Biden rejecting Democrats' anger in call for national unity

[left-of-center2012]

Taking his bipartisan message to pivotal Pennsylvania, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is pledging to bridge the deep divide in the country under President Donald Trump and reject the anger that he says is motivating some in his party.

“If the American people want a president to add to our division, to lead with a clenched fist, closed hand and a hard heart, to demonize the opponents and spew hatred — they don’t need me. They already have a president who does just that,” Biden says.

“I am running to offer our country — Democrats, Republicans and independents — a different path,” the former vice president says.

“Some say Democrats don’t want to hear about unity. That they are angry — and the angrier you are — the better,” Biden says in his speech. “That’s what they are saying to have to do to win the Democratic nomination. Well, I don’t believe it. I believe Democrats want to unify this nation. That’s what we’ve always been about. Unity.”

https://www.apnews.com/254643092cb74f17a78e1a1c7974816c

[Xipe Totec]

1. No, thank you

I have no interest in joining forces with nazis and white supremacists.

They are the enemy and I'll be damned if I extend a hand to these fuckers.

[saidsimplesimon]

6. They don't deserve elevation

to "some Republican politicians are nice people" . If there were, they are 6 ft. under, taking Russian money or in hiding. I'm not a fan of a message from a bygone era.

[Hortensis]

16. Then join with those who are only

beginning to realize what they’re part of and will look for alternatives.

We were very close to a winning majority in 2016, we had a winning majority in 2018, and if in spite of the electoral college we have a winning majority in 2020, it is all over for them. But it must be big enough to take Congress also.

Trump and the Republicans desperately need us divided so they can continue to conquer.

[wellst0nev0ter]

2. Fighting the same war and expecting different results

This is our man?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. While I have my doubts about Biden, he certainly deserves the right to state his case

and show us that he's evolved on certain progressive issues that are important to the Democratic base and the American electorate at large. I was hoping Joe would do just that at his rally today, but, I must say I was disappointed with what I heard... or, more importantly, what I DIDN'T hear.

There's still time, though, for Joe to convince people he's the best candidate to dethrone the Dick-Tator-in-Chief, by articulating a vision for the future of this country. A "back to normalcy" campaign isn't going to cut it.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!

[wellst0nev0ter]

42. Hilary in the general

certainly wasn't the same Hilary in the primary. You're right though that Biden's kumbaya attitude is weaksauce against the war the pukes are waging in real time.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

54. True, Hillary in the general against tRump was a much different candidate, which is why...

if Joe is going to show Democratic voters, his base, how he at least intends to govern, the 2020 primary is the time to show us.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!

[True Blue American]

3. Biden gave a speech of

Hope for the nation.

[NYMinute]

4. This is a winning strategy

except that the angry ultras won't see it. Some of them want to draw blood which is not how it is done.

Sometimes a scalpel works better than a machete.

[BannonsLiver]

10. The "angry ultras" don't know anything about winning elections.

Their purity prevents it.

[lame54]

24. But what about after...

If Joe wins is he going to pull that look forward crap or go after the crooks in this administration

[emmaverybo]

46. Yes. Angry politics turns sane voters off. People have enough stress and bother at work, at home

on the road. They can’t hear our message or distinguish us from the cons when we speak with teeth gnashing.

[BlueWI]

56. It'll be a winning strategy if it wins.

Biden hasn't even won a primary yet. A little early to enshrine the winning strategy.

[NYMinute]

57. Thank you

Bernie supporter -- I mean Jay Inslee.

[BlueWI]

58. I like Bernie Sanders.

And I respect his supporters who believe he's the best candidate in 2020, even though I am not supporting him this time around.

Meanwhile, Governor Inslee continues his visionary work as a chief executive of a state, while O'Rourke perfects his strategy and hopes for his next nomination. I am proud to be an Inslee supporter, whether or not his presidential campaign gets national traction.

[samnsara]

5. Im with him..its exhausting to be angry and i bet a lot of the trumpers will feel a sense of..

..masked relief when trumps gone. Those who are type A can go have their heart attacks in private somewhere.




