MiraCosta College
San Diego, California
(November 3, 2022)
7:55 P.M. PDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks. (Applause.) Well, thanks, thanks, thanks.
Now, I even have to begin off — my mother can be very upset if I had my — you never have your back to someone whenever you speak. I apologize. My back goes to be to you. I apologize. But thanks.
Now, you may maintain all this, right, you guys? You’re going to maintain all of it? All right.
Well, folks, I inform you what — (applause) — it’s great to see such a beautiful crowd. Hello, Oceanside! (Applause.) Hello, hello, hello.
Well — (laughs) — it’s great to be with Congressman Levin. And, , they told me there have been something like 4 or five hundred who couldn’t get in.
(Sees audience member with IBEW t-shirt.) IBEW, yeah. (Applause.)
They couldn’t get in, they usually needed to go home. And now I understand why there wasn’t any room. (Laughter.)
Well, thanks very much. — , the very fact of the matter is that —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.) (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: It’s great to be with Congressman Mike. , this guy delivers. He delivers. He lowers costs for families, caring for our veterans, protecting the environment. These are big deals. Rebuilding our infrastructure, protecting Social Security and Medicare. (Applause.) And — and he’s fighting to guard democracy. (Applause.)
Look, we’d like to reelect Mike, and we’d like to reelect all of the Democrats who were mentioned for statehouse —
A Philly girl huh? She has her sign saying, “Philly Girl.” (Applause.)
And — but all kidding aside, , all of the state legislative races, all of the local races, they’re critically, critically, critically necessary. Not a joke. They’re going to find out whether our democracy is sustained. The opposite team is seeking to do some things that don’t allow for the way in which wherein we count our votes. They — things are different lately. And —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Bring Brittney Griner home!
THE PRESIDENT: I’m attempting to bring her home. And I’ve been talking to — (applause) — by the way in which, I’ve been talking with Brittney’s wife, and we’re in constant contact. We — we’re not giving up. I feel Mr. Putin — well, it’s an extended story. But I — (laughter) —
Well, look — look — by the way in which, our friends in Los Angeles, we’d like to elect Karen Bass, by the way in which, mayor. (Applause.)
Five days! Five days until one of the vital necessary elections in our lifetime. It’s going to shape our country for many years to come back. And that’s not hyperbole. The actual fact of the matter — we all the time say, “That is an important election,” but the reality of the matter is: This election — this off-year election goes to matter an awesome deal. It’s going to find out not what happens just next 12 months and the following couple years; it’s going to find out the direction of the country for no less than a decade or more. Not a joke.
A lot is changing, from technology to politics — across the board — the environment, every thing. It’s all at stake.
And folk, look, it is a alternative between — , they are saying — everybody talks a few referendum. It’s not a referendum. It is a alternative. A alternative between two fundamentally different versions of America.
I said from the start of my campaign, my objective after I ran was to construct — construct an economy from the underside up and the center out. And the basic shift — it’s working to check this — , in comparison with the MAGA trickle-down economics.
You saw what we got when that happened last, under my predecessor. No, I — no, I actually mean it. It’s necessary to remind ourselves of the detail. The actual fact of the matter is we were at 6.4 percent unemployment after I got here to office. Our country was in a pandemic with no plan to get us out of it. Two million people had been vaccinated, period.
So we moved. And with Mike’s help, we signed the American Rescue Plan. (Applause.) We delivered immediate — we did deliver immediate — immediate relief for folk who need it to get those vaccination shots of their arms. We got over 655 million of those shots to this point. (Applause.)
And, folks — and, , one in every of the the reason why the governor here — and the governor of all of the states — was capable of have — keep police on the force, keep firefighters on the force, keep teachers within the classroom is due to the laws we passed without one single Republican vote. It was all federal money that got here to the states to permit that to occur. And Mike helped make that occur. (Applause.)
He also helped — he also helped after I signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, probably the most significant investment in our nation’s infrastructure. (Applause.) Essentially the most significant because the Interstate Highway System that Eisenhower got here up with.
And I’ll caution you for only a minute. Look, folks, we used to have — we was once primary on the earth in infrastructure. We’ve moved all of the technique to number 28 on the earth. No, I’m serious. Give it some thought. It’s the means by which every thing works, every thing moves: our economy, our health, our services, across the board.
