Last night, President Biden gave a speech on the precarious state of our democracy, starting with a description of the attack on Paul Pelosi. He reminded us that the words of the attacker, "Where's Nancy?", echoed the words used on January 6, 2021, words "used by the mob when they stormed the United States Capitol ... when they broke windows, kicked in the doors, brutally attacked law enforcement, roamed the corridors hunting for officials and erected gallows to hang ... Mike Pence." The crowd had been fomented by Donald Trump's repeating the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen; the lie that "fueled the dangerous rise in political violence and voter intimidation over the past two years."
Biden said Americans must "confront those lies with the truth," for "the very future of our nation depends on it. ... We must, with one overwhelming unified voice, speak as a country and say there's no place... no place for voter intimidation or political violence in America. Whether it's directed at Democrats or Republicans. No place, period. No place ever."
As Biden said, democracy itself is at stake in this election. He appealed "to all Americans, regardless of party, to meet this moment of national and generational importance." Democracy is not guaranteed, as Biden made explicit, echoing Lincoln: "Every generation has had to defend it, protect it, preserve it, choose it. For that's what democracy is. It's a choice, a decision of the people, by the people, and for the people."
"We the people must decide whether we will have fair and free elections and every vote counts. We the people must decide whether we're going to sustain a republic, where reality's accepted, the law is obeyed, and your vote is truly sacred. We the people must decide whether the rule of law will prevail or whether we will allow the dark forces and thirst for power put ahead of the principles that have long guided us."
Biden said Americans must "confront those lies with the truth," for "the very future of our nation depends on it. ... We must, with one overwhelming unified voice, speak as a country and say there's no place... no place for voter intimidation or political violence in America. Whether it's directed at Democrats or Republicans. No place, period. No place ever."
As Biden said, democracy itself is at stake in this election. He appealed "to all Americans, regardless of party, to meet this moment of national and generational importance." Democracy is not guaranteed, as Biden made explicit, echoing Lincoln: "Every generation has had to defend it, protect it, preserve it, choose it. For that's what democracy is. It's a choice, a decision of the people, by the people, and for the people."
"We the people must decide whether we will have fair and free elections and every vote counts. We the people must decide whether we're going to sustain a republic, where reality's accepted, the law is obeyed, and your vote is truly sacred. We the people must decide whether the rule of law will prevail or whether we will allow the dark forces and thirst for power put ahead of the principles that have long guided us."
Farflung friends: Please, please, please vote, and make sure everyone you know or care about is voting. Drive them to the polls. Harangue and harass them. Nag them and cajole them. (But don't bribe them, that's illegal).
Thanks and may democracy prevail.
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