Summary

5587 3920 JOE BIDEN COLUMBIA SC NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY REMARKS POOL 021120 2020 P2 COLUMBIA, SC-Former Vice President Joe Biden took the floor in South Carolina and made it clear: He thinks this race is anything but over, even with disappointing finishes in the first two voting states. "It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent." (212747) "That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] (212818) Biden expressed his excitement to be in South Carolina, telling the crowd that he hoped they love him as much as he loves them. "I've been coming here a long time. When I die, I want to be reborn in Charleston," Biden said (21:26:11) The former Vice President leaned in hard to his message that you have the hear from all communities within the country before any decisions can be made, "Look, we're moving in an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party. The African-American community. And the fast and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. Watch out. Think of a number ninety nine point nine percent. That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more. Ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters every night. A chance to vote. So when you hear all these pundits and experts and cable TV talkers talked about the race. Tell them it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too. (21:27:46) Biden once again pressed on the idea that the Democratic Party should not have a nominee that does not win a broad coalition of support-pledging that if he were the nominee, support from African American and Latino communities would not be taken for granted. "You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will." (212931) There were several notable focuses in Biden's remarks that we've heard from him in the past, but were not included in his stump speeches in Iowa and New Hampshire-clearly tailoring his message for the Palmetto State. Biden touted his time served alongside Barack Obama in the White House, calling it the greatest honor of his life to serve alongside him, and telling the crowd their families were still close friends, saying he "pays for the plane ticket" when his granddaughters want to go visit their best friends, the Obama girls Biden also focused on criminal justice reform and increasing equality for all Americans-issues we have not often brought up in the two states that have voted. And as Michael Bloomberg is facing increased scrutiny for his comments on his controversial 'stop and frisk' program, Biden said that voters should look to each candidates past to see what they would do while in office, expanding on his own record "Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years." (212956) Biden closed out his remarks on a hopeful message we've heard before-arguing that the next president needs to heal the country, a undertaking he was not underselling "It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump." Biden said (214255) After the event, Biden worked the rope line quickly, trying to make it to an affiliate interview. The former Vice President Shouted several questions from the press about his failure to receive any delegates in New Hampshire this evening. Biden was introduced at the event by Dr. Jill Biden and Rep. Cedric Richmond, who both gave brief remarks. Jill credited the state with helping their family heal after they spent time here following the loss of their son Beau. Dr. Biden said that while Iowa and New Hampshire had their say, it was now South Carolina's turn to speak, calling it a "clean slate' for her husband. COLOR/EDIT: The room in South Carolina was very warm for Biden tonight. The crowd was diverse-both in age and race, and the room was full despite the event only being officially announced less than 12 hours prior, and could be heard audibly agreeing with Biden as he made his points throughout his remarks. As Eva Pilgrim noted-there was a lightness and excitement to the air in Columbia-one that we did not feel throughout Iowa and New Hampshire. 5587 3920 JOE BIDEN COLUMBIA SC NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY REMARKS POOL 021120 2020 HIGHLIGHTS New Hamp 212655 So, I just spoke to our folks up in -- up in New Hampshire, and they did a good job, but I want to tell ya. The people of Nevada are watching, and I want to make it clear, we praise their diversity as a state and I'm gonna be out there seeing them very soon. Tonight, though, I -- we just heard from the first two of the 50 states. Two of 'em. Not all the nation, not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10% -- 2! 212726 Two! Now, where I come from that's the opening bell, not the closing bell. And the fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning [cheers] just beginning. Thank you. [crowd chanting "Joe"] 212747 It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent. 212818 That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] An Ally to Communities of Color 212931 You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will. Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. 212956 Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years. Beating Trump in November 214238 We got to heal this country, and we have to do the same kind of courage and conviction. And by the way, I'm no Nelson Mandela. I'm not making that comparison. But his heart. His heart. All you ministers know what I'm talking about. His heart. 214255 It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. 