, what number of states do where there’s no water to drink that’s — that you could — states — cities and places where you’ve lead pipes? What number of kids are drinking out of fountains? 4 hundred thousand of them — places. And so, look, that is what it did; it did greater than just construct roads and highways and bridges.
, I used to be with the Indian Nations earlier today in — within the state of Recent Mexico. They got here as much as me and said, “Look, thanks very much. We’re going to have broadband for the primary time ever.” (Applause.)
And, look, it is also going to fundamentally improve the environment. One in every of the things Mike has really, really worked on is the environment. And one in every of the things we did — (applause) — we got here up with $66 billion to cope with rail.
Here’s the deal: , if people can move from one spot to a different on rail faster or as fast as they’ll do of their automobile, they stop using their automobile. It’s going to save lots of literally tens of hundreds of thousands of tons — tens of hundreds of thousands of tons of pollution that aren’t going to go up within the air because we’re going to construct — and, by the way in which, I do know a thing or two about rail. I traveled 250 miles — -58 miles a day. (Applause.) You’re thinking that I’m crazy. No, I’m not nuts.
But, , what happened was I got elected to america Senate after I was 29 years old. I used to be down in Washington. I couldn’t be sworn in yet, but I used to be down in Washington hiring a staff after I got a phone call saying that a tractor-trailer broadsided my wife and three kids Christmas shopping, and killed my wife and killed my daughter.
And I didn’t need to go to Washington, D.C. I didn’t want any a part of it. And we had a Democratic governor. And I believed we could find — I asked my brother, who ran my campaign with my sister, to seek out any individual who can be a progressive Democrat, because we were a reasonably conservative state on the time in Delaware.
And — and what happened was I got talked into — I remember Teddy Kennedy and a couple of others got here to me and said, “Look, Joe, just come and stay six months. We want your help.” We had 58 Democrats. They didn’t need me for anything. (Laughter.) And we had a Democratic governor.
So I began to take Amtrak backwards and forwards to Washington. And over one million miles later, I used to be still taking Amtrak. So I do know a couple of things — (applause) — I do know a couple of things about rail and high-speed rail.
The second busiest carridor [sic] in Amer- — cor- — corridor in America after the Northeast rail system is out here from San Diego to L.A. (Applause.) And since — due to the billions of dollars for rail and the law, and since of Mike’s leadership, we’re going to make sure that that the second busiest corridor in America connecting those two cities goes to be open and running for the long run — for the long run. (Applause.)
The law also includes $60 million that Mike got for the district to interchange a 100-year-old bridge, put money into water projects, address droughts, improve water supplies in the world. There’s a lot on this. This was a bill that has a billion — excuse me, “a billion.” Yeah, it does.
Poor lady is obstructing her ears. Am I too loud? (Laughter.)
And — but, , what we’re — what we’re talking about is we now have, literally, an awesome deal of cash to make ours a more modern infrastructure.
Tomorrow, Mike and I are going to be talking about how the groundbreaking CHIPS and Science Act goes to assist construct industries of the longer term. (Applause.)
, America invented semiconductors. They’re now a part of every thing from automobiles to quantum computing. That law has already attracted literally several hundred billion dollars here in America. Already, tens of hundreds of individuals to construct these chips here in America. As I said, we invented them, after which we walked away. We was once — we used to have a — , we’re — we were those that did all of the advanced studies on it.
Actually, Mike worked to get one million dollars for training for technical jobs, including at this faculty for these jobs. (Applause.)
I just got here down from Syracuse, Recent York, where I went to graduate school and where my first wife — my deceased wife — lived. And Micron is investing $100 billion — the largest investment of its kind ever in America. Since you’re going to create tens of hundreds — and — (applause) — what the common job goes to be in these factories? The typical job — $122,000 a 12 months. And also you don’t need a university degree to do it. (Applause.)
Just outside of Columbus, Ohio, we now have — went and announced the $20 billion to construct a semiconductor factory on a thousand acres in a field of dreams. The overwhelming majority of those jobs, as I said, pay between 120- and 130,000 dollars.
With Mike’s help, I signed the Inflation Reduction Act to bring down the price of every thing you discuss across the kitchen table — (applause) — with no single, solitary Republican vote within the House or the Senate. Not one single Republican supported it.