Unity doesnt mean forgiveness and Joe will NOT pardon trump.

[katmondoo]

11. If they don't have an audience they will not have their way

also they need a leader just like Trump and I feel he will be gone. With more speeches like this one from Biden we will be able to beat that Nazi lover.

[abqtommy]

8. I observe that

half of the people in this country are united in seeking fair and sustainable policies that provide for everyone's well-being. The other half of the people in this country are united in hate and deserve to be
literally slapped and defeated politically. I don't want a frothy kind of country where we try to mix/unite oil and water! Joe provides a speech that ignores reality.

[Raven123]

9. Good speech. Typical Joe. Enthusiastic and optimistic. High Energy

Took a few shots at Trump and clearly defined philosophical differences. Still skeptical about his ability to work with the current GOP, regardless of prior history.

[mcar]

12. He took it to Trump and the Rs plenty in his speech

MSM is cherry picking.

[tymorial]

52. So are people here

[George II]

13. I can't believe there are some here who are bashing that message.

[LongtimeAZDem]

14. Makes me wonder if we really are better than the other side

[still_one]

28. What is ironic George, there is not one Democratic candidate who would not try and work with the

republicans.

In fact, I would be interested if these so-called "angry Democrats", could name one of the Democratic candidates they think would not run on that message?

[Jose Garcia]

37. Some people hate Trump, but want a liberal version of him

[Autumn]

15. We should not be angry at people who want women dead? I have no intention of unifying with them.

I'm past angry into furious and I'm not going to calm down.

[loyalsister]

23. Last week a nightmare came true for women

I personally don't want to hear any defense or excuses from anyone who has ever found common ground in limiting reproductive rights after select groups of white men took the biggest step yet towards overturning Roe v Wade in Alabama and Missouri.

[George II]

38. Who wants women dead? That's a pretty extreme take on the subject.

[earthshine]

17. He's bringing flowers to a gun fight? I have had enough with "bipartisan" Democrats.

Republicans need to be defeated at the ballot box, not played with.

[emmaverybo]

47. Well until they are, a majority of Americans want us to work with them to get stuff done. Biden

gave an example, the ACA, which the administration got done without one Republican vote, but
also another, the recovery act, when he had to get some Republicans on board. The public blames both sides when they see nothing but stalemate. Isn’t fair. Just is.

[beachbum bob]

18. Joe knows...and the appeal is overwhelming to those that will flock

To Joe...the independent voters, the moderate republicans, the working class. When he wins the primaries, Harris will solidify the ticket across the board. Huge fear on the right, with Putin/Russia....and the power elite that has controlled America for decades.

[aikoaiko]

19. That's a very privileged stance that Joe has.

Please proceed, governor

[StarfishSaver]

25. Actually, insisting on staying mad even if it means we don't win anything is the privileged stance

[aikoaiko]

40. Who is insisting?

[emmaverybo]

48. Thank you.

[colsohlibgal]

20. Sorry Joe

I am angry 24/7 about the evil clown in Office. This is not the time to play softball.

It is time to go hard after not only Orange Hitler we need to go hard after the complicit Senate.

We all get nostalgic about bygone days but they are not coming back anytime soon.

I prefer to go after that con man and his enablers with both barrels.....like Elizabeth Warren and some of the others.

[left-of-center2012]

21. The Biden haters want to bring him down

We need to bring the party and the country together,
yet the Biden haters say:
"Hell no".

I'm reminded of something I heard during the Vietnam War:
"We had to destroy the village in order to save it."

[Skya Rhen]

22. If they are successful in bringing Joe down, then Trump remains standing and they know it...

[pangaia]

26. "Unity" is, as far as I know, a very common meme for people running for president..

sort of like "bold new ideas"
"move forward"

[Demit]

34. "We have to focus on the future!"

is another well-worn cliché. I wonder if there was anyone in today's crowd who had never heard that before?

[emmaverybo]

49. No. Not in the context of these past two years. I don't think we have seen such division since

the Vietnam war era.

