The CONTINUED BATTLE for the SOUL of the NATION

Debates: 117

Posts: 8,689

09.05.2022 04:41PM

Remarks by President Biden on the Continued Battle for the Soul of the Nation

Independence National Historical Park

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

(September 1, 2022)

My fellow Americans, please, if you have a seat, take it. I speak to you tonight from sacred ground in America: Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This is where America made its Declaration of Independence to the world more than two centuries ago with an idea, unique among nations, that in America, we’re all created equal.

This is where the United States Constitution was written and debated.

This is where we set in motion the most extraordinary experiment of self-government the world has ever known with three simple words: “We, the People.” “We, the People.”

These two documents and the ideas they embody — equality and democracy — are the rock upon which this nation is built. They are how we became the greatest nation on Earth. They are why, for more than two centuries, America has been a beacon to the world.

But as I stand here tonight, equality and democracy are under assault. We do ourselves no favor to pretend otherwise.

So tonight, I have come this place where it all began to speak as plainly as I can to the nation about the threats we face, about the power we have in our own hands to meet these threats, and about the incredible future that lies in front of us if only we choose it.

We must never forget: We, the people, are the true heirs of the American experiment that began more than two centuries ago.

We, the people, have burning inside each of us the flame of liberty that was lit here at Independence Hall — a flame that lit our way through abolition, the Civil War, Suffrage, the Great Depression, world wars, Civil Rights.

That sacred flame still burns now in our time as we build an America that is more prosperous, free, and just.

That is the work of my presidency, a mission I believe in with my whole soul.

But first, we must be honest with each other and with ourselves.

Too much of what’s happening in our country today is not normal.

Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.

Now, I want to be very clear up front: Not every Republican, not even the majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology.

I know because I’ve been able to work with these mainstream Republicans.

But there is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country.

These are hard things.

But I’m an American President — not the President of red America or blue America, but of all America.

And I believe it is my duty — my duty to level with you, to tell the truth no matter how difficult, no matter how painful.

And here, in my view, is what is true: MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people.

They refuse to accept the results of a free election. And they’re working right now, as I speak, in state after state to give power to decide elections in America to partisans and cronies, empowering election deniers to undermine democracy itself.

MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards — backwards to an America where there is no right to choose, no right to privacy, no right to contraception, no right to marry who you love.

They promote authoritarian leaders, and they fan the flames of political violence that are a threat to our personal rights, to the pursuit of justice, to the rule of law, to the very soul of this country.

They look at the mob that stormed the United States Capitol on January 6th — brutally attacking law enforcement — not as insurrectionists who placed a dagger to the throat of our democracy, but they look at them as patriots.

And they see their MAGA failure to stop a peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election as preparation for the 2022 and 2024 elections.

They tried everything last time to nullify the votes of 81 million people. This time, they’re determined to succeed in thwarting the will of the people.

That’s why respected conservatives, like Federal Circuit Court Judge Michael Luttig, has called Trump and the extreme MAGA Republicans, quote, a “clear and present danger” to our democracy.

But while the threat to American democracy is real, I want to say as clearly as we can: We are not powerless in the face of these threats. We are not bystanders in this ongoing attack on democracy.

There are far more Americans — far more Americans from every — from every background and belief who reject the extreme MAGA ideology than those that accept it.

And, folks, it is within our power, it’s in our hands — yours and mine — to stop the assault on American democracy.

I believe America is at an inflection point — one of those moments that determine the shape of everything that’s to come after.

And now America must choose: to move forward or to move backwards? To build the future or obsess about the past? To be a nation of hope and unity and optimism, or a nation of fear, division, and of darkness?

MAGA Republicans have made their choice. They embrace anger. They thrive on chaos. They live not in the light of truth but in the shadow of lies.

But together — together, we can choose a different path. We can choose a better path. Forward, to the future. A future of possibility. A future to build and dream and hope.

And we’re on that path, moving ahead.