In Congress, we took on Big Pharma, and we beat them. We beat them. (Applause.) They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to attempt to lobby us. I’m not joking. I’ve been on this fight for over 30 years attempting to take them on.
Folks, look, the very fact of the matter is we’re capping seniors’ out-of-pocket costs for prescribed drugs, starting January 1st, at $2,000 a 12 months. Even when it costs them $20,000 a 12 months, they’re not going to need to pay greater than $2,000 a 12 months. (Applause.) And a few of these cancer drugs are 10-, 12-, $14,000.
If Big Pharma continues to boost drug prices faster than inflation, guess what? They’re going to have to put in writing a check for — to Medicare for the difference. (Applause.) No, not a joke. They raised the worth of 1,200 drugs last 12 months — 1,200 with no single change within the makeup of the drug.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: Folks, look, we spend extra money on prescription drug — the identical prescription drug, made by the identical company sold in San Diego; Washington, D.C.; Paris; or in Berlin — they pay significantly less in Paris and Berlin for a similar exact drug, same company. And, folks, look, we’re going to place a stop to that.
We’re also capping — (applause) — I bet an awful lot of individuals who need insulin for — for diabetes. Well, guess what? You’re — you’re paying, depending on where you reside, somewhere between 400 bucks a month and $1,000 a month. Well, guess what? They’re not going to give you the chance to charge you greater than $35 a month. (Applause.)
And why? It costs them $10 to make that drug. Ten! They make a major profit.
And, by the way in which, , we’re in a situation where we’re making the largest investment ever to cope with climate crisis.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: I do know that’s right! (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: That’s right. You bought it, man. And that is one in every of the leaders right — where — where the hell is he? Ah- — (laughter) — he was right there. Anyway.
But all kidding aside, $398 billion. And, hey, guess what? It’s going to make an enormous difference — a huge difference.
Look, it includes tax credits to assist families buy energy-efficient appliances, put solar panels on your house, assist you to buy — (applause) — assist you to buy electric vehicles, weatherize your house. Things that may save, the experts say, a median of $500 a 12 months, in line with experts.
By the way in which, I — my dad used to run an ag- — an automobile agency. He never owned it. We were — I got the dubious distinction — I — we — I grew up in a pleasant neighborhood. And — nevertheless it was, , a three-bedroom house, split-level home, for youths and a grandpop living with us and really thin partitions. God bless my parents. (Laughter.)
But all kidding aside, my dad ran an automobile agency. He was the final manager for a very long time. And what? The concept I —
So I asked all of the CEOs of the key American aut- — major American automobile firms come to the White House. And that is the time that, it’s possible you’ll remember, the Chairman of the Board of General Motors, Mary Barra, was suing the state of California for having an ordinary higher for emissions than the remainder of the country, and saying it was not — we had an extended talk. And per week later she called me, and she or he said, “I’m — we’re dropping the suit. And guess what? We’re going to go all electric, and we’re going to provide 50 — all electric.” (Applause.)
And, by the way in which, I could go on. There’s so many things that Mike helped me get done, help us get done. I’m not only being solicitous. It’s a fact. He did.
We’re doing all this while we’re doing — , the Republicans discuss “big spendin’ Democrats”? Well, give me a break. (Laughter.) We’re spending quite a lot of money on good things. But guess what? We brought down the deficit this 12 months — (applause) — 1 trillion 400 billion dollars. We cut it in half. (Applause.) We cut it in half. And, by the way in which, the primary 12 months in office, I cut it $350 billion. (Applause.)
And these are the blokes, in the event you recall, that passed the $2 trillion tax cut. They didn’t pay a penny of it for anything. And guess what? It went to 2 percent of the general public.
Folks, look, I’m drained — I’ve had it as much as here with hearing them. (Applause.)
And we’re going to further reduce the deficit by over — in the following decade — over $250 billion more. An enormous a part of that’s because we’re making the largest corporations begin to pay a bit bit. (Applause.)
, I really like this. I like it. , within the 12 months 2000, there have been 55 of the Fortune 500 firms that made $40 billion. how much they paid in tax? Zero. Zero.
So I imposed that they had to — I passed a law that said that they had to pay 15 percent. In the event you’re a schoolteacher, you pay greater than 15 percent. Just 15 percent. Just 15 percent. They usually’re whining. They’re squealing like what. Give me a break.
