Barack Obama Formally Endorses His Old Vice President, Joe Biden

Former President Barack Obama has finally weighed in on the 2020 race. On Tuesday (April 14), he formally endorsed his vice president, Joe Biden, who stands to be the presumptive Democratic nominee.


In a video message posted to Biden's YouTube page, the 44th president started by addressing what he called "the obvious": that the novel coronavirus pandemic means "these aren't regular times."


"Michelle and I hope that you and your families are safe and well. If you've lost somebody to this virus or if someone in your life is sick or if you're one of the millions suffering economic hardship, please know that you're in our prayers. Please know that you're not alone because now's the time for all of us to help where we can and to be there for each other as neighbors, as coworkers, and as fellow citizens. Case in point, within the past weeks, we've seen plenty of examples the sort of courage, kindness, and selflessness that we're going to need to get through. One of the most complicated times in our history, Michelle and I have been amazed at the incredible bravery of our medical professionals who are putting their lives on the line to save others, the public servants and health officials battling this infection, the workers taking risks day-to-day to keep our economy running, and each person who's making their own sacrifice at residence with their families all for the greater good. "


The former president then turned the conversation to the 2020 election, and how it's essential to have leadership that is "guided by knowledge and experience, honesty and humility, empathy and grace." It was then that he formally endorsed Biden, with a ringing letter of recommendation: "Choosing Joe to be my vice president was one of the primary decisions I ever made and it also became a close friend and I believe Joe has all of the qualities we need in a president right now."


"Joe has the character and the experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and help us through a long recovery, and I know he'll surround himself with good people — experts, scientists, military officials — who actually know how to run the government and care about doing a good job running the government, and know how to work with our allies and who will constantly put the American people's interests above their own," he added.


In the speech, Obama also shouted out former candidate Bernie Sanders (D-VT), who ended his campaign last week and endorsed Biden throughout a livestream yesterday (April 13). "He and I haven't habitually agreed on everything, nevertheless we've habitually shared a conviction that we have to prepare America a fairer, more just more equitable society," Obama mentioned of the Vermont senator. "We both know that nothing is more powerful than millions of voices calling for change. And the idea is he's championed the energy and enthusiasm. He inspired, especially in young people, will be essential in moving America in a direction of progress and help."


"There's also much unfinished company for us to just look backwards," Obama added. "We have to look to the future. Bernie knows that, and Joe is aware that. It's one of the reasons that Joe already has what is the most progressive platform of any major party nominee in history. Because even before the pandemic turned the world upside down, it was already clear that we required real structural change. The vast inequality is created by the new economy are easier to be able to see right now, yet they existed long before this pandemic hit."


Though Obama did not say President Donald Trump by name, he did call out the "Republicans occupying the white residence and running the U.S. Senate," ostensibly also referring to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who "are not interested in progress. They're interested in power. They've shown themselves ready to kick millions off their health insurance and eliminate preexisting condition protections for millions more. Even in the middle of this public health crisis, even as they're prepared to spend a trillion on tax cuts for the prosperous, they've given polluters unlimited power to poison our air and our water and denied the science of climate change just as they denied the science of pandemics. Repeatedly, they've ignored American principles of rule of law and voting rights and transparency, generic norms that previous administrations observed, without consideration of party principles that are the bedrock of our democracy."


"So our country's future hangs on this election and it also won't be easy," he mentioned, rallying Democrats and progressives alike against what he called "the other side," whose "propaganda network" he mentioned displays "little regard for the truth. On the other hand, pandemics have a way of cutting through a lot of noise and spin to remind us of what is real and what is essential. This crisis has reminded us that government matters. It's reminded us that good government matters, that facts and science matter, that the rule of law matters. However having leaders who are informed and truthful and seek to bring people with each other rather than drive them apart, those kinds of leaders matter."


"Now's the time to fight for what we believe in," he mentioned in his speech's closing. "Make a plan for how you are going to get involved. Keep taking care of yourself and your families and each other. Keep believing in the opportunities a higher class of world. And I am going to visualize you on the campaign trail Once I can."