Our nation’s choice could not be clearer.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden delivered his acceptance speech Thursday night, and he drew stark distinctions between the leader he plans to be and the current occupant of the White House.
Capping the fourth and final night of the virtual Democratic National Convention, Biden gave a hopeful message of a brighter future should he be elected. He promised to implement a national plan to fight COVID-19, including a mask mandate, and said he would rebuild the country better than in pre-virus days.
Throughout his 25-minute speech, given from his hometown of Wilmington, Del., Biden vacillated his tone from between a loving and caring grandfather to a fierce and frustrated fighter. At one moment, he showed empathy for the struggles of everyday Americans. The next, fury at the fiasco with which we are dealing, as a result of a selfish and incompetent president.
“I will draw on the best of us, not the worst,” Biden said. “I will be an ally of the light, not the darkness.”
Thursday’s program featured comedienne and former fictional vice president Julia Louis-Dreyfus, along with about a dozen prominent speakers, from senators, representatives and mayors, to a historian and a former surgeon general.
Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland, historian Jon Meacham, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg all urged Americans to vote for Biden.
When they were done, the former Vice President took the stage to address a nation facing what he described as a perfect storm of crises -- coronavirus, economic disaster, racial injustice and climate change -- all hitting us at once. And, unlike Donald Trump, he laid out plans to deal with them.
With regard to the nation’s most pressing issue, the virus, Biden said he would lead an immediate effort to develop and deploy rapid tests. This stands in contrast to the current president, who has said he wants to slow testing down.
Biden said he would give resources to schools so they can reopen safely. This stands in contrast to the current president, who wants to swing the doors open and let the chips fall where they may.
Biden said he would take the muzzle off scientific experts, so they can tell people the truth. This stands in contrast to the current president, who has smeared our nation’s top infectious disease scientist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, to the point where he has been forced to hire private security to protect himself and his family.
And, finally, Biden said he would implement a national mask mandate, “as a patriotic duty to protect one another.” This stands in contrast to the current president, who can barely be bothered to wear one himself.
“I’ll protect America,” Biden said. “I’ll defend us from every attack, seen and unseen.”
Biden went on to say he would strengthen the Affordable Care Act, as Donald Trump continues his fight to have it eliminated. Biden said he would protect Social Security, as Donald Trump tries to repeal the payroll tax, which would essentially destroy it.
Biden said he will protect immigrants, unlike Donald Trump, who has them deported and thrown into cages.
And Biden said he will support our allies and stop cozying up to dictators, unlike Donald Trump, who has turned a blind eye to Russia putting bounties on U.S. military personnel.
Throughout history, as Biden pointed out, America has made the most progress during its darkest hours. James Buchanan’s disastrous presidency led to Abraham Lincoln. Herbert Hoover’s feckless administration led to Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In 2020, there may be two choices on the ballot, but there is only one choice for a better America. An America in which our values and our democracy are restored. We must elect Joe Biden.
“Love is more powerful than hate,” he concluded. “Hope is more powerful than fear, and light is more powerful than dark. This is our moment. This is our mission. May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here, tonight.
“This is a battle we will win, and we’ll do it together.”
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