Folks, and for this reason deficit reduction, we were capable of ease the burden on student debt. (Applause.) I promised after I ran, I’d help student debt — hardworking folks. Well, guess what? We’ve re- — you get $10,000 relief and one other $10,000 in the event you went to varsity on a Pell Grant for folk — (applause) — for folk making under 125 grand a 12 months.
And on top of all that, I’m going to be — with — gone away with unfair — eliminating unfair hidden fees. Hastily, you’re checking out — you’re — we call them “junk fees.” Okay? Well, guess what? , you bought a — you bounce a check, you get a $35 cost. You’re not told that ahead of time. You were late in your bank card payment — 50 bucks penalty.
You go — you’re going to fly to satisfy your parents back east or wherever they could live, and you’ve to get in a plane and you are taking along your kid. You’re going to seek out out you bought a hell of a charge to have your child sit next to you. Not a joke. Your baggage cost goes to be significant. And, by the way in which, if the plane is late and you’ve to get a recent ticket, you’re not going to receives a commission for it.
So these are all — these are all hidden fees. No more. (Applause.) No more.
And, by the way in which, , in the method — within the strategy of all —
(Addresses an audience member.) I can’t read what you’re saying, kid; I’ll take a look at you later. Okay? (Laughter.) I do not know what it says. He’s holding up a paper that has small print on it. I’m pretty good, but I —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: “Thanks for having a stutter.”
AUDIENCE MEMBER: “Thanks for having a stutter.”
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, God love you. (Applause.)
Well, let me inform you: , one in every of the things that — that I discovered: Once I was a child up until, quite frankly, I used to be in college, I used to stutter. And stutter is a very debilitating thing because people make — it’s the one — if I told you I grew up and I had a cleft palate and it was fixed, nobody would laugh. If I told you that I grew up and I had a clubfoot and was fixed, nobody would laugh. But after I say, which is true, I used to ta- ta- ta- talk — talk like that wh- wh- wh- after I w- wa- was a child. It’s awful hard to ask the girl, “Will you go to the p- pr- pr- prom with me?”
AUDIENCE: Awww —
THE PRESIDENT: And it sounds funny, but guess what? It makes you’re feeling like an idiot. And it’s —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: I really like you, Mr. President!
AUDIENCE MEMBER: You’re not, Joe!
THE PRESIDENT: And, by the way in which — by the way in which — (applause) — I say to any stutter: It cannot define you. It’ll not define you. Period. (Applause.)
There’s 35 kids that I keep in touch with. Remember the young man at my — who nominated me? What courage it took for him. He’s a serious stutterer. , did you ever see the movie, “The King’s Speech”?
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Yeah!
THE PRESIDENT: Well, the guy who actually managed that, he got a duplicate of the speech that the King used when he made that famous speech about World War Two — in regards to the Germans. And he showed me. And he did exactly what I do. In the event you take a look at my speeches, there’s hashmarks along.
You learn — in the event you notice, individuals who can sing, they — a few of them are terrible stutterers, since you got to get something down before you may begin to work on it.
And so that they sent me a duplicate of the speech after it was throughout — that.
And so, look, folks, I don’t need to get off on this, but the reality of the matter is there’s quite a lot of people — quite a lot of people in America — not only stutter — who need some confidence-building measures, must give you the chance to — across the board. And what’s that? That’s much more necessary, in my opinion now, as a consequence of what happened during all the COVID crisis.
There’s more need for — how can I say it? — for mental assistance than any time in American history. (Applause.)
But, look, here’s the deal: Economic growth is up. Price inflation is down. Real incomes are up. Gas prices are down. We got to get them down further here in California.
And experts are all — exports are also up. The rationale why exports are up is — guess what? — we made 700,000 manufacturing jobs here in America just since I’ve been President. (Applause.)
And guess what? As an alternative of us — as a substitute of us sending overseas staff to receives a commission less — sending jobs overseas, so that they’d pay less, we’re sending product overseas. (Applause.) No, I’m serious. It’s that basic. It’s that basic.
Where is it written that we are able to’t be the manufacturing capital of the world again? Where is that written? (Applause.)
And, folks, another thing: I do know folks here understand, as a nation, we now have many obligations, but I’ve been saying this since I made a decision to run for President — excuse me, decided to run for the Senate after I was 29 — we only have one truly sacred obligation: to organize those we send into harm’s way and look after them and their families once they come home. (Applause.)
