If you were despondent during and after last Thursday’s debate, you’re not alone. President Biden had a bad night. One bad night.
But on Friday, June 28, Biden was back to his old self — confident, compelling, and forceful. Here’s what he had to say at a campaign rally in Raleigh, NC:
I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious. I don’t walk as easy as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. And I know like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down you get back up.
Watch it on Facebook.
Former president Barack Obama said this on Friday:
Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth, who knows right from wrong, and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November.
From Jay Kuo, who writes Status Kuo:
On Friday, I asked myself, ‘What will people remember from last night?’ The answer is not surprising: that Biden was halting and seemed old, and that Trump the felon lied and lied and lied. In other words, they will come away with the exact same impressions they already have of the candidates. Our job is to continue to make the case that soft-spoken and old is far better than fascist and criminal. And that remains a battle we can win.
When you read the actual transcripts of the debate, Biden comes off sounding fine, while Trump sounds like the unhinged one who uttered some truly remarkable things.
Lucian K. Truscott IV in his newsletter (explicit language):
You know who’s enjoying watching us beat ourselves senseless because one debate didn’t go the way we wanted?
Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
We should take a page out of their playbook. They don’t care if he’s a felon and a liar and an out-of-control lunatic. Republicans want to win, so they’re behind him. They’re united. Felon or not, serial sexual abuser or not, fascist or not, they’re behind him all the way.
Stuart Stevens, former Republican political operative, as quoted by Lucian K. Truscott IV:
It’s baffling that so many Democrats are failing to rally around a wildly successful president after one bad night. But it does remind me of why Republicans defeated Democrats in so many races Republicans should have lost.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer editorial, June 30:
The debate about the debate is misplaced. The only person who should withdraw from the race is Trump.
If the panic recedes and cooler heads prevail, Biden will be our nominee. He’s a great president and he can beat Donald Trump. We can still win this election, but it’s up to all of us to work hard to get it done.
The Democratic Club of Kent County needs your help — now more than ever!
Here’s a list of ways you can be a do-something Democrat and help Joe Biden and Angela Alsobrooks get elected!
Let us know at info@dckcmd.com what you’re able to do to help.
Don’t be despondent — take action!