OBAMA: REJECT CYNICISM, FEAR AND VOTE FOR HILLARY
PHILADELPHIA — President Obama urged Democrats to reject Donald Trump’s dark world view of “cynicism” and “fear” and crowned Hillary Clinton as the sole successor able to carry on his legacy during a prime-time speech here last night.
“I’m ready to pass the baton and do my part as a private citizen,” Obama said.
“This year, in this election, I’m asking you to join me to reject cynicism, reject fear, to summon what’s best in us — to elect Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States, and show the world we still believe in the promise of this great nation. Thank you for this incredible journey,” Obama said. “Let’s keep it going.”
The two-term president called his onetime fierce Democratic rival the most qualified White House candidate in history, recalling his decision to make her secretary of state during his first term and landing a “front-row seat to her intelligence, her judgment and her discipline.”
“That’s the Hillary I know,” Obama said. “That’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire. And that’s why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman — not me, not Bill (Clinton), not anybody — more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America.”
Obama praised Clinton’s experience battling for funding for 9/11 first responders as a New York senator and pushing for the mission to take out Osama bin Laden while secretary of state.
“Hillary’s been in the room,” Obama said. “She’s been part of those decisions. ... Even in the middle of crisis, she listens to people, and keeps her cool, and treats everybody with respect. And no matter how daunting the odds, no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits.”
Obama also slammed Trump — by his full name six times — for painting a gloomy view of America and offering no plan to fix it.
“Ronald Reagan called America ‘a shining city on a hill,’ ” Obama said. “Donald Trump calls it ‘a divided crime scene’ that only he can fix.”
He added: “Our greatness does not depend on Donald Trump.”
Obama also cast Trump as a selfcentered charlatan who leaves a “trail of lawsuits and unpaid workers” behind him.
“Does anyone really believe that a guy who’s spent his 70 years on this earth showing no regard for working people is suddenly going to be your champion?” Obama asked, laughing. “Your voice? If so, you should vote for him.”
Seconds after his speech, Clinton made her first appearance at the DNC as she walked onstage to embrace her former political enemy.
After slipping in the polls following a post-convention bounce by Trump, Clinton desperately needs to emerge from the DNC with a fired-up base of delegates eager to canvass for her and push her back into the lead.
Obama also tried to unite Bernie Sanders supporters after a bruising primary that spilled over into convention week and led to turmoil on the convention floor and protests outside.
“If you agree that there’s too much inequality in our economy, and too much money in our politics, we all need to be as vocal and as organized and as persistent as Bernie Sanders’ supporters have been,” Obama said.
But the president also tried to rally all Democrats, urging them to vote “up and down the ticket,” to engage college students, to fight global warming, and to reach out to coal miners.
He also reflected on his own presidency and national political career, unofficially borne out of a memorable speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004.
“I was so young that time in Boston,” said Obama.
Also last night, Vice President Joe Biden — who came striding out to the “Rocky” theme — blasted Trump for an “unbounded” cynicism and “lack of empathy and compassion.”
“He has no clue about what makes America great. Actually, folks, he has no clue period,” Biden said as the arena began chanting “Not a clue!”
“He’s trying to tell us he cares about the middle class? Give me a break,” Biden added. “That’s a bunch of malarkey.”