indica News Bureau-
As the US presidential elections draw closer, more surprises are coming the way of the Americans. On April 14, former US President Barack Obama endorsed Joe Biden for president and also provided him with a fundraiser for his campaign further. In a video message recorded from his home in Washington, D.C., the former president said that Biden was the best hope of US to fight COVID-19.
“If there’s one thing we’ve learned as a country from moments of great crisis, it’s that the spirit of looking out for one another can’t be restricted to our homes or our workplaces or our neighborhoods or houses of worship, it also has to be reflected in our national government,” Obama said.
“The kind of leadership that’s guided by knowledge and experience, honesty and humility, empathy and grace. That kind of leadership doesn’t just belong in our state capitols and legislatures, it belongs in the White House, and that’s why I’m so proud to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States.”
Obama and Biden have a close friendship that has endured beyond their time in the White House together, and his endorsement is not a surprise. The endorsement should give the former vice president a significant boost, as Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama are two of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party.
Obama pointed out that Biden had led the administration’s Recovery Act efforts following the 2008 financial collapse and has shown strength and character in times of crisis, saying that he had a unique connection with the middle class voters. Obama also said that having suffered loss of his wife and two children, Biden knew about losing loved ones, implying that he will be compassionate while dealing with the pandemic and the tragedy.
“Joe has the character and the experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and heal us through a long recovery. And I know he’ll surround himself with good people – experts, scientists, military officials who actually know how to run the government and care about doing a good job running the government, and know how to work with our allies, and who will always put the American people’s interests above their own,” said the former president.
Though the former president did not mention President Trump by name, he did attack his Republican party for dismantling some of his signature achievements on health care and the environment. And he said the GOP had spent its time in power giving tax breaks to the wealthiest and “undermining the rule of law.”
“Republicans running the White House and Senate are not interested in progress. They’re interested in power,” Obama said. He further said that defeating the ‘other side’ will be a herculean task, also implying that the other party and the leader (Trump) were dishonest.
Obama said, “The other side has a massive war chest. The other side has a propaganda network with little regard for the truth. On the other hand, pandemics have a way of cutting through a lot of noise and spin to remind us what is real and what matters. It’s reminded us that good government matters, that facts and science matter, that the rule of law matters, that having leaders that are informed and honest, and seek to bring people together, rather than drive them apart, those kinds of leaders matter.”
President Trump’s reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee (RNC) said this week they had raised $212 million in the first quarter of 2020, a huge sum that leaves Trump’s team with more than $240 million in cash on hand, The Hill reported.
After the video went viral on social media, the Trump campaign was quick to react saying that Obama was only supporting Biden as the Democrats had no other choice.
Trump’s campaign manager Brad Parscale said, “Barack Obama spent much of the last five years urging Joe Biden not to run for president out of fear that he would embarrass himself. Now that Biden is the only candidate left in the Democrat field, Obama has no other choice but to support him. Even Bernie Sanders beat him to it. Obama was right in the first place: Biden is a bad candidate who will embarrass himself and his party. President Trump will destroy him.”
On Monday, Sen. Bernie Sanders had extended his support to Biden, a week after withdrawing his campaign. In the video, Obama can be seen praising Sanders, calling him an ‘American original’. He added that Sanders has been a relentless advocate for the poor and had energized young people, who Democrats will need to turn out to defeat Trump in November.
“Bernie is an American original, a man who has devoted his life to giving voice to people’s hopes, dreams and frustration,” Obama said. “He and I haven’t always agreed on everything, but we’ve always shared the conviction that we have to make America a fairer, more just and equitable society.”
“The energy and enthusiasm he’s inspired, especially in young people, will be critical in moving America in a direction of progress and hope, because for the second time in 12 years, we’ll have the incredible task of rebuilding our economy, and to meet the moment the Democratic Party will have to be bold,” he added.
Expressing his gratitude in his own statement on Twitter, Biden said the backing of his former boss “means the world to Jill and me.”
“We’re going to build on the progress we made together, and there’s no one I’d rather have standing by my side,” Biden said.