Well, up till now, we now have been meeting that obligation. Up until now, families — you — we used to select up the phone. More people — more military, retired and/or active-duty military, dying of suicide than some other reason. More. More, more.
Well, in the event that they pick up the phone and call the VA and say, “I want help. I want help.” They usually say, “Well, in about 4 days, you may come on in.” Guess what? We, in actual fact, decided to repair that. We’re fully funding the VA now. (Applause.)
And look — look, , we now have an obligation to those moms, fathers, children of the veterans on the market.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Oorah!
THE PRESIDENT: They’re — no, I mean it. You’re the very backbone and sinew of this nation. One percent of America defends the opposite 99 percent of us. (Applause.) One percent. And we owe them. (Applause.)
And so, , we discovered that quite a lot of — quite a lot of our soldiers — more persons are getting back from Iraq, Afghanistan with serious brain injuries and tumors than some other war in American history. Apart from the Civil War, ma- — more amputees are coming back than in any wars in American history.
And people burn pits — those burn pits —
(Audience members delay cellphones with “Free Iran” on the screens.)
Don’t worry, we’re going to free Iran. They’re going to free themselves pretty soon — (applause) — I see that.
But here’s the deal — (applause) — here’s the deal: A burn pit is larger than the scale of a football field, an enormous rectangle, between 8 to 10 feet deep. And every thing is poured in that, from jet fuel to waste to every thing else, and it’s burned. It’s burned.
And similar to all those folks in 9/11 that were in that — putting out those fires, so many died — so many due to what they inhaled.
Well, we finally got here up with a — , a — and Mike knows this well; he chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee. (Applause.) Mike helped — Mike helped me pass — and I signed the — it’s called the PACT Act, probably the most significant law in our nation’s history, to assist hundreds of thousands of veterans who were exposed to toxic substances, like these burn pits that incinerate wastes of war, poisonous chemicals, jet fuel. (Applause.)
But let me inform you something: I’ve been out and in of Iraq and Afghanistan over 38 times as a senator and as a Vice President. My son was the attorney general of the state of Delaware. My son was National Guard. My son had to provide up his job as attorney general because you possibly can either work for the state or the federal government to go together with his unit to Iraq. He spent a 12 months in Iraq. But his hooch was only about 300 yards from a burn pit. He got here home with Stage 4 glioblastoma. He made it about nine months longer than (inaudible), but there was no cure and he died.
Well, guess what? Up until this law passed, for my son’s family and for many who come home who need assistance still physically or no help in any respect, finally — finally, finally, finally they’re entitled to have full medical care — (applause) — and the youngsters of those veterans who died are going to get help to go to highschool; going to get help for all times insurance to give you the chance to be taken care of.
And that — and Mike did a lot to get that passed. We got little or no help from other places. But he stood up with me, and he got it done. This guy — this guy knows what he’s doing. (Applause.)
Because that PACT Act empowers the Department of Veterans Affairs to find out more quickly if a veteran’s illness is expounded to toxic exposure. And for families of veterans who died from that exposure, it means monthly stipends, life insurance, tuition advantages.
And, by the way in which, the American Rescue Plan invested $17 billion in veterans’ healthcare and mental care, suicide prevention — (applause) — to cope with the undeniable fact that more veterans die by suicide than in battle.
And, folks, another thing we did together — we passed probably the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years. (Applause.)
Once I was a senator, I wrote and got passed the assault weapons ban. I’m going to do it again. I’m going to do it again.
Look, the underside line is that this: We made quite a lot of progress over the past 20 months, nevertheless it wouldn’t have been made without Mike’s leadership.
The overwhelming majority of progress made with no single vote from a single Republican. Some bipartisan. We got some assistance on the —
Look, by the way in which, there’s an awesome article that was printed back east, and it was that — and it said all those guys who voted against the — the infrastructure bill, standing there with a shovel saying, “We’ve got this bridge being built here,” they voted against it. (Laughter.) No, I’m serious. Not a joke. Not a joke.
But, — but I said after I ran and I got elected President, I’d be the senator — excuse me — the — go from being a senator to a President for all of the people. And so simply because they got a horse’s tail for a congressman, I’m not going to disclaim them the flexibility to get the assistance. (Applause.)