I know this nation. I know you, the American people. I know your courage. I know your hearts. And I know our history.

This is a nation that honors our Constitution. We do not reject it.

This is a nation that believes in the rule of law. We do not repudiate it.

This is a nation that respects free and fair elections. We honor the will of the people. We do not deny it.

And this is a nation that rejects violence as a political tool. We do not encourage violence.

We are still an America that believes in honesty and decency and respect for others, patriotism, liberty, justice for all, hope, possibilities.

We are still, at our core, a democracy.

And yet history tells us that blind loyalty to a single leader and a willingness to engage in political violence is fatal to democracy.

For a long time, we’ve told ourselves that American democracy is guaranteed, but it’s not.

We have to defend it, protect it, stand up for it — each and every one of us.

That’s why tonight I’m asking our nation to come together, unite behind the single purpose of defending our democracy regardless of your ideology.

We’re all called, by duty and conscience, to confront extremists who will put their own pursuit of power above all else.

Democrats, independents, mainstream Republicans: We must be stronger, more determined, and more committed to saving American democracy than MAGA Republicans are to — to destroying American democracy.

We, the people, will not let anyone or anything tear us apart. Today, there are dangers around us we cannot allow to prevail. You’ve heard it — more and more talk about violence as an acceptable political tool in this country. It’s not. It can never be an acceptable tool.

So I want to say this plain and simple: There is no place for political violence in America. Period. None. Ever.

We saw law enforcement brutally attacked on January the 6th. We’ve seen election officials, poll workers — many of them volunteers of both parties — subjected to intimidation and death threats. And — can you believe it? — FBI agents just doing their job as directed, facing threats to their own lives from their own fellow citizens.

On top of that, there are public figures — today, yesterday, and the day before — predicting and all but calling for mass violence and rioting in the streets.

This is inflammatory. It’s dangerous. It’s against the rule of law. And we, the people, must say: This is not who we are.

Ladies and gentlemen, we can’t be pro-insurrectionist and pro-American. They’re incompatible.

We can’t allow violence to be normalized in this country. It’s wrong. We each have to reject political violence with — with all the moral clarity and conviction this nation can muster. Now.

We can’t let the integrity of our elections be undermined, for that is a path to chaos.

Look, I know politics can be fierce and mean and nasty in America. I get it. I believe in the give-and-take of politics, in disagreement and debate and dissent.

We’re a big, complicated country. But democracy endures only if we, the people, respect the guardrails of the republic. Only if we, the people, accept the results of free and fair elections. Only if we, the people, see politics not as total war but mediation of our differences.

Democracy cannot survive when one side believes there are only two outcomes to an election: either they win or they were cheated. And that’s where MAGA Republicans are today.

They don’t understand what every patriotic American knows: You can’t love your country only when you win. It’s fundamental.

American democracy only works only if we choose to respect the rule of law and the institutions that were set up in this chamber behind me, only if we respect our legitimate political differences.

I will not stand by and watch the will of the American people be overturned by wild conspiracy theories and baseless, evidence-free claims of fraud.

I will not stand by and watch elections in this country stolen by people who simply refuse to accept that they lost.

I will not stand by and watch the most fundamental freedom in this country — the freedom to vote and have your vote counted be taken from you and the American people.

Look, as your President, I will defend our democracy with every fiber of my being, and I’m asking every American to join me.

(A protestor disruption can be heard.)

Throughout our history, America has often made the greatest progress coming out of some of our darkest moments, like you’re hearing in that bullhorn.

Topic's author

Debates: 117

Posts: 8,689

09.05.2022 04:41PM

I believe we can and we must do that again, and we are.

MAGA Republicans look at America and see carnage and darkness and despair. They spread fear and lies –- lies told for profit and power.

But I see a very different America — an America with an unlimited future, an America that is about to take off. I hope you see it as well. Just look around.

