The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What Biden said
The mood in Philadelphia resembled an academic policy discussion, as Biden chatted with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and voters— bantering with some of them, asking if he answered their questions and offering to talk more with at least one voter afterward. Biden reiterated his usual campaign talking points, saying little surprising.
He spoke about taxes, fracking, outreach to Black voters, foreign relations and the pandemic. He was asked three sets of questions about racial justice and two about gay, lesbian and transgender rights.
Biden reiterated the importance of wearing masks, again saying that if he were president hewould pressure governors and local leaders to institute mask mandates. He said he would not impose fines for those who refused to take a coronavirus vaccine.
“I am running as a proud Democrat, but I am going to be an American president,” he said. “I am going to take care of those who voted against me as well as thosewho voted for me. For real. That’s what presidents do. We’ve got to heal this nation.”
He criticized Trump at length for not modeling good behavior by wearing a mask.
“Thewords of a president matter — no matter whether they’re good, bad or indifferent, they matter,” Biden said. “And when a president doesn’t wear a mask or makes fun of folks likeme when I was wearing a mask for a long time, then people say: ` Well, it must not be that important.’”
Biden received several questions about systemic racism and his involvement with the 1994 crime bill. Cedric Humphrey, a Black student from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, told Biden that this election couldbe decided by Black voters under 30 who don’t vote, which he him selfish contemplating.
“Besides ` you ain’t Black,’ what do you have to say to young Black voters who see voting for you as further participation in a system that continually fails to protect them?” he asked, referring to a line Biden once used and apologized for.
Biden responded by quoting the late U. S. Rep. John Lewis, who called voting a “sacred opportunity,” and then listed numerous proposals he has backed that would help Black Americans, including more funding for early education programs and historically Black colleges and universities, and startup funds for Black entrepreneurs.
Biden said Trump deserves “a little but not a whole lot” of credit for his foreign policy, praising the recent deal with Israel but noting that North Korea continues to be a threat, and China is “making moves.”
“We find ourselves in the position where we’re more isolated in theworld than we’ve ever been,” he said. “` America first’ hasmade America alone.”