In an almost half-hour speech where he outlined how the 2022 elections next week are a pivotal point for the "soul of the country" and the future of Democracy in America, President Joe Biden called on the majority of the American People to defeat the loud voices of election big lie denialism, voter intimidation, and political violence exposed by the Trump-MAGA forces at the ballot box on November 8.
Starting with the recounting of the attack last week on Paul Pelosi, the husband of the Speaker of the House, with the perpetrator asking, like the Domestic Terrorists on January 6, 2021 "Where is Nancy," while he physically assaulted his victim, smashing his skull with a hammer, Biden squarely blamed what happened on Mr. Pelosi, the events on January 6, and the numerous attempts of voter intimidation (including death threats) on both election workers, state officials, and people looking to exercise their Constitutional right to cast a ballot, on his predecessor, Mr. Trump, and the Big Lie he has consistently regurgitated to his devoted fringe base over the last two years because "he refuses to accept the will of the American People. He refuses to accept that he lost."
President Biden said: "...This intimidation, this violence against Democrats, Republicans, and Nonpartisan officials just doing their jobs are the consequence of lies all for power and profit, lies of conspiracy and malice. Lies repeated over and over to generate a cycle of anger, hate, vitriol, and even violence. In this moment, we have to confront those lies with the truth. The very future of our nation depends on it. My fellow Americans. We're facing a defining moment. An inflection point. We must with one overwhelming unified voice, speak as a country and say there's no place for voter intimidation or political violence in America..."
After mentioning all the major issues in this midterm like the economy, personal (reproductive freedom,) and public safety, the President reminded Americans of the other fundamental issue that the majority of the nation's citizens are concerned about "Democracy itself" and the recognition that it, along with the other issues "is on the ballot this year."
Calling the people to action, Mr. Biden continued appealing to "all Americans, regardless of party, to meet this moment of national and generational importance. We must vote knowing what's at stake and not just the policy of the moment but institutions that have held us together as we sought a More Perfect Union are also at stake. We must vote knowing who we have been and what we are at risk of becoming...freedom is not free...We the people must decide whether we will have fair and free elections and every vote counts (He rightfully later called the right to vote sacred.) We the people must decide whether we're going to sustain a Republic where reality is accepted, the law is obeyed, and your vote is truly sacred. We the people must decide if the rule of law will prevail or if will we allow the dark forces that thirst for power put ahead of the principles that have guided us..."
The President continued his attacks on Mr. Trump, more or less calling him a traitor for wanting people to pledge loyalty to him (like a Fuhrer) instead of the Constitution.
He also reminded the people that all the accusations and claims about the 2020 election, including numerous recounts (where the MAGA Cyber Ninja One in Maricopa County gave Biden more votes) were examined and refuted.
Mr. Biden also expressed the worry that these same election deniers from 2020, about 300 of whom are now running for vital offices across the country, including Governor and Secretary of State, were already sowing doubt about the coming November 8 elections next week and the ones in the future. The President said:
"The Maga (Trump) Republicans...are trying to succeed where they failed in 2020: to suppress the right of voters and subvert the electoral system itself...We can't ignore the impact this is having on our country. It's damaging. It's corrosive and it's destructive...It's not about me. It's about all of us. It's about what makes America America. It's about the durability of our Democracy...We must in this moment dig deep within ourselves and recognize that we can't take Democracy for granted any longer... "
At the end of his address, the President said that this noncommitment from these Trump-MAGA Republicans to accept the election results if they lose is "the path to chaos in America. It's unprecedented. It's unlawful and it's UnAmerican. As I've said before, you can't love your country only when you win."
He also warned that America is at the focal point between the "soul of America itself" and "the covenant of Democracy" and the self-serving appetite of those who embrace autocracy, saying that despite previous periods of anger and division, that "we've never given up on the American Experiment and we can't do that now" and that this was another moment in history to choose to "preserve Democracy again."
Making another call to action, President Biden asked the American People to treat the right to vote as what it is: sacred and should be counted at all times. Furthermore, he implored everyone to condemn and speak out against voter intimidation and political violence, saying "we don't settle our differences in America with a riot or a mob, or a bullet, or a hammer. We settle them peacefully at the ballot box. We have to be honest with ourselves. We have to face this problem. We can't turn away from it. We can't pretend it's just going to solve itself."
The President also called out those (without naming individuals who are beholden to the Cult of Trump) who have looked to justify or explain away these acts of voter intimidation and political violence, expressing his belief that these people are "a distinct minority in America but they're loud and they are determined. We have to be more determined. All of us who reject political violence and voter intimidation and I believe that's the overwhelming majority of the American People. All of us must make it absolutely clear that violence and intimidation have no place in America."
He also reminded the American People of the possibilities for everyone in a Democracy, as opposed to the autocracy the Trump Republicans envisage) where "every person is sacred...every person's rights must be sacred as well. Individual dignity, individual worth, and individual determination. That's America. That's Democracy and that's what we have to defend..."
Mr. Biden then cautioned everyone that some of the election results may not be known for days because of the counting of mail-in ballots and, in many cases, the closeness of the electoral contests. The President said, "it's important for the citizen to be patient as well. That's how this is supposed to work."
In his closing comments, the President hoped that "you'll make the future of our Democracy an important part of your decision to vote and how you'll vote" and suggested that the voters ask all candidates running in their state or district if they would accept the legitimate outcome of the election if they lose, saying "the answer to that question hangs the future of the country we love so much and the fate of the Democracy that has made so much possible for us...it is within our power to preserve our Democracy...You have the power. It's your choice! It's your decision. The fate of the nation! The fate of the soul of America! It lies where it always does. With the people. In your hands and your ballot. We'll meet this moment. We just need to remember who we are. We are the United States of America. There's nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together."
If you have not already voted by mail, please remember to turn out and vote by November 8, 2022. It may also be possible for you to turn in your ballot at your voting precinct.
Please do your part to protect Democracy and the Soul of America.
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