I believed we could lift America from the depths of COVID, so we passed the largest economic recovery package since Franklin Delano Roosevelt. And today, America’s economy is faster, stronger than any other advanced nation in the world. We have more to go.

I believed we could build a better America, so we passed the biggest infrastructure investment since President Dwight D. Eisenhower. And we’ve now embarked on a decade of rebuilding the nation’s roads, bridges, highways, ports, water systems, high-speed Internet, railroads.

I believed we could make America safer, so we passed the most significant gun safety law since President Clinton.

I believed we could go from being the highest cost of prescriptions in the world to making prescription drugs and healthcare more affordable, so we passed the most significant healthcare reforms since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act.

And I believed we could create — we could create a clean energy future and save the planet, so we passed the most important climate initiative ever, ever, ever.

The cynics and the critics tell us nothing can get done, but they are wrong. There is not a single thing America cannot do — not a single thing beyond our capacity if we do it together.

It’s never easy. But we’re proving that in America, no matter how long the road, progress does come.

Look, I know the last year — few years have been tough. But today, COVID no longer controls our lives. More Americans are working than ever. Businesses are growing. Our schools are open. Millions of Americans have been lifted out of poverty. Millions of veterans once exposed to toxic burn pits will now get what they deserve for their families.

American manufacturing has come alive across the Heartland, and the future will be made in America no matter what the white supremacists and the extremists say.

I made a bet on you, the American people, and that bet is paying off. Proving that from darkness — the darkness of Charlottesville, of COVID, of gun violence, of insurrection — we can see the light. Light is now visible.

Light that will guide us forward not only in words, but in actions — actions for you, for your children, for your grandchildren, for America.

Even in this moment, with all the challenges we face, I give you my word as a Biden: I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s future. Not because of me, but because of who you are.

We’re going to end cancer as we know it. Mark my words.

We are going to create millions of new jobs in a clean energy economy.

We’re going to think big. We’re going to make the 21st century another American century because the world needs us to.

That’s where we need to focus our energy — not in the past, not on divisive culture wars, not on the politics of grievance, but on a future we can build together.

The MAGA Republicans believe that for them to succeed, everyone else has to fail. They believe America — not like I believe about America.

I believe America is big enough for all of us to succeed, and that is the nation we’re building: a nation where no one is left behind.

I ran for President because I believed we were in a battle for the soul of this nation. I still believe that to be true. I believe the soul is the breath, the life, and the essence of who we are. The soul is what makes us “us.”

The soul of America is defined by the sacred proposition that all are created equal in the image of God. That all are entitled to be treated with decency, dignity, and respect. That all deserve justice and a shot at lives of prosperity and consequence. And that democracy — democracy must be defended, for democracy makes all these things possible. Folks, and it’s up to us.

Democracy begins and will be preserved in we, the people’s, habits of heart, in our character: optimism that is tested yet endures, courage that digs deep when we need it, empathy that fuels democracy, the willingness to see each other not as enemies but as fellow Americans.

Look, our democracy is imperfect. It always has been.

Notwithstanding those folks you hear on the other side there. They’re entitled to be outrageous. This is a democracy. But history and common sense — (applause) — good manners is nothing they’ve ever suffered from.

But history and common sense tell us that opportunity, liberty, and justice for all are most likely to come to pass in a democracy.

We have never fully realized the aspirations of our founding, but every generation has opened those doors a little wider to include more people who have been excluded before.

My fellow Americans, America is an idea — the most powerful idea in the history of the world. And it beats in the hearts of the people of this country. It beats in all of our hearts. It unites America. It is the American creed.

The idea that America guarantees that everyone be treated with dignity. It gives hate no safe harbor. It installs in everyone the belief that no matter where you start in life, there’s nothing you can’t achieve.

That’s who we are. That’s what we stand for. That’s what we believe. And that is precisely what we are doing: opening doors, creating new possibilities, focusing on the future. And we’re only just beginning.

