President-elect Joe Biden spoke at a car rally in Georgia on Tuesday in support of Democratic candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. Biden’s message focused on how the nation would achieve progress and unity through Warnock and Ossoff, and how the nation would continue to fail under incumbent Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.
The lineup of opening statements included failed gubernatorial candidate and Democratic activist Stacey Abrams; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; and Congresswoman-elect Nekima Williams. Both Warnock and Ossoff also took the stage before Biden.
In his opening remarks, Biden commended Abrams at length for her work to increase voter turnout in Georgia. He also thanked those in attendance.
“Let me start with two simple words: thank you. Thank you for turning out in record numbers for the election. Thank you for putting the faith in me and Vice President-elect Harris,” stated Biden. “Thank you for standing strong and making sure your votes were counted, and counted, and counted again. I’m starting to feel like I won Georgia three times. I have to say it feels pretty good. You know, I think all of you just taught Donald Trump a lesson.”
Biden criticized Loeffler and Perdue for supporting challenges to the general election’s integrity, including their backing of the Texas lawsuit to overturn the election in Georgia.
“They fully embraced nullifying nearly 5 million Georgia votes. You might want to remember that, come January 5,” warned Biden. “I’m trying to be generous here, in the spirit of the season. Maybe your senators were just confused. Maybe they think they represent Texas. If you want to do the bidding of Texas, maybe you should be running for Texas, not Georgia.”
Over 4.8 million individuals cast votes in Georgia during the general election. Biden asserted that the upcoming runoff election was a life-or-death event.
“The lives of Georgian still depend on what you’re doing. Yes, you still need to vote as if your life depends on it, because it does,” stated Biden. “There’s no – no one. That’s not one reason here why you should wait to vote. So don’t wait!”
Then, Biden blamed Loeffler and Perdue for the lack of agreement in Congress over a second coronavirus relief bill.
“Look what’s happening right now in the Congress. The United States Senate should’ve passed the Coronavirus and Economic Relief package months ago. People are hurting,” stated Biden. “What’s the United States Senate doing? Nothing.”
However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) explained that the Democrats were waiting until Biden took office before agreeing to the stimulus package.
Biden promised that the Democratic win in the two Senate seats would spur action to improve voting rights, health care, criminal rights, racial justice, and climate change.
Biden accused Loeffler and Perdue of being “roadblocks” that were “just in the way” who don’t support COVID-19 economic relief.
Biden’s speech became garbled as he discussed Ossoff’s potential contributions to Georgians.
“A husband’s wife is a doctor at Emory. Seeing this pandemic on the front lines. A fresh voice that will only do the work of the people. Who will always put the interests first. And the only person’s interest, in fact, of the people of Georgia,” he said. “That’s what he does. That’s his heart. Jon will always be for there -you – there for you. And I promise you, and he’ll be there for the rest of the country as well. Jon, I’m looking forward to working with you, man. I really am.”
Biden compared Warnock to Dr. Martin Luther King, calling him “a man of God.” He asserted that the two candidates aligned with his campaign’s focus on character.
“Well, electing people of character is how you restore the soul of America. People like Jon and Raphael and it matters,” Biden said. “They know public service isn’t about them. It’s about you.”
At that point, Biden’s words slurred again as he testified on how the two candidates presented qualities that were good for the country.
Biden shifted the topic to discuss the coronavirus. He remarked that he empathized with the amount of losses faced this year.
“I know how especially hard it is this time of year when you look across the table and see that empty chair at Christmas or New Year’s,” stated Biden. “My heart goes out to all of you who’ve lost a loved one, who’ve gotten sick or are suffering from the disease. Yet, in this darkness you finally got some good news with this vaccine approval. Still, it’s going to take time and money to scale up the manufacturing, distribution, and the element of injection of the vaccine.”
Then, Biden addressed the country, telling viewers that they need to unify with his administration.
“It really is time to leave the anger, and bitter politics of division behind us. It’s time for us to come together as a country and start delivering on what we have to get done for the people of America. This is the United States of America. And, but, it’s ready to act. So send Jon and Raphael to Washington,” the president-elect said.
Biden finished his speech by promising that American’s lives would be exponentially better under the leadership of him, Warnock, and Ossoff.
“The only thing that can tear America apart is America itself,” he concluded. “So let’s choose hope over fear, unity over division, science over fiction. And yes, truth over lies.”
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Joe Biden” by Joe Biden.
