{"id":146862,"date":"2022-09-05T14:01:26","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T21:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=146862"},"modified":"2022-09-05T14:01:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T21:01:26","slug":"president-biden-celebrating-labor-day-and-the-dignity-of-american-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=146862","title":{"rendered":"President Biden Celebrating Labor Day and the Dignity of American Workers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Milwaukee, WI&#8230;Hello, Milwaukee! (Applause.) My name is Joe Biden. I am Jill Biden\u2019s husband. (Applause.) And I want to start by saying: Any child under 12 years of age deserves a little extra ice cream or something for doing this. (Laughter.) This has got to be the most boring thing in the world for you, honey. (Laughter.) But we\u2019re going to work something out for you, I promise.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=360&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1921715054885769%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=640&amp;t=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Folks, if you have seat, don\u2019t hesitate to take them.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Uncle Joe!<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, man. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Well, you know, I think this is getting to be a pretty good \u2014 a good year for a Labor Day. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Eduardo, thank you for that introduction. It\u2019s great to be with Governor Evers, Representative Gwen Moore. Where\u2019s Gwen? There you go, Gwen. I love you, kid. (Applause.) You\u2019ve been there every step of the way when I\u2019ve needed help as President. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And Mayor Johnson. Where is Mayor \u2014 where is the mayor? There you go. You\u2019ve got those two beautiful girls and a son. I tell you what, you got to tell your girls you got to be patient with we dads. We\u2019re hard to raise. We\u2019re hard to raise. (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 and I \u2014 where is the county executive? Stand up big guy? I think these guys spend \u2014 I think these two guys spend all their time in the gymnasium. They look like they\u2019re in too good a shape. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And I want to thank Tammy \u2014 she couldn\u2019t be here today \u2014 who\u2019s a champion of working people and always there. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>You know, and the same goes to Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, who couldn\u2019t be here, but \u2014 (applause) \u2014 he\u2019s going be your next United States senator. (Applause.) Oh, he is.<\/p>\n<p>And I want to thank Liz Shuler for her fearless leadership at the AFL-CIO.<\/p>\n<p>And thanks to Pam for your leadership of the AFL-CIO here in Milwaukee. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Applause.) Where is she? Back there. Okay, there you are, Pam. I was \u2014 okay. I wonder where everyone is sitting.<\/p>\n<p>And how about actually having a union guy as the Secretary of Labor? (Applause.) I\u2019ll tell you what, if you\u2019re going to be in a foxhole, you want Marty in there with you. Now, you may have trouble understanding when he starts talking about car barns \u2014 (said in Boston accent) \u2014 and (inaudible) garages and talks \u2014 (laughter) \u2014 he talks kind of funny, but he knows what he\u2019s talking about.<\/p>\n<p>I promised to be the most pro-union President in American history, and Marty is keeping me to make that promise. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And by the way, the reason for that, I\u2019ll \u2014 and I\u2019ve \u2014 I\u2019ve had this conversation with the Business Roundtable and all the major chambers of commerce \u2014 is not just \u2014 just that I think that it\u2019s important that people get a shot. But, look the reason why \u2014 the reason why businesses should be hiring labor folks is simple: You have \u2014 you\u2019re the single-greatest technicians in the world. You\u2019re the best laborers in the world. You build the best product.<\/p>\n<p>And no, no, I\u2019m not just joking. I\u2019m not just saying that. But people forget \u2014 a lot of the trades \u2014 they forget \u2014 you go to four, five years of school \u2014 your apprenticeship. It\u2019s like going back to college. It\u2019s not like you, all of a sudden, just step \u2014 step in. You build a better product, it lasts longer, and it\u2019s cheaper for the business, and it\u2019s better for the country. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Look \u2014 folks, Labor Day is a special day in the country for \u2014 and here in Milwaukee. This is one of the biggest Labor Day events in America you all have here. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s a special day to me as well. Because the fact of the matter is I wouldn\u2019t be here without unions \u2014 unions: electricians, ironworkers, letter carriers, Teamsters, laborers, bricklayers, transit workers, plumbers and pipefitters, steelworkers. (Applause.) I wouldn\u2019t be here without cops, firefighters, teacher, nurses. (Applause.) I wouldn\u2019t be here without painters, pilots, autoworkers, custodians, carpenters, grocery store workers, steel metal workers, and so many others. That\u2019s not a joke. That\u2019s not a joke.<\/p>\n<p>I got elected when I was 29 years old to the United States Senate in a state that had recently been \u201cright to work.\u201d You know why? Because union labor endorsed me and fought for me. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>So bad news for you all is: I\u2019m here because of you.<\/p>\n<p>Look, the middle class \u2014 the middle class built America. Everybody knows that. But unions built the middle class. (Applause.) That\u2019s a fact. That\u2019s a fact.<\/p>\n<p>Look, folks, I believe we\u2019re at an inflection point in American history \u2014 I really mean that \u2014 that comes around every five or six generations, an inflection where \u2014 one of those moments where everything is changing. Everything is changing.<\/p>\n<p>And we\u2019re going to have to ask whether we want to be a country that moves forward or backwards; we\u2019re going to \u2014 we\u2019re going to build a future or we\u2019re going to obsess about the past.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve said many times: We\u2019re the only country in the world that\u2019s come out of every crisis we ever faced stronger than we went in it. No other nation has done that. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And we do it because we\u2019ve been a nation of unity, of hope, of optimism \u2014 not as a nation of division and violence and hatred that\u2019s being preached by some others.<\/p>\n<p>I want to be very clear up front: Not every Republican is a MAGA Republican. Not every Republican embraces that extreme ideology. I know because I\u2019ve been able to work with mainstream Republicans my whole career.<\/p>\n<p>But the extreme MAGA Republicans in Congress have chosen to go backwards \u2014 full of anger, violence, hate, and division.<\/p>\n<p>But together, we can and we must choose a different path: forward. (Applause.) No, I really mean it. We have to. A future of unity, of hope, of optimism. We\u2019re going to choose to build a better America \u2014 a better America. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no question it\u2019s been a hard few years, but we\u2019ve come a long way.<\/p>\n<p>Today, COVID no longer controls our lives. More Americans are working than at any time in all of American history.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, more people applied to start small businesses than any year in history. But it didn\u2019t just happen. We never gave up. We never gave in. And we are delivering for working- and middle-class Americans now \u2014 now. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Nearly 10 million new jobs \u2014 more jobs than have ever been created at this point in any presidency in history. Wages are up. Unemployment remains near a 50-year low. And the big reason for all this is the American Rescue Plan that I signed into law shortly after taking office \u2014 (applause) \u2014 with the help of your Democratic members of Congress. That\u2019s how we got it done. Not one, single Republican vote.<\/p>\n<p>And the plan took America from economic crisis to economic recovery. And here in Wisconsin, your governor and your mayor of Milwaukee used that money like it\u2019s supposed to be used: keeping city workers on the job in the face of rising costs, keeping streets safe by fixing streetlights, training 130 new firefighters, helping hire close to 200 more police officers.<\/p>\n<p>And not a single Republican voted for that \u2014 not one, single one. Every single Republican in Congress in this state voted against that funding.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: So, let me remind you \u2014 no, I really mean it. Let me remind you what else was in that American Rescue Plan.<\/p>\n<p>A thing called the Butch Lewis Act. (Applause.) Now, look, for too long, most Americans didn\u2019t know what that means. Those of you who have been driving trucks from factories to stores; bagging our groceries; building our buildings, bridges, roads, so much more. And with each paycheck you earn, the employers put that money into pension plan.<\/p>\n<p>But some companies didn\u2019t set aside enough money to pay for those plans. And as a result, hundreds of pensions \u2014 2 to 3 million workers and retirees \u2014 were going insolvent. Millions of retirees were at risk of losing their retirement security through no fault of your own.<\/p>\n<p>So, with the American Rescue Plan, we passed the Butch Lewis Act to protect pensions all of you worked so damn hard for \u2014 (applause) \u2014 pensions you sacrificed for. In retirement, it\u2019d be a little like losing your Social Security and your Medicare.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s one of the most significant achievements union workers and retirees \u2014 for union workers and retirees in over 50 years. And I\u2019ll say it again: Not a single Republican congressman voted to protect your pensions \u2014 not one.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: And by the way, I know a lot of them wanted to vote for it, but they\u2019re afraid of losing primaries in this new Republican Party.<\/p>\n<p>We also passed a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation\u2019s roads, highways, bridges, railroads, ports, water systems, high-speed Internet.<\/p>\n<p>Folks, your governor has already repaired over 5,000 miles [of roads], 1,500 bridges here in Wisconsin alone. Just a start. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>We will, when this is over, have the best infrastructure \u2014 not a joke \u2014 in the entire world. The single-best in the world. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And that means jobs. No, that means jobs. That means we continue to lead the world. You can\u2019t do it without the best ports. You can\u2019t do it without the best airports. You can\u2019t do it \u2014 I\u2019m not going to go on, but the point is: You can\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n<p>Right here in Milwaukee, it\u2019s estimated 40 percent of the homes still have lead service water \u2014 lead pipes for their water. Because of the Infrastructure Law, the city is receiving millions of dollars to replace lead pipes to make sure families have safe drinking water. (Applause.) Your child shouldn\u2019t have to worry about turning on the faucet or going to school, going to the water fountain and worrying about any kind of lead in the water.<\/p>\n<p>Look, it\u2019s the biggest investment in America since President Eisenhower\u2019s Interstate Highway Act. And we made sure that the Infrastructure Law included significant labor protections. For example, the majority of the funds in the law are subject to Davis-Bacon. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s not just because I wanted to help unions. It\u2019s simple: You\u2019re the best in the world. That\u2019s not hyperbole. No, you really \u2014 it\u2019s not a joke. You really, genuinely are.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t just decide you want to be a pipefitter or an electrician. It takes you four to five years of hard work \u2014 the apprenticeships. It\u2019s like going to college. You\u2019re the best-trained workers in the world, and you deserved to be treated that way. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And by the way, those of you who know me, no one ever doubts I mean what I say. The problem is, I sometimes say all that mean. (Laughter.) I\u2019ve made the same comments to the Business Rountable, to the Chamber of Commerce. They understand it. They don\u2019t want to pay it; they understand it, though. Because it\u2019s true.<\/p>\n<p>I also signed the CHIPS and Science Act, a groundbreaking law. We\u2019ll once again manufacture semiconductor chips that power everyday \u2014 everything \u2014 our smartphones, dishwashers, automobiles, national security stuff \u2014 right here in America.<\/p>\n<p>Guess what? We invented it here. We invented it here in America. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And by the way, the reason why last time out, last year, inflation was so high \u2014 you know the biggest reason? Cost of automobiles. You know why they cost so much? They didn\u2019t have the computer chips to make the automobiles.<\/p>\n<p>Folks, here in Wisconsin, Senator Baldwin made clear that you\u2019re ready to take advantage of this law with world-class universities and a workforce that knows how to manufacture a product here in Wisconsin. This law is going to create tens of thousands of jobs in America, bringing billions of dollars of investment here in America \u2014 well over $100 billion in investments in America, revitalizing American manufacturing. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Where is written \u2014 where is it written that says America can\u2019t lead the world in manufacturing? Where does it say that? We\u2019ve exported too damn much.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, next week, I\u2019m going to Ohio for the groundbreaking of a multi-billion-dollar semiconductor manufacturing plant. (Applause.) The company is Intel. It\u2019s one of the largest investments of its kind ever. They\u2019re putting $20 billion in as a start.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s going to create thousands of jobs \u2014 thousands \u2014 7,000 construction jobs just building the facilities; 5,000 permanent jobs for blue-collar workers who will make $125,000 a year in those jobs. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And by the way, if you take a look, manufacturers all over the world are coming to the United States \u2014 (applause) \u2014 from Korea, from Japan, from all over the world.<\/p>\n<p>Why? You know why the head of an outfit out of Korea told me they\u2019re coming here? Because we have the safest environment and the best workers in the world. (Applause.) That\u2019s a fact. We do. I\u2019m not just saying this. This is real. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Look, folks, it means we\u2019re going to build the future in America with American workers in American factories using American-made products. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Look, it\u2019s something most people don\u2019t know, but you guys out there in this audience know: 15 percent of our military become \u2014 veterans become union workers when they leave the military. Fifteen percent. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>How many veterans out there? Holler out. (Applause.) You got it.<\/p>\n<p>In my State of the Union Address, I put forward what I call a Unity Agenda that \u2014 including taking care of our veterans.<\/p>\n<p>Look, we have a lot of responsibilities but only one sacred responsibility \u2014 not a joke, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart and I\u2019ve said it from the first day I entered politics: We have an obligation to equip those we send into harm\u2019s way and care for them and their families when they come home \u2014 (applause) \u2014 both their families \u2014 especially our veterans who\u2019ve been exposed to toxic burn pits, like my son.<\/p>\n<p>Those pits the size of football fields \u2014 8, 9, 10 feet deep in Afghanistan and Iraq \u2014 I was in and out of those countries over 35 times in the middle of these wars as Vice President \u2014 that incinerate wastes of war \u2014 tires, poisons, chemicals, jet fuel, so much more.