Our task is to make our nation free and fair, just and strong, noble and whole.

And this work is the work of democracy — the work of this generation. It is the work of our time, for all time.

We can’t afford to leave anyone on the sidelines. We need everyone to do their part. So speak up. Speak out. Get engaged. Vote, vote, vote.

And if we all do our duty — if we do our duty in 2022 and beyond, then ages still to come will say we — all of us here — we kept the faith. We preserved democracy. (Applause.) We heeded our wor- — we — we heeded not our worst instincts but our better angels. And we proved that, for all its imperfections, America is still the beacon to the world, an ideal to be realized, a promise to be kept.

There is nothing more important, nothing more sacred, nothing more American. That’s our soul. That’s who we truly are. And that’s who must — we must always be.

And I have no doubt — none –– that this is who we will be and that we’ll come together as a nation. That we’ll secure our democracy. That for the next 200 years, we’ll have what we had the past 200 years: the greatest nation on the face of the Earth.

We just need to remember who we are. We are the United States of America. The United States of America.

And may God protect our nation. And may God protect all those who stand watch over our democracy. God bless you all.

Debates: 0

Posts: 5,088

09.05.2022 05:36PM

-->

@oromagi

Do Republican's know Mehmet Oz is a Muslim?

Topic's author

Debates: 117

Posts: 8,689

09.05.2022 05:42PM

-->

@FLRW

-->@oromagi

Do republican's know Mehmet Oz is a Muslim?

Just imagine the fake outrage if Democrats had a Muslim running for Senate.

Debates: 0

Posts: 5,088

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/were-divided-on-patriotism-too/

09.05.2022 06:00PM

-->

@oromagi

Yes, Trump says there is "absolutely" a Muslim problem,and that the Koran "teaches some very negative vibe."

Trump falsely claims to have watched Muslims in NJ celebrate after the 9/11attacks. Despite being quickly and widely debunked , Trump continues to repeat the

falsehood.

cristo71

Debates: 1

Posts: 1,091

cristo71

09.05.2022 10:10PM

the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.

So… everyone who voted for your opponent poses a threat to the republic? There just might be an issue with this sort of messaging…

Not every Republican, not even the majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology.
I know because I’ve been able to work with these mainstream Republicans.
But there is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country.

So, which is it? “Not even the majority if Republicans are MAGA Republicans” or the party is “dominated… by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans”? The latter clearly recants the former.

But I’m an American President — not the President of red America or blue America, but of all America.

This seems like cheap talk now, after what you just said and continue to say in this speech:

They refuse to accept the results of a free election.

I’m sure Stacey Abrams was applauding this speech as much as anyone…

MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards — backwards to an America where there is no right to choose

Oh, so if you’re pro life, that makes you… one of THEM! (a threat to the republic and democracy) Hey, you’re Catholic, aren’t you, Mr. President?

They promote authoritarian leaders

Heh, ok, Mr. vaccine mandate…

They don’t understand what every patriotic American knows: You can’t love your country only when you win. It’s fundamental.

Funny you should say that, Mr. President:

“The “patriotism gap” is nothing new. Gallup has asked its respondents how proud they are to be Americans periodically since 2001. According to those polls, one year after the Sept. 11 attacks, 93 percent of Democrats and 99 percent of Republicans said they were either “extremely” or “very” proud to be Americans. The GOP number stayed comfortably in the 90s for the duration of George W. Bush’s presidency, but by January 2007, amid an unpopular war in Iraq that sparked no small amount of liberal dissent, the share of Democrats who were “extremely” or “very” proud to be Americans had shrunk to 74 percent — 21 points lower than the Republican share (and, to that point, the widest gap since Gallup started asking the question). The Democratic share increased during Barack Obama’s presidency (reaching a high of 85 percent in 2013) but was still consistently lower than the GOP’s: The share of Republicans who said they were “extremely” or “very” proudly American never dipped below 89 percent despite the extremely low opinionGOP voters had of Obama.”

