Joe Biden has given a couple statements on COVID-19 today. One, addressing the bailout vote, has been viewed nearly 2 million times.
Another longer statement clocks in at around 18 minutes and is focused on directly on countering Trump’s COVID-19 briefings. Biden’s remarks are on Twitter and YouTube, and have been covered by major outlets like CNBC and Politico. He appears to be giving both statements from his home, with what I’m presuming is the flag Biden received at Beau’s passing prominently displayed.
From CNBC (emphasis mine):
- Former Vice President Joe Biden called on President Donald Trump to make protecting workers a priority during his first on-camera address about the coronavirus.
- Biden, in an attempt to draw a contrast with Trump’s more combative style, spoke about the impact the pandemic is having on people across the country.
Biden is getting his message out there, and the contrast between him and Trump could not be more clear.
Here Biden calls out Trump’s daily briefings for the political theater they are:
Later today, you’ll hear from the president in his daily briefing. These briefings are an important opportunity to inform and reassure the American public. They’re not a place for political attacks, or to lash out at the press. They’re about the American people.
In addition to highlighting how Trump and his administration downplayed the coronavirus, Biden points to the prevailing issue of isolationism and connects the dots from an “America First” mindset to our current health and economic crisis.
….the mindset, that was slow to recognize the problem in the first place to treat it with a seriousness is deserved, is still too much a part of how the president is addressing the problem.
South Korea detected their first case of coronavirus on the same day we did, but they had tests and sophisticated tracing programs to stop the spread of the virus, so they didn’t have to put the entire country on lockdown. We had none of that. So we’re left with only one, the only extreme social distancing measures currently in place.
Biden goes on to highlight the many ways the administration has and is currently failing us, but he doesn’t stop there. Biden highlights key aspects of his plan, which include:
- Deploying Armed Forces and the National Guard to help with hospital capacity, supplies and logistics
- Using the Defense Production Act to increase the numbers of critical medical supplies such as personal protective equipment and respirators
- Once the virus is mitigated, putting protocols and protections in place to ensure the virus doesn’t start spreading again in the fall
- Focus the economic stimulus on providing direct relief to workers, families and small business
In addition to nuts and bolts, Biden calls on us to remember those whom a short month ago, we would have hardly considered heroes:
The grocery store worker stocking the shelf, the mail and package carriers, the workers manufacturing gear we need to keep delivery trucks on the road, cooking meals to deliver, tending to our elderly loved ones.
Biden concludes with a message of resilience and hope.
Let me close with a thought. Deep in the heart of every American, I think there burns a flame. It’s an inheritance from every generation of Americans that has come before us. That’s why we have overcome every crisis we have ever faced before. It’s what makes this nation so special, why we stand apart. That flame is not going to be extinguished in this moment. If our leadership does its part, the American people will do more than their part. Because here’s the simple truth. Ordinary, hardworking Americans have never, ever, ever, ever, ever let their country down. So we need to get moving, move faster. This is the United States of America. There’s not a single thing we cannot do if we do it together. God bless you all those who are fighting this virus. May God protect you and may God protect our troops. Thank you.
What we’re facing won’t be over in a news cycle. There is a long road ahead. Biden has said that he will give these briefings daily, not only as a counter to the current White House occupant, but as a means to provide steady encouragement as we navigate these uncharted waters. In his nearly 80 years, Biden has experienced both triumph and tragedy. He’s seen a lot. It is not lost on me that both he and Dr. Fauci are close in age, and are in my view giving the American people the experienced, steady leadership needed to get us through this.