214322 I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump. FULL TRINT [21:26:02] Great to be with you all tonight. All of you have been here tonight. You know, I hope you I hope you love me as much as I love you guys. [21:26:11] I've been coming here a long time. When I die, I want to be reborn in Charleston, actually. [21:26:18] I like the low country. You know what I mean? [21:26:23] Work. I hope. [21:26:26] Thank you. Please sit down if you have a seat. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [21:26:31] I am. I'm Joe Biden's husband. I work for Cedric Richmond. [21:26:38] And David Mack is taking me to school. [21:26:43] Well, look, I know some of the other senators came over. They came up to see me. They're in session right now. And I thank them for making the effort. There's so many people here for me to say thank you. Thank you, thank you. So I just spoke to our folks up and up in New Hampshire, and they did a good job of I want to tell you, the people of Nevada are watching. [21:27:05] And I want to make it clear we praise their diversity as a state. And I'm going to be out there seeing them very soon. Tonight, though, I we just heard from the first two of 50 states, too. Not all the nation. [21:27:20] Not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10 percent to two. All right. [21:27:28] Come from that's the opening bell, not the closing bell. [21:27:33] And the fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning. [21:27:37] Yes, about. Thank you. 212747 It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday states and beyond. Look, we're moving into an especially important phase because up till now, we haven't heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party -- the African-American community. And the fast--- and the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community. I want y'all to think of a number -- ninety nine point nine percent. 212818 That's the percentage of African-American voters who have not yet had a chance to vote in America. One more number, ninety nine point eight. That's the percent of Latino voters who haven't had a chance to vote. So, when you hear all these pundits and experts,cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them "it ain't over, man. We're just getting started. Our votes count, too." [cheers] [21:28:47] We're not glad he won't take his election away, if you mean look, I've said many times it can't be the Democratic nominee and you can't win a general election as Democrat unless you have overwhelming support from black and brown voters. It's just really simple. No, it's a natural fact. It's true. It's absolutely true. And folks, you know, all those Democrats who won against incumbents from Jimmy Carter to a guy named Clinton. Their guy name Obama. My good friend. Guess what? [21:29:17] They had overwhelming African-American support. Without it. Nobody's ever won. No, really. And you know, you own my heart. Look, more important, should you not win the Democratic nomination for president? 212931 You shouldn't be able to win it without black and brown voters. Too often your loyalty, your support, your commitment to this party have been taken for granted. I have never once in my career, since I got involved as a kid, taken it for granted. And I give you my word as a Biden: I never, ever, ever will. Now, if you want to know what any other candidates are gonna do in the future, the tendency is to look at the past. 212956 Well, I left the law firm when I was a kid with a great job and a fancy law firm, and to become a public defender -- to fight for the people in the community I used to work in, in the East side because they couldn't afford a lawyer. On the county council, I fought against red lining. In the U.S. Senate, I passed the extension of the Voting Rights Act for two decades. The Violence Against Women Act and, by the way, I had the back of a great president named Barack Obama for eight years. [21:30:26] By the way, we increased access to capital for African-American entrepreneurs. Let's get some straight. Given a chance, they do just as well as anybody else and quite frankly, better. And they build the neighborhoods. They build all communities. [21:30:43] Black and I regular reduce the federal population and speak in HPC use. [21:30:48] I got 70 billion dollars coming HPC use, not a joke. Minority universe is look, we saved the automobile industry, passed Obamacare, we stopped insurance coverage of discriminating against people with preexisting conditions. And on top of all that, we build an economy that Trump is bragging about. This guy squandered his father's fortune, norways squandered economy we gave. [21:31:17] They all think I'm kidding. I'm not serve as a president. [21:31:22] Instead of talking about impeachment, Barack Obama, you should be saying thank you, President Obama. [21:31:31] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [21:31:34] But folks, look, we have so much more to do. I promise you, as your president, you will be partners at shaping the policy to make sure every single American has an opportunity. The thing that I've never liked and I was chairman of Judiciary Committee for years. I don't know what you need best. I listen, you all the leaders in the black community know what you need best. We don't listen enough. We take for granted. You know what you need. You know what your families need. And I've never not listened to you. First, we need to defend and build on Obamacare. Trump