Remarks by President Biden Celebrating Labor Day and the Dignity of American Workers | Eastern North Carolina Now

    AUDIENCE: Booo -

    THE PRESIDENT: He - he's 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.

    Let me remind you: You paid for your Social Security and Medicare. (Applause.) It's taken out of your paycheck from the time you're 18 years old. (Applause.)

    The same guy who said - he's the same guy who said if the Republicans get control of the Congress, they're coming after the Affordable Care Act again, denying health insurance to anyone with a preexisting condition. That's the only reason they have - they're able to get it.

    Only reason they get - if they have a preexisting condition, the only way they can insurance is because of the Affordable Care Act. That's not a joke.

    This guy never stops. (Laughter.) But guess what? I ain't stopping either. (Applause.)


    Folks, you and I, we offer a starkly different vision for this country - a vision of a fairer, more decent America. One where everybody has a fair share, where every American is treated with - as my dad would say - with dignity. The economy that works for work, not wealth.

    Now let's me close with this: We're at a serious moment in our nation's history, and it's not hyperb- -

    (A protester disruption can be heard in the audience.)

    I mean it from the bottom of my heart. As I said last week, we remain in the battle for the soul of America.

    By the way -

    AUDIENCE MEMBER: You're a liar!

    THE PRESIDENT: All right, God love ya.

    AUDIENCE: Booo -

    THE PRESIDENT: Let him go. Let him go.

    AUDIENCE: Booo -

    THE PRESIDENT: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Don't - let him - let him go. Let him - he's - look, everybody is entitled to be an idiot. (Applause.) No, no. Everybody is entitled. (Applause.) Okay?

    Look, extreme MAGA Republicans don't just threaten our personal rights and our economic security, they embrace political violence. (Applause.) Look - no, look, the reason - I'm not talking all Republicans, I'm talking about these extreme MAGA Republicans.

    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't do it.

    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.

    Senator Johnson said it was a - "by and large a peaceful protest."

    AUDIENCE: Booo -

    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?

    Cops attacked and assaulted. Speared with flag poles. Sprayed with mace. Stomped on, dragged, brutalized.

    Police lost their lives as a result of that day. And the MAGA Republicans and your senior senator said it was "a peaceful protest."

    AUDIENCE: Booo -

    THE PRESIDENT: Folks, you can't be pro-ex- - you can't be pro-insurrectionist - I'm being deadly earnest now. There's 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'm saying literally.

    You can't say you support law enforcement and call the people who attacked the police on January 6th "patriots". (Applause.) This was an attack on American democracy and all we stand for.

    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'm being deadly earnest now. Honest to God, what would you think? You'd think, "This is not a democracy."

    Well, let me tell you something. Let me tell you something: That is why, in this moment, those of you in this country - Democrats, Republicans - and mainstream Republicans and independents - 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 - (applause) - because democracy is at stake.

    We got to remember who we are. (Applause.) We're the United States of America. There is nothing - nothing we can't do if we do it together. (Applause.)

    God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Applause.)

END  •  2:10 P.M. CDT

    JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.


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