports, right here along these great, Great Lakes. One-point-five million in new affordable housing units.

Joe Biden

00:20:41 - 00:21:01 ()

High-speed broadband for every American household, more important than ever as we're educating our children from home because he has no plan how to open our schools. A hundred billion dollars to rebuild crumbling schools. How many schools in America do you think there are, where kids safely drink the water in the water fountain?

Joe Biden

00:21:01 - 00:21:35 ()

Where they're worried about whether or not there is enough ventilation in the school, whether there's leaking energy, or still has hazardous materials in the walls. It's ridiculous. We should be spending the money to improve those schools for the safety of our children and our teachers. As I said, retrofitting four million buildings and weatherizing two million homes, and the way we do that is with the tax credits that we'll give them.

Joe Biden

00:21:35 - 00:21:56 ()

Again, all done by certified union labor -- look, I'll fight for workers and unions at every step, requiring all federal infrastructure projects to one, pay prevailing wage, two, prioritize project labor agreements, so collective bargaining is in place before the project starts, employ workers from registered apprenticeships.

Joe Biden

00:21:56 - 00:22:20 ()

I won't water them down like Trump tried to do. Pass the Pro Act to crack down on employers that were trying to block or break unions. And I'll do it without raising anyone's taxes, if you make less than $400,000 a year. I give you my word as -- you have nothing to worry about if you make less than 400. If you make more, if you make more you're going to start to pay your fair share.

Joe Biden

00:22:20 - 00:22:37 ()

No one who makes less than $400 is going to pay a single penny more in taxes under our administration. In fact, tens of millions of middle class families are going to get tax cuts when they need it most, while you're raising your children, while you're trying to get affordable healthcare, buying your first home, you're saving for retirement.

Joe Biden

00:22:37 - 00:23:00 ()

Almost directly after President Trump passed his tax bill in 2017, almost two trillion dollars increased the deficit. He went down to Mar-A-Lago, and he said to his guests there -- and this is a quote, it's on record, "You just got a lot richer," end of quote. He's right, they got a hell of a lot richer.

Joe Biden

00:23:00 - 00:23:33 ()

How about the person making $50, $60, or even the family making $120,000 a year? How much did you get? How much richer did you get? It may be the only time he's told the plain truth his entire presidency. In 2018, the year after that tax cut passed, 91 corporations in the Fortune 500 paid no income tax; zero tax, zero.

Joe Biden

00:23:33 - 00:24:09 ()

Making billions of dollars and paid zero tax. I guess you guys got all your taxes eliminated too, right? He said it was going to be the lowest -- he was going to lower the cost of prescription drugs. But guess what? Instead, Big Pharma got billions of dollars in tax cuts, sent their manufacturing to those -- of those drugs overseas, and unconscionably raised -- so that they would be cheaper for them to produce, unconscionably raised the prices to ordinary Americans.

Joe Biden

00:24:09 - 00:24:34 ()

How many of you people knew, your mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, friends, who had to choose between getting their prescription -- not a joke, and putting dinner on the table? And now he says he's going to cut drug prices, like he's going to have a health care plan. All he's done -- and there's this big thing about, he's calling a drug prices cut.

Joe Biden

00:24:34 - 00:25:02 ()

All he's done, he said -- to the HHS, Health and Human Services, he said "Study the issue." I have a clear plan. I guarantee I will lower prices in America for drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, which he said he would do, the House and the Senate were ready to do it, and he said he'd veto it if he got it.

Joe Biden

00:25:02 - 00:25:23 ()

If you want to participate in a Medicare program, you've got to negotiate with Medicare for the price of that drug. It's significantly lower prices. And for any new specialty drugs that don't have competition that are launched, I'm setting up a review board to recommend a reasonable price based on the board's evaluation.

Joe Biden

00:25:23 - 00:25:58 ()

And that price will not be able to be increased beyond the cost of medical inflation, unless they can prove they've gone and done some more research and change the nature of the drug. And now, astonishly -- astonishingly -- and when my staff told me this -- I know both the senators knew this, but when they told me, I said, "He can't be proposing this." He now is proposing, in this budget, another multi-billion-dollar tax cut for the very wealthy millionaires and billionaires.

Joe Biden

00:25:58 - 00:26:23 ()

Here's what he wants to do. He wants to lower the capital gains tax down to 15 percent, to 15 percent. Every one of you, including the reporters in this room, unless you're making a lot more than I think you are, every one of you is going to be paying a higher tax rate than someone making a billion bucks off their investment.

Joe Biden

00:26:23 - 00:26:55 ()

You're going to pay a higher tax rate. Because they make their money by investing, not by the sweat of their brow. Another tax cut worth billions of dollars. And who -- whose hide do you think that's going to come out of? Where's it come from? The deficit's already bonkers. Where do you think it's going to come out of?

Joe Biden

00:26:55 - 00:27:29 ()

Come out of you and the programs and thing that help the American people. Like I said, it's about time we start rewarding work, not wealth. Look, I'm not looking to punish anybody, but damn it, it's about time the super wealthy and corporate America start paying their fair share. That's all it is, just pay their fair share, so hard-working families can start getting a break on childcare, elder care, buying that first home, and the cost of education beyond -- beyond high school, being able to get started in life.

Joe Biden

00:27:29 - 00:27:55 ()

And by the way, while all of this is going on, Donald Trump is trying to rip away your healthcare. Now, this all kind -- I got a new healthcare program, I'm going to protect preexisting conditions. He's in the Supreme Court saying get rid of preexisting conditions. They should not -- they should be able to stand in the way of you getting insurance, because it helps insurance companies.

Joe Biden

00:27:55 - 00:28:29 ()

And as a gimmick, he's got a new one. He's going to end the payroll tax that you pay on Social Security. Yet, the actuary at the Social Security says, if that were to occur, Social Security will be bankrupt by the middle of 2023. She may get a few more bucks in your paycheck, then go home and tell your mom and dad, Social Security's about to come to an end.

Joe Biden

00:28:29 - 00:28:59 ()

I never liked Social Security Medicare to begin with. So look, we can't let this happen, the Social Security would run dry by 2023. We're so much better than this. This is the United States of America. we have never, ever, ever been unable to do something when we've done it together, never. So it's time to stand up, Democrats and Republicans.

Joe Biden

00:28:59 - 00:29:21 ()

I said last night, and I know, my colleagues know, sometimes Democrats get mad at this, I'm running as a Democrat. I'm going to be President of the United States, not President of the Democratic Party. We must unite this country. It's the only way we can move forward. And I believe the American people are ready for it.

Joe Biden

00:29:21 - 00:29:45 ()

And I believe that half a dozen to a dozen of our Republican colleagues who have been unable and unwilling to have the guts to take him on because he's so vindictive. With him gone, I think they're ready to work. Not on everything, but an awful lot. It's time to take the country back, folks, and it's going to start here, today, with voting in Minnesota.

Joe Biden

00:29:45 - 00:30:00 ()

So God bless you all, and may God protect our troops. Thank you, thank you, thank you.