wants to get rid of it. [21:32:12] Even some of the folks in my own outfit in the primary, I want to take it away, but I'll never let that happen. I was proud to serve as President Obama's vise president, great years with the honor of my life, and he'd become a close personal friend, the whole family's been. Matter of fact, our granddaughters and his daughters are best buddies. [21:32:36] They went to school together for twelve years in the same small club. Well, actually, 10 years. But they're still hanging out with one another, even though they go to different schools. Where are you? I'm up in Michigan State University, Michigan. What are you doing there? I came up to see me, you know. Anyway, all I know is I get to pay for the plane ticket anyway. But I was never prouder than the day that we passed Obamacare. And here's we're gonna do. We're gonna expand. We're gonna limit. We're gonna get rid of all the executive orders that have curtailed it. [21:33:09] We're gonna increase funding into research for finding cures to. Families are dealing with cancer, diabetes, African-Americans, maternal health disparities. [21:33:21] Look at them in the United States of America today. [21:33:25] Today, there's an incredible disparity. It's it's sinful. It's sinful. [21:33:31] It's an indictment of the entire system. And by the way, you all know education is a great equalizer. We need to treat it that way. Every child has the same capacity when they're born. Every one of them have the same capacity. Every child deserves a great education, no matter what your zip code or your income level. I put my wanted where our mouth is. We're gonna triple Title 1 funding to give our teachers the pay raise they need. Make sure every every three, by the way, we're losing. [21:34:01] We already are. One hundred fifteen thousand teachers short by twenty twenty five you can be a quarter million short. And who's gonna get short? The people that you darn right they are. And look, we're gonna give every teacher a pay raise and to do that's going to continue the criminal justice reform that President Obama and I started. We're gonna end all private practice and. [21:34:24] And no far jail time for addiction. You go into mandatory treatment, build more treatment facilities, that prison system to make sure marijuana convictions there are entire records expunged. [21:34:39] So when asked why a job application? Have you ever been arrested, you be able to say legally? No, I have not. Folks, folks, let's think about this. There's so much. And by the way, all these states that are out there legalizing marijuana and legalizing medical use of it, we should take a big chunk of those profits and put end into prison reform and treatment, treatment, treatment, treatment. [21:35:04] Look, just as important, we have to be a country of second chances, for God's sake. No, think about it. We all talk about second chance. What do we do? [21:35:12] Someone gets out of prison or gets out of a tough spot. We say you're denied all the things that can help you from returning your communities. You're going to even twenty five bucks in a bus ticket. You end up under a bridge. We need to eliminate all those barriers to success. We've got to make sure all the collateral consequences are eliminated. Look, people coming out of prison and people coming back from serving their time. People coming back out to recovery. They should be able to get Pell Grants, as, you know, housing. They should ever get all the things that give me a chance. [21:35:43] And while they're there, we should be teaching them skills. It makes no sense. [21:35:48] It makes no sense to keep it a penal system. Look, we're a great country with great people. We're the greatest workers in the world. But you should be paid like we're the greatest workers. The background I come from not dissimilar, except it was he's in Louisiana, I was in Pennsylvania, in Scranton. I have too many families working their tails off just to make men's meet. Too many people I know. Didn't my dad do you know? Now, here in South Carolina, may I call that longest walk up a short flight of stairs and tell their son or daughters. Honey. So we can't live here anymore. [21:36:26] Daddy, mommy, don't have a job. You're gonna go home all of a grandpa for a while. But I'm gonna I'm gonna make it. We're gonna be able to do it. And I'll come back and I'll make sure when I'm able to get a place, we'll bring all together again. People having trouble keeping the roofs over the heads. When my dad walked up those stairs, he remembers. Twenty four. Forty six North Washington having I'm doing in Scranton. [21:36:45] I was in third grade and he looked at me. He said, I promise you it's gonna be all right. He believed it was. He believed it. And he was right. Because then if you took a shot, you got a chance. You're able to do it today. Think of all the people who can't look at their kids and say it's gonna do we're gonna be able to do it because the deck is stacked the way it is today. I mean, it really genuinely is. We have two thirds we have over 50 percent of all people who are working class and middle class think their children will never achieve the same standing they had. What a God awful conflict, you know? [21:37:19] Yeah. Yeah. [21:37:21] Just makes me mad. [21:37:24] Look, we're going to invest in our families and our communities. We're going to invest in roads and bridges, broadband water systems, school buildings, rural infrastructure. [21:37:33] We're going to