<\/p>\n<p>A lot of people, like my son, had their hooch just probably 300, 500 yards from those pits. You could smell it. You could inhale it. Well, guess what? These poisonous fumes just came \u2014 people came home with headaches, numbness, dizziness, cancer.<\/p>\n<p>I just signed \u2014 we call it the PACT Act \u2014 to take care of these veterans \u2014 (applause) \u2014 who need medical assistance and to provide for their families when they are gone. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>For God\u2019s sake, it\u2019s the least we can do. It\u2019s the least we \u2014<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Joe!<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: Well, I love you too, kiddo. I tell ya \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Look, like I said, I believe we have a lot of obligations \u2014 we have a lot of obligations, but only one sacred obligation, and that\u2019s to take care of those vets we send overseas and when they come home.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: No, I know \u2014 I \u2014 but I really mean it. And as I said, I just signed into law a historic Inflation Reduction Act. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t easy to take big drug companies, but we did. I\u2019ve been fighting them since I got in Congress 180 years ago. (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>You know, we pay more for our prescription drugs in the United States of America than any major country in the world \u2014 here in the United States. Okay? There\u2019s no reason for it.<\/p>\n<p>For the last several decades, many of us have been trying to fix the problem. But for decades, Big Pharma tried to block giving lower drug prices for those on Medicare or anywhere else.<\/p>\n<p>For decades, Big Pharma won \u2014 year in, year out \u2014 because they own chunks of the Congress, because they had help, like your senior senator, Ron Johnson, who said \u2014<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: No, I \u2014 I want to say what he said. He said he opposed lowering drug costs because it would result in \u201cpunishing the pharmaceutical industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. I mean, come on, man. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Not this year. We beat Pharma this year. We beat Pharma this year, and it mattered. We\u2019re going to change people\u2019s lives. (Applause.) We finally beat Pharma.<\/p>\n<p>Now Medicare will have the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. We can guarantee no senior \u2014 no senior will have to pay more than $2,000 out of pocket for their drugs for the entire year, no matter whether their bill is $50,000. No more than $2,000. Period. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And if you\u2019re on Medicare and you have diabetes, your cost for insulin will be capped at $35. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And by the way, there\u2019s a reason for that. You know how much it costs for them to make and package the insulin for diabetes? Ten bucks. Ten.<\/p>\n<p>Any of you have to \u2014 you need that insulin or your children need it. You know what it costs. It costs you somewhere between 650 and 1,000 bucks a month. It\u2019s outrageous.<\/p>\n<p>Well, guess what? We also had, in this bill of mine \u2014 we also had a provision that affected people who weren\u2019t on Medicare, but because of the leadership of your senior senator and others, it got defeated. But I\u2019m coming back and getting it. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Imagine \u2014 this about this. Imagine being a mom or a dad \u2014 I mean this from the bottom of my heart. Imagine being a mom or a dad with a kid with Type 2 diabetes, knowing you need that insulin and you don\u2019t have the insurance, you can\u2019t pay for it. I\u2019m not joking. Think about it. Think about how it would rip your heart it.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s wrong. It\u2019s simply wrong. And we\u2019re going to end it. It costs 10 bucks, and you can make 35 if you want. That\u2019s it. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>For decades, the biggest corporations \u2014 and by the way, I know corporations; I come from the corporate state of the world. (Laughter.) More corporations are incorporated in Delaware than every other nation \u2014 every other state in the country combined. Okay? So I could write a doctrine on corporations. (Laughter.) So, it\u2019s not like I\u2019m anti-corporation generically. But I do think everybody should pay their fair share. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And, by the way \u2014 and, by the way, look, for decades, the biggest corporations and the wealthiest Americans have fought to block a fair tax code. Republicans passed a $2 trillion tax cut mainly benefiting the wealthiest corporations under the Trump administration. Put us \u2014<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: By the way, it increased the debt by $2 trillion.<\/p>\n<p>Well, guess what? In 2000, 55 of those corporations earned a $40 billion in profit. They didn\u2019t pay a single solitary penny in taxes.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: And the wealthiest Americans \u2014 of the 700-plus billionaires in America \u2014 you know what their average tax rate is \u2014 the federal tax? Eight percent. They pay more taxes than any one of you \u2014 less \u2014 fewer taxes than any of you pay.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE MEMBER: It\u2019s not right!<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: It\u2019s not right. No, no, I mean, this is \u2014 I \u2014 it\u2019s just outrageous.<\/p>\n<p>Well, guess what? Guess what? I wasn\u2019t able to take care \u2014 anyway.