The MAGA Republicans believe that for them to succeed, everyone else has to fail.

Oh, the great majority were succeeding (whether they liked to admit it or not) until the pandemic… and your presidency…

That speech should get a big Bronx cheer!

Debates: 18

Posts: 2,806

09.05.2022 10:55PM

Democrats always bring up democracy because they hate the constitution, particularly the bill of rights.

They will never call it a Democratic republic

Debates: 18

Posts: 2,806

09.05.2022 10:56PM

-->

@FLRW

Trump falsely claims to have watched Muslims in NJ celebrate after the 9/11attacks.

Citation that not a single Muslim in New York celebrated

TWS1405

Debates: 0

Posts: 1,048

TWS1405

09.05.2022 11:29PM

-->

@FLRW

Trump falsely claims to have watched Muslims in NJ celebrate after the 9/11attacks. Despite being quickly and widely debunked , Trump continues to repeat the
falsehood.

"Some Muslims in New Jersey did celebrate the 9/11 terror attacks during rooftop and street parties until they were broken up by the cops, a new report said Monday." ~ NJ police captain says some Muslims did celebrate on 9/11 (nypost.com)

#10

ADreamOfLiberty

Debates: 0

Posts: 2,815

ADreamOfLiberty

09.05.2022 11:50PM

Democracy is under threat. Those who threaten it are enemies of the people.

Who really believes in democracy: the one who demands that the ballot count reflect the honest will of the majority or the one that demands such complaints be punished?

#11

Public-Choice

Debates: 18

Posts: 1,035

Public-Choice

09.06.2022 02:57AM

Coming from the man who follows ice cream trucks during public speaking events and shakes hands with invisible people... and yet, according to mainstream Democrats, people who voted for Trump, not the current President, are the biggest threat to Democracy. . .

At any point in this Presidency, we literally have to worry about Biden accidentally pressing the nuclear button accidentally, but, you know, it's people who want a free and fair election who are the real threats to Democracy.

I wonder if mainstream Democrats ever step back for a minute and think about what they say before they say it.

FWIW, I know many mainstream republicans don't. But I honestly don't think mainstream Democrats do either.

#12

Debates: 1

Posts: 7

09.06.2022 06:39AM

-->

@FLRW

So, yes, there was a radical group of Muslims that were celebrating 9/11 called the Brothers of Revolution Muslims. There was a video on CNN about it even. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5BtQgTGOI4

#13

Debates: 1

Posts: 7

09.06.2022 06:56AM

-->

@cristo71

Well said! The whole speech was just a siren song to lure in any voters with a bad memory. What a piece of work, pretending to defend the constitution in the same breath as taking our rights. His preaching on how they "reject political violence" after AntiFa and the "mostly peaceful" protests is rich. His assertion that anyone who questions the integrity of our voting system is an extremist is as authoritarian as he says Trump is ad nauseum. I mean, whose administration broke into whose house to confiscate documents? Who exastribated the pandemic with a mandate causing hundreds-thousands of businesses to close? Who is the one starting fights we cannot afford? You probably shouldn't answer "Biden" to any of those questions because he's just their puppet. Biden's a puppet, change my mind.

#14

Debates: 0

Posts: 2,865

09.08.2022 09:05PM

-->

@PREZ-HILTON

It's a "Constitutional Republic" The US is based on the rule of law. Not any kind of democracy. The founders despised the word Democracy and anything to do with a Democracy. That is why the electoral collage voting system was created. So the most populous cities cant dictate to the rest of the country, well that is if the rule of law was enforced like it is supposed to be.

437 days later

#15

Debates: 4

Posts: 22,869

They don't want you to see this footage.

11.20.2023 11:46AM

#16

Debates: 0

Posts: 5,088

11.20.2023 02:21PM

-->

@Greyparrot

Do you agree that Trump won the election in 2020?