[pangaia]

53. It is wrong for any of us to keep using the idea of 'division.'

It is NOT division.

It is lying, greedy, traitorous, racist, misogynistic, don't-give-a-shit-about-human-beings-or-life-on-earth republicans destroying the United States with the support of stupid, ignorant, racist, bigoted, self-interested, uneducated assholes.

These people aren't even human beings; none of them.

[still_one]

27. This is a strawman argument. THERE IS NOT ONE DEMOCRATIC CANIDATE WHO HAS SAID THEY WILL NOT TRY

AND WORK WITH the republicans.

[elleng]

31. Lots of non-candidates around here, tho, who have said Dems shouldn't work with repugs.

[still_one]

33. Of course, and that is understandable with what we have been through, but I believe it would be

political suicide for a Democratic candidate to run and say they don't want to unify the country. There was one other candidate I am aware of who has made overtures about working with the opposing side, and that candidate was criticized also for that.

They say what is good for the goose is good for the gander, but not in politics

You could argue that Trump did it, but I would counter that would not have happened if enough of the 47% who didn't vote, did, and I believe enough of those 47% who didn't vote last time, will in 2020, regardless who our candidate is, though at this time I believe Biden has the best chance to win the general election. My view may change on that after the debates and the process gets further along.

[crazytown]

39. In 2010 McConnell promised the GOP would not work with Democrats

The GOP kept that promise and were ‘rewarded’ six years later.

In the 2018, Democrats were not elected to work with Trump, but to stop him.

[saidsimplesimon]

29. Anger killed the "grumpy cat"?

An emotion that wastes energy is not a winning theme. I'll leave "hate and anger" to those misguided souls supporting rumpublicans. May they suffer multiple electoral defeats in the near future and beyond.

[VarryOn]

32. Stuff like this will make it hard for Biden to last...

over the long run. There arennt many Democatic primary voters open to unity message. For that matter, not many Republicans are either.

I think he geniunely believes there can be a modicum amount of unity because he himself has the ability to bring some folks together. But, that's old-school thinking.

Bottom line: he's too nice a guy

[Skya Rhen]

35. Old-school thinking that's keeping him flying high in the polls...

And yes, Joe is a nice guy...

[VarryOn]

41. Name recgnition isnt hurting, and...

Being a major team on one of the greatest American administrations ever is rightly helping. He's got a helluva resume! I wish he would have been the nominee the lat time. But alas, he chose not to run. One can hardly blame him; he certainly deserved a break!

The country would be quite fortunate to have him as President!

Notwithstanding the esteem in which I hold him, I still have yet to make him my choice. It's no knock against him. Rather,

[Demit]

36. "The people are not divided, it's our politics that's divided" is unrealistic in the extreme.

I don't know what he thinks to accomplish with statements like that.

[welivetotreadonkings]

43. Trump's approval rating amongst Republicans is solid.

He is a white supremacist and a misogynist. GOP voters love him for these reasons, whether they're conscious of it or not. We can unify with the few sane ones who reject Trump, maybe. But we cannot unify with white supremacists.

I had some problems with Hillary, but she was far more realistic about the Republican base than Biden is. They are depolorable.

[JI7]

45. Biden is a White Man so he is more acceptable to certain democratic leaning types with bigoted

feelings.

just look at how a majority of white women in pennsylvania support him over trump.

[JI7]

44. it's fine to be angry but Democratic Candidates usually don't win that way. Democrats usually win by

being positive.

while Beto did not win he did get an impressive turnout and it was by being positive. i believe Stacey ABrams actually did win but it was stolen in the open by the guy running against her . but she also ran a positive campaign.

it's one reason among many i would never run for public office.

[Blues Heron]

50. Tone deaf

It's like he hasn't been paying attention to what's happening.

[honest.abe]

51. This message will resonate with the general election electorate.

Although for sure many on our side wont like it. Its hard not be angry at what is going on now but being angry wont help much in a general election. I think this is the correct message.

[Gothmog]

55. We can be angry so long as we use the anger