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a cop, a teacher, a firefighter, a steelworker, a miner, you pay double that federal tax. It\u2019s just wrong.<\/p>\n<p>But this year, the American people won. Now, big corporations have to pay at least the minimum tax of 15 percent \u2014 at least. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>The days of billion-dollar companies paying zero, they are over in America. (Applause.) And they know they can afford it.<\/p>\n<p>And while we\u2019re doing this, we\u2019re actually reducing the federal deficit. You know how they talk about responsible de- \u2014 they \u2014 the last guy left me with a giant deficit. Well, guess what? In my first year I reduced the deficit by $350 billion. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And you know how much \u2014 you know how much I\u2019m reducing the deficit this year? One trillion, five hundred thousand reduction of the deficit. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And, by the way, just by dealing with allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, it means Medicare doesn\u2019t have to pay out that many tax dollars to buy them. That alone is reduce \u2014 going to reduce, over time, $300 billion in the deficit.<\/p>\n<p>You would think that if Republicans really cared about reducing inflation, they\u2019d vote for the Inflation Reduction Act. But every single Republican in House and Senate voted against it. Every single Republican in the House and Senate.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: Now, I admit some of them voted against it. They thought it made sense, but they weren\u2019t \u2014 they couldn\u2019t let Biden, quote, \u201chave a victory.\u201d It\u2019s not my victory. It\u2019s American people\u2019s victory. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>In spite of the fact that while doing all this we lowered the deficit by a trillion five this year here, here in America, every single Republican voted against lowering prescription drug prices, against lowering healthcare costs, against protecting your pensions, against lower energy costs, against creating good-paying jobs, against a fairer tax system \u2014 every single one in the House and Senate. Every one.<\/p>\n<p>And one thing more: When Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Labor Re- \u2014 Labor Relations Act \u2014 when it passed in the \u201830s \u2014 he didn\u2019t say it was okay to be a union. He said \u2014 and in fact, it says we should \u201cencourage unions\u201d \u2014 \u201cencourage.\u201d (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Well, I\u2019m encouraging unions. (Applause.) That\u2019s what I\u2019ve been doing from day one.<\/p>\n<p>It includes for public service sector workers in Wisconsin as well.<\/p>\n<p>Today, support for unions in this country is higher than it\u2019s been in nearly 60 years. Think about this. You guys know the numbers. Unions are more \u2014 have more support today in America in public opinion than any time in 60 years. The key \u2014 it\u2019s a key way to building the economy, to grow us from the bottom up and the middle out. I\u2019m so sick and tired of trickle-down economics. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>I come from a family where my dad worked hard. He worked like hell. We lived a decent, middle-class life. We lived in a three-bedroom, split level home in a development that was \u2014 there \u2014 as we were \u2014 the area was growing, with four kids and a grandpop.<\/p>\n<p>I sometimes wonder \u2014 anyway, I wonder \u2014 it was great for us, but those walls are thin. (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>But all kidding aside, we did fine. No complaints. We did fine.<\/p>\n<p>But here\u2019s the point: The biggest contrast from what MAGA Republicans \u2014 the extreme right, the \u2014 the \u201cTrumpies\u201d \u2014 they want to go to \u2014 these MAGA Republicans in Congress are coming for your Social Security as well.<\/p>\n<p>Now, are you \u2014 by the way, as I said, you might think I\u2019m making this \u2014 some of this stuff up it\u2019s so outrageous.<\/p>\n<p>But here\u2019s the deal, guys: The Republicans \u2014 read the Republican campaign plan, the Senate campaign they put out this year. Go online and read it. Senator Rick Scott of Florida heads that campaign committee.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: It\u2019s all in black and white. I\u2019m not making it up. You can go online and read it.<\/p>\n<p>They want to require Congress to vote on the future of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid every five years to decide whether they continue.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: No, no, every five years, they get to vote to change, to cut, to reduce, or entirely eliminate Social Security and other things. How\u2019s that make us feel knowing you guy \u2014<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: And then along \u2014 you know, remember that song, \u201cAlong Comes Jones\u201d? And then along comes Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: He \u2014 he\u2019s arguing that five years is too long to wait to savage these programs people depend on. He wants to put Social Security and Medicare literally on that chopping block every single year, treated like any other appropriation.<\/p>\n<p>Let me remind you: You paid for your Social Security and Medicare. (Applause.) It\u2019s taken out of your paycheck from the time you\u2019re 18 years old. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>The same guy who said \u2014 he\u2019s the same guy who said if the Republicans get control of the Congress, they\u2019re coming after the Affordable Care Act again, denying health insurance to anyone with a preexisting condition. That\u2019s the only reason they have \u2014 they\u2019re able to get it.<\/p>\n<p>Only reason they get \u2014 if they have a preexisting condition, the only way they can insurance is because of the Affordable Care Act. That\u2019s not a joke.<\/p>\n<p>This guy never stops. (Laughter.) But guess what? I ain\u2019t stopping either. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Folks, you and I, we offer a starkly different vision for this country \u2014 a vision of a fairer, more decent America. One where everybody has a fair share, where every American is treated with \u2014 as my dad would say \u2014 with dignity. The economy that works for work, not wealth.<\/p>\n<p>Now let\u2019s me close with this: We\u2019re at a serious moment in our nation\u2019s history, and it\u2019s not hyperb- \u2014<\/p>\n<p>(A protester disruption can be heard in the audience.)<\/p>\n<p>I mean it from the bottom of my heart. As I said last week, we remain in the battle for the soul of America.<\/p>\n<p>By the way \u2014<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE MEMBER: You\u2019re a liar!<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: All right, God love ya.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: Let him go. Let him go.<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Don\u2019t \u2014 let him \u2014 let him go. Let him \u2014 he\u2019s \u2014 look, everybody is entitled to be an idiot. (Applause.) No, no. Everybody is entitled. (Applause.) Okay?<\/p>\n<p>Look, extreme MAGA Republicans don\u2019t just threaten our personal rights and our economic security, they embrace political violence. (Applause.) Look \u2014 no, look, the reason \u2014 I\u2019m not talking all Republicans, I\u2019m talking about these extreme MAGA Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>Think about it. Think about it. The definition of democracy is you accept the will of the people when the votes are honestly counted. (Applause.) These guys don\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n<p>Name me a democracy in the world where a leader argues to engage in violence. To this day, MAGA Republicans in Congress defend the mob that stormed the Capitol, and people died later.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Johnson said it was a \u2014 \u201cby and large a peaceful protest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: Have you seen the videos of what happened on that day, listened to the stories of the members of both parties of Congress and the jeopardy they were put in?<\/p>\n<p>Cops attacked and assaulted. Speared with flag poles. Sprayed with mace. Stomped on, dragged, brutalized.<\/p>\n<p>Police lost their lives as a result of that day. And the MAGA Republicans and your senior senator said it was \u201ca peaceful protest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>AUDIENCE: Booo \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: Folks, you can\u2019t be pro-ex- \u2014 you can\u2019t be pro-insurrectionist \u2014 I\u2019m being deadly earnest now. There\u2019s no democracy where you can be pro-insurrection and pro-democracy. (Applause.) So, when I say that democracy is at stake, I mean what I\u2019m saying literally.<\/p>\n<p>You can\u2019t say you support law enforcement and call the people who attacked the police on January 6th \u201cpatriots\u201d. (Applause.) This was an attack on American democracy and all we stand for.<\/p>\n<p>Imagine if you go home this afternoon, turn on the television, and saw several thousand people storming the British Parliament, knocking down the doors, threatening the lives, trying to overthrow the election of the new prime minister, and people dying. What would you think? No, I\u2019m being deadly earnest now. Honest to God, what would you think? You\u2019d think, \u201cThis is not a democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Well, let me tell you something. Let me tell you something: That is why, in this moment, those of you in this country \u2014 Democrats, Republicans \u2014 and mainstream Republicans and independents \u2014 we have to be stronger and more determined and more committed to saving American democracy than the MAGA Republicans and that guy walking out the door are [to] destroying democracy \u2014 (applause) \u2014 because democracy is at stake.<\/p>\n<p>We got to remember who we are. (Applause.) We\u2019re the United States of America. There is nothing \u2014 nothing we can\u2019t do if we do it together. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>2:10 P.M. CDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Milwaukee, WI&#8230;Hello, Milwaukee! (Applause.) My name is Joe Biden. I am Jill Biden\u2019s husband. (Applause.) And I want to start by saying: Any child under 12 years of age deserves a little extra ice cream or something for doing this. (Laughter.) This has got to be the most boring thing in the world for you, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-146862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Fullscreen-capture-952022-20018-PM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=146862"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":146864,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146862\/revisions\/146864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/146863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=146862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=146862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=146862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}