invest in Jim Clyburn's 10, 20, 30 plan to get finally to those areas that we're being left behind. [21:37:41] The bulk of what needs to be done, by the way, I make no apology to anybody for it. [21:37:49] It's the nature of everybody, the wealthy, the semi wealthy, the middle class, the work that everybody does better when they do everything works for everybody. Everything. [21:38:01] We've got to make sure black and brown families and businesses have the same sort that can do to accumulate wealth. [21:38:09] Look, folks, you live in a black neighborhood. You had the same exact house. A guy lives across the highway on up in a white neighborhood, same exact house, same condition. Yours is valued at less. You pay more for insurance. [21:38:23] How do you get a chance to accumulate wealth? [21:38:26] Well, I'll tell you what. That's not how you're going to fulfill the dreams. I really mean it. You know, we're not going to invest in six. These tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. The system's already rigged in their favor. That one point nine trillion dollars a chump gave way to the top 2 percent. We're going to invest in families instead. [21:38:50] I really mean it. I've done it. [21:38:52] There is no limit to what we can get done in the next four years. But first, we have to beat Donald Trump. [21:39:03] Folks, folks, I believe, or I said it when those folks came out of those fields carrying those torches and I thought I'd see it. [21:39:13] But those folks came out of those fields in Charlottesville. Close your eyes and what you saw on television. Coming out of those fields, their veins bulging, screeching, hate carrying Nazi banners accompanied by the Ku Klux Klan. They heard this chanting the same anti-Semitic bile that was chanted in the streets of Germany in the thirties. Literally the exact same. Exact same. That's a day. Jillian, I know and quite frankly, my grandchildren knew we had no choice but to run because this president is breeding hate mongers. [21:39:52] I thought when I was waiting in Wilmington, Delaware, for a black man to come 28 miles from Philadelphia to pick me up on a train to take me one hundred and twenty seven miles to Washington, D.C., we'd finally turned a corner. What I learned is I thought I I'd been deeply involved all my life, but I learned hape that never go away. [21:40:14] It just hides. It just hides. [21:40:18] And folks, this president has done nothing but breathe oxygen into that hate and bring them out from under the rocks at his beloved rallies. [21:40:28] He spreads the missing that the message of prejudice and division in the White House. He welcomes the NRA, the gun manufacturers. And while our kids are being gunned down on the streets, in the corners, in our schools. They'll really. I mean, think about how depraved that is right now across this nation. He has 35 states suppressing the vote primarily to keep black folks and brown folks from voting. But keep anybody from voting. [21:40:59] Enough is enough is enough. It has to stop. [21:41:06] Look, folks, I spent my whole life fighting for civil rights, voting rights, social justice, economic justice. And that's what I'll do when I'm your president. This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid. I had the great honor of meeting him, the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of psuedo trying to get to see him on Robben Island. [21:41:32] When he came to the United States, when he came to the White House, to the Senate, I was chairman of the committee and he walked in. And most incredible thing I've ever felt my life. He walked across in that private room with a big table we have in the executive room. [21:41:47] And he walked over and I said, Mr. President, you mean I said, thank you. Thank you for trying to come and see me. This the most Christlike guy ever met. He's an incredible man. Imagine what it would have been. [21:42:00] Had anybody else come back. He kept everybody expecting any other leader would have generated bloodshed, would have there would have been chaos. But what did you do? [21:42:13] He's the example that I think we have to look at. [21:42:16] You know, when they asked me, am I going to hold a grudge yet with Trump, what he's trying to do to my only living son, to going after me with lies and all the rest? Well, you know, what I said is it's not about me and my son. It makes me angry. [21:42:32] But presidents presidents can't just fight. They got to heal. 214238 We got to heal this country, and we have to do the same kind of courage and conviction. And by the way, I'm no Nelson Mandela. I'm not making that comparison. But his heart. His heart. All you ministers know what I'm talking about. His heart. 214255 It's not enough just to fight. We got to heal. And the country so desperately needs it. Folks, that's the kind of courage and conviction we need to end the Trump era and move this nation forward to a more perfect union. I know this is going to be the fight of my life, but as the old song goes. Lord, don't move my mountain, give me the ability to climb. 214322 I can't do it alone. I need your help to climb that mountain. And together we're going to beat Donald Trump. so we can chip in and support those of us in this chip in and support our campaign. Text, Joe. [21:43:35] Two, three. You screwed me. I got to get this right, Joe. 2 3 0 3 3 0. [21:43:43] All right. Let's get to work. Thank you. May God bless you all. May God protect our troops. [21:43:49] Let's go do this. Named.