Look, there’s more to do and more we are able to get done. But ask yourself, “What’s the Republican platform?” Not a joke.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Nothing!
THE PRESIDENT: Well, guess what? The reality is you don’t need to — you don’t need to ask. They’re saying it out loud.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: I really like you, Mr. President!
THE PRESIDENT: (Laughs.) No, well — I would like to say — (laughter) — they’re not bad.
The House Republican Leader, Kevin McCarthy, within the Home is —
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: — and his fellow MAGA Republicans said his number-one priority is to provide the ability back to Big Pharma.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: No, he desires to get rid of all things we did. Over. He desires to make sure that that they proceed to tear us off. Every little thing we just talked about. The $2,000 cap, the $35 cap on insulin, tax credits for lower energy bills, 15 percent corporate tax — all gone. They’re saying it up front.
As an alternative of helping hundreds of thousands of working- and middle-class individuals with —
And with student debt, by the way in which, they’re suing me, attempting to block relief. (Laughter.) No, not a joke. Who the hell do they think they’re? (Applause.)
Look, by the way in which, an article published — the very people who find themselves saying things like — and I won’t go into all of the — I’m keeping you too long since you’re standing. I apologize.
But look, you’ve — you’ve an entire lot of parents on the market who’re talking about how it is a waste of cash. And you’ve Ted Cruz saying, “That is an outrage.” All these items. Well, guess what? They said they’re — we’re giving it to individuals who don’t deserve it, et cetera — in the coed relief. But guess what? They’ve quite a lot of these members of the Congress that got significant payment from the PPP program — this system that said once they lost their business within the — .
One in every of them — one in every of them got back 2,100,000 bucks. The identical guy that’s beaten the hell out of me because I’m attempting to help individuals with their student debt.
One other one — , what’s that woman’s name?
AUDIENCE: Marjorie Taylor Greene!
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, Marjorie Taylor Greene.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: Her husband got 170,000 bucks back.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: No, I’m serious. They usually have the gall and audacity. Ugh, anyway. (Laughter.)
Look, I just need to — yesterday, or I suppose it’s — yeah — today, the third: GO- — the front page in Recent York Times: “GOP Signals Plans to Shrink Social Security.”
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: That is real stuff now. Not a joke. It says, “Risk to the protection net energizes Democrats.” Well, we sure are energized. And it’s by Jim Tankersley. He says Congress — “Congressional Republicans eyeing the midterm election victory that would hand them control of the House and Senate have embraced plans to scale back federal spending on Social Security and Medicare, including cutting advantages for a number of the retirees and raising retirement age” for the nets for each programs. And it goes on.
After which you’ve the guy who heads up the campaign committee for — reelect Republican senators, a man named Tim Scott, of Florida.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: I mean, Rick Scott. Excuse me. Rick Scott.
I blew up — it says — that is their program. One in every of the programs says: All federal laws sunsets in five years. If a law is price keeping, Congress can pass it again.
So, every five years, in the event that they win — not a joke; they’re saying it out loud — every five years, in the event that they win, every one in every of these so-called entitlement programs — and, by the way in which, you paid on your Social Security, okay? Okay? (Applause.) In the event you don’t vote it into law again, it goes away. No, not a joke. Every five years it’s going to completely eliminate the system in the event that they don’t vote for it, in the event that they have the votes to not vote for it. In other words, if it goes out of existence, if Congress doesn’t vote to maintain it. Isn’t that wonderful?
After which along got here a senator from Wisconsin named Ron Johnson.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: Bless me, Father, for I even have sinned. (Laughter.)
He thinks — not a joke — he thinks five years is just too long. He thinks Social Security and Medicare must be on the chopping block each 12 months, which implies — I’m not making this up — if Congress doesn’t vote to maintain it, it goes away.
But he doesn’t want just Social Security and Medicare on, he desires to put veterans’ advantages and every thing else within the federal budget in danger. So you’ve to vote for it again, every program, or this system is gone. It’s amazing.
Now Republicans are saying if we won’t cooperate, if I won’t vote, if I won’t help them cut Social Security and Medicare between the time we return in session after the election and the top of the 12 months, guess what? They’re threatening to renege on the national debt. No, I’m not joking. That’s what they’ve said.
As my youngest granddaughter would say, “Google it.” (Laughter.)