#17

Debates: 4

Posts: 22,869

11.20.2023 03:00PM

-->

@FLRW

I agree you will support Biden to the end. As the standard bearer of Mencken.

#18

Debates: 0

Posts: 5,088

11.20.2023 03:03PM

-->

@Greyparrot

I'll take that as a yes.

#19

Debates: 4

Posts: 22,869

11.20.2023 03:04PM

-->

@FLRW

Lol, Umad.bro?

I'll take that as a yes.

#20

Debates: 0

Posts: 5,088

11.20.2023 03:35PM

-->

@Greyparrot

Did you know that Trump, who would be approaching 83 at the end of his second term, would take the baton for oldest President in history if elected?

#21

Debates: 4

Posts: 22,869

11.20.2023 04:20PM

I am glad you agree with me.

#22

Debates: 0

Posts: 5,088

11.23.2023 03:19PM

Democrats to Dr. Oz: run for office as a Republican in New Jersey, please!

#23

Debates: 0

Posts: 4,244

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/11/yes-constitution-democracy/616949/

11.23.2023 08:29PM

-->

@sadolite

@oromagi

@FLRW

The US is based on the rule of law. Not any kind of democracy.

Typical false narrative of MAGA types like you Sad. False narrative is mixture of lies, relative truths and/or absolute truths.

Soul = biologic integrity

Soul of a nation = governmental integrity that is constitutional and a democratic.

Trumpet ergo MAGA types = chaotic destruction the integrity rule of law, integrity of democracy and .........? ? ?...........

Nov 2, 2020......."Dependent on a minority of the population to hold national power, Republicans such as Senator Mike Lee of Utah have taken to reminding the public that “we’re not a democracy.” It is quaint that so many Republicans, embracing a president who routinely tramples constitutional norms, have suddenly found their voice in pointing out that, formally, the country is a republic. There is some truth to this insistence. But it is mostly disingenuous. The Constitution was meant to foster a complex form of majority rule, not enable minority rule."...

#24

Debates: 0

Posts: 2,865

11.24.2023 02:37PM

"Typical false narrative of MAGA types like you Sad." Fuck you to rope smoker

#25

Debates: 0

Posts: 4,244

11.24.2023 11:00PM

-->

@sadolite

...The US is based on the rule of law. Not any kind of democracy....

False and true mixed together i is called false narrative and more so depending on degree of persons intent within context USA's history into the future from here.

Past > ( * i * ) > Future

What is the intention of the Meta-space ego aka i, is a consideration.

There are limits to how omi-considerate a human ego can consider over finite set of time.

The rule of law comes from sea-faring days is where the Captain is the supreme rule of law.

Above Captain may have been a governor back on British ( Celts, Welsh, English, Scots } soil.

One rule of law shall rule them all to maintained structure and systemic order.

Chaos is what is outside of the rule of law. At least known laws. Knowing laws of weather prediction was closer to chaos.

And not understanding/knowing the crew etc, made for testing the limits normally well accepted rule of law for Captain and crew.

#26

Debates: 0

Posts: 2,865

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGL8CiUtXF0&t=360s

11.24.2023 11:29PM

-->

@ebuc

A short video for you explaining why the rule of law is the foundation Of the American Govt "A Republic." But with said the Republic was lost long ago and now we are a Tyrannical Oligarchy where the rule of law no longer exists but for the common man which is arbitrarily applied.

#27

Debates: 0

Posts: 4,244

11.25.2023 01:02PM

-->

@sadolite

Republic = military rule of law King > Governor > General > Captain ergo order

Democracy = military rule of law via people who vote for presidenet > Governor > and military assigns general > Captain etc ergo order via rule of law.

Just as the poor, the nutters, the bullies etc, are always with us, so is govenance ergo order.

Trumpet and MAGA types seen chaos and destruction of order and attempt to place themselves above the law. Sick n head ignorant and violent rebels without a valid cause.

#28