President Biden told a star-studded “Broadway for Biden” campaign fundraiser Monday night that “democracy is at stake” if he is not re-elected next year — while trying to move past the issue of his octogenarian status.
“A lot of people seem focused on my age,” the 80-year-old told an audience that paid between $250 and $7,500 to hear him speak at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. “I understand, believe me, I know more than anyone.”
The oldest president also slipped in a joke at his own expense, saying he was “more optimistic about the future of this country than I have been in 800 years” — drawing big laughs from the audience.
But Biden continued to make the case for his re-election, saying he “knows what to do” during the COVID-19 pandemic and vowing he “will not side with a dictator like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”
“Maybe Trump and his MAGA buddies can bow, but I won’t,” the president said, spinning to attack his predecessor, who he said he “without question” defeated last time “because of people like you.”
“I’m running because democracy is at stake, because in 2024, democracy is on the ballot again,” Biden said. “And let there be no question: Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy. And I will always defend, protect and fight for our democracy.”
President Biden dismissed concerns about his age during a star-studded “Broadway for Biden” campaign fundraiser on Monday night in New York City.REUTERS
“A lot of people seem to be focused on my age,” the 80-year-old president told an audience that paid between $250 and $7,500 to hear him speak at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.REUTERS
The president also returned to a theme from his 2020 campaign: That his decision to run for president was prompted by a right-wing rally held in Charlottesville, Va., in August 2017, which resulted in one death and dozens of injuries after a car plowed into a group of protesters.
“I’m running because — listen to this — I want the entire country to join me in sending the loudest, clearest, most powerful message possible that political violence in America is never, never, never acceptable,” he said.
“I do not believe America is a dark, negative, genocidal nation driven by anger, fear and revenge,” Biden added, referring to his predecessor’s inaugural address. “Donald Trump is like that. To his supporters, he said, ‘I am your revenge’ … ‘We are a failed nation,’ he said. ‘Either they win or we win and [if] they win we don’t have a country anymore.’ Have you ever heard the president of the United States talk like that?”
The oldest president also joked at his own expense, saying he was “more optimistic about the future of this country than I have been in 800 years.” Reuters
The fundraiser featured performances of hits from the musicals “Chicago” and “West Side Story” and appearances by Tony Award winners and Broadway bigwigs such as “Hamilton” and “In The Heights” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Biden’s remarks came as recent polls have highlighted voter concerns about the aging pol, who will turn 86 by the end of his second term.
As many as 77% of US voters believe Biden is too old to serve a second term, according to a recent Associated Press-NORC poll. Two-thirds of Democrats agree that Biden’s age disqualifies him, a Wall Street Journal poll found earlier this month.
A Harvard/CAPS-Harris poll released on Monday also found Trump beating Biden in a head-to-head battle.REUTERS
The Harvard/CAPS-Harris poll released Monday also found Trump and fellow Republican candidates Nikki Haley, former South Carolina governor, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) all beating Biden in head-to-head matchups.
The commander-in-chief suited up at a Broadway fundraiser and another event hosted by the Black Economic Alliance before the third-quarter campaign finance filing deadline.
Hollywood donors are spending heavily on Biden’s 2020 campaign but some are expressing doubts about the president serving another term.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