You might remember, after I was Vice President, I used to be asked to settle this same thing that was happening with Mitch McConnell on the time. So, I spent all the day and evening, Recent 12 months’s Eve day. We finally reached an agreement, they usually backed off and didn’t do it. But guess what? The credit standing of america was diminished, being — though we didn’t do it, because we just talked about it.
Folks, look, there’s nothing — nothing that may create more chaos and more damage to the American economy than this.
Look, folks, it’s not only the economy. The Republicans in Congress, led by South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham —
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: — already introduced laws for a national ban on the suitable of a lady to decide on.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: States are already considering bans — have already voted for a few of them. Notwithstanding, it’s a consequence of rape, incest, or the lifetime of the mother is at stake. Not a joke. what’s happening. Seventeen states, I feel, to this point.
And in the event that they gain control of the Congress, they plan on passing a national — nationwide ban on abortion across the board, because now the Supreme Court says there’s no right to privacy within the Structure; it’s as much as the states — which implies it’s as much as the Congress and affect all of the states.
But guess what? In the event that they do it, I’m going to veto the sucker. (Applause.)
But — but when we elect — if we elect more Democrats to the Senate and keep control of the House, we’re going to codify Roe v. Wade because the law. (Applause.) Make it the law of the land.
Folks, look, last night — I spoke last night on national television about democracy. I said democracy is on the ballot. Numerous the press asked the legitimate query, “Why am I talking about democracy?” No, I’m — not a joke. “Why is that a difficulty?”
Well, the explanation I’m talking about it’s it’s 70 percent of the American people in a single poll think democracy is in danger without delay. There’s an excessive amount of political violence. There’s an excessive amount of intimidation. There are greater than 300 election deniers on the Republican tickets this 12 months for state, federal, and native government.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: No, no. I mean — I mean, this is actually serious stuff.
If a Republican nominee for — in Cong- — for governor within the state of Wisconsin wins, here’s what he said. He said, “If I win, my party won’t ever lose one other election in Wisconsin.” Now, he’s either a prophet or he plans on doing something about election law.
No, they’re attempting to suppress the suitable to vote and subvert entire elections. We are able to’t let that occur. (Applause.)
Look, folks, it’s real easy. You possibly can’t call yourself a democracy or supporting democratic principles in the event you say, “The one election that’s fair is the one I win.” No, I’m serious. That’s what’s being said. You possibly can’t try this.
And how will you call yourself a democracy when you’ve a bunch of a thousand people storm america Capitol, break the windows and doors down, two policemen die as a consequence of it, break through the House and Senate doors and chambers, have people cowering on the ground threatening to kill people?
You saw what happened to Paul Pelosi and the hassle to get to — get to Nancy. Well, guess what? What do they call these guys? What does Trump and all his Trumpies call it? No, he — he said they’re “patriots.”
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: No, no, no, no, no. Not a joke. These are patriots.
, my whole profession I’ve worked in foreign policy, and I’ve known every major head of state for the last 25 years. Once I was Vice President, the President and asked me to do an awful lot of the foreign policy and travel around the globe.
And after I became President and I went to the primary, what they call, G7 meeting — the seven largest democracies on the earth — economies — and I sat down and I said, “America is back,” and one in every of the presidents — (applause) — well, by the way in which, one in every of the presidents said to me, I feel it was Macron, checked out me and he said, “For a way long?”
After which I got — I feel it was Scholz — I’m not positive who the second — says, “Imagine, Joe, if in actual fact you went to bed tonight here in England, woke up within the morning and discovered that the British Parliament was attacked and killed two cops, broke down the doors of the Parliament, went into the House of Representatives, and stopped the House and to stop an election end result. What would you’re thinking that? What would you’re thinking that?”
What do you’re thinking that we’d think? We’d think, “Oh my God, what’s happening?” After which, if those folks were called “patriots,” what does that say? I’m not joking. That is deadly earnest.
The rationale I made that speech last night is we’re going into an election. And you’ve all these people saying they don’t accept the end result of the last one, they usually’re not guaranteeing they’ll accept the end result of this one. How does that — how does that represent anything remotely approaching a democracy?
Well, look, folks, let me close with this. I said this election is just not a referendum; it’s a alternative — a basic alternative.
So, I call on Democrats, when every thing is at stake, and mainstream Republicans and independents to come back together to satisfy this moment. I really consider — (applause) — I actually mean it. I feel, due to the basic changes which have taken place in technology, communications —
I mean, consider it: When Gutenberg invented the printing press, it modified politics internationally, in Europe — going throughout the phone, the telegraph, television, radio — the way it modified things. Well, look what’s happened. Look what’s happened now. Where are the editors? Where are the editors of anything that’s on what you get — and where do most individuals get their news lately? They get it on the Web.
And so, folks, look, we set to work it out. We set to work it out. And the very fact of the matter is that we’re just getting began, but we are able to achieve this much — a lot good thing that we are able to do. We are able to make this nation a greater place than it’s been. We are able to make sure that it’s guaranteed for the following two, three, 4 generations.
But when we don’t — if we don’t, ask yourself the rhetorical query: What happens if, figuratively speaking, there’s one other event like what happened within the Capitol in response to an election? What does that do?
But I’m optimistic, because we’re on the verge of a lot significant change. And, by the way in which, I feel the overwhelming majority — (applause) — I’m not talking about all Republicans. There’s some really —
Look, I — for the longest time — remember, I got criticized after I was running for the President, because I said I used to be running for 3 reasons: One, to revive the soul of this country and decency, honor. (Applause.) Two, to rebuild the backbone of this country, which is the center class and hardworking folks. (Applause.) And three, to unite the country.
Well, the press legitimately identified that the times when Biden was generally known as the guy who was an even bigger uniter in america Congress, they’re gone. He doesn’t understand. They’re gone. They’re over. You possibly can’t do it anymore.
Well, folks, if we are able to’t unite this country, we got a huge problem. No democracy could be sustained without the informed consent of the people and everybody joining. Not a joke.
And we used to — within the old days, after I was a United States senator, we’d argue like hell with each other, disagree fundamentally, and go right down to the Senate dining room and have lunch together. Because we disagreed on the problems, but we agreed on the notion that the institutions matter.
Well, the institutions are under full-blown attack from the — I’m already being told, in the event that they win back the House and Senate, they’re going to question me. I don’t know what the hell they’ll impeach me for. (Laughter.)
No, I — I’m not joking.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: After which — no, no — after which, recently they said, “We should always stop talking about that until we win.” (Laughter.)
Well, all kidding aside, give it some thought. A lot is at stake, but there’s so — I’ve never been more optimistic in my life in regards to the prospects of this country. Never, never, never, never. (Applause.) I mean it.
I promised — I promised I might never mention their names, and I’ll keep my word. I never will. But six different Republican senators who I used to serve with got here to me — that is now five months ago almost — to inform me they agreed with me but they’re afraid to vote with me because they knew they’d lose a primary, and the Trumpies would go after them.
Well, by the way in which, , it’s — it’s a reality. And, by the way in which, there’s some Democrats like that too. Don’t get — there’s quite a lot of Democrats who wouldn’t ca- — who would cave if, in actual fact, they thought they’re going to lose their job. So, let’s not — , let’s be honest with each other.
But the purpose is, I still consider the overwhelming majority of Democrats, Republicans, and independents still consider in these institutions. I actually do. (Applause.)
One in every of the explanations I do is because all those voters between the ages of 18 and 30 years of age, they’re the most effective educated, they’re probably the most informed — not a joke — they’re probably the most informed, they’re probably the most generous, they usually’re probably the most engaged. And I’m counting on them showing up and voting. (Applause.)
We’ve got to recollect who in God’s name we’re. We’re america of America, for God’s sake. (Applause.) There’s nothing — not a single thing on the earth we are able to’t do if we do it together. Not one single thing.
Folks, I spent quite a lot of time — more time with Xi Jinping than some other head of state. Over 68 hours with him, either in person or on the phone — excuse me, 78 hours; 68 of them in person — over the past 10 years. I’ve traveled 17,000 miles with him.
We’re on the Tibetan Plateau and he turned to me, and he said, “Are you able to define America for me?” And I said, “Yes, one word: possibilities. Possibilities.” (Applause.)
We consider anything is feasible. We actually do.
So, folks, let’s make sure that we win this election. Get out the vote! We got to win. Vote, vote, vote! (Applause.)
May God bless you all, and should God protect our troops.
Thanks, thanks, thanks. (Applause.)
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