Joe Biden's 2020 Acceptance Speech: Comforting, but Not Safe

Joe Biden

Joe Biden’s acceptance speech last night was comforting, almost parental, but he didn’t play it as safe as people thought he did. His pointed comments lay concealed under his gentle language and parental demeanor. 

Here are things he said that sounded parental

 Contrasting his character with Trump’s, Biden mildly said: 

“Character is on the ballot. Compassion is on the ballot. Decency, science, democracy.”

He expressed empathy for those who have heartache: 

“I know how it feels to lose someone you love. I know that deep black hole that opens up in your chest. That you feel your whole being is sucked into it. I know how mean and cruel and unfair life can be sometimes.”

And Biden promised to be a president for all Americans, not just his supporters, and this rather eloquent passage: 

“But while I will be a Democratic candidate, I will be an American president. I will work as hard for those who didn’t support me as I will for those who did. 

“That’s the job of a president. To represent all of us, not just our base or our party. This is not a partisan moment. This must be an American moment. 

“It’s a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another.”

  “Light and love.” Sounds good?

 

Here are things he said that did not play it safe

Despite his theme of “light and love,” which came from his opening quotation, Biden did not play it safe. Biden’s opening passage cited civil rights leader Ella Baker:

“Ella Baker, a giant of the civil rights movement, left us with this wisdom: ‘Give people light and they will find a way.’

“Give people light. 

“Those are words for our time.”

 With issues like the Voting Rights Act and George Floyd’s death in the news, civil rights have become controversial again. And that is where Biden started his speech. People notice a speech’s beginning and end. Biden began by talking about a woman civil rights leader. He quoted her about “light,” which is parental and comforting, but civil rights is an issue. His next section attacked President Trump, combined with an appeal to unity:

Only then did he speak for unity:

“Here and now, I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us not the worst. I will be an ally of the light not of the darkness. 

“It’s time for us, for We the People, to come together. 

“The current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long. Too much anger. Too much fear. Too much division.”

Yes, that was an appeal for unity, but it had a bite: “Too much fear. Too much division.” It was attack unity, not Kum ba ya unity. 

Biden also talked about the coronavirus epidemic, pointing out that the United States has been harder hit than other major nations, attacked President Trump because he “refuses to lead,” defended the Affordable Care Act, and stated policies to make things better.

Conclusion

President Trump calls his opponent “Sleepy Joe Biden.” Last night's speech, however, was sharp and crisply delivered. Trump can continue to spew out his infantile insults, but they are now going to be less credible.

Biden reassured listeners with a calming intent, but, against expectations, he did not play it safe. From the beginning, he tried himself to traditional Democratic party coalitions, including African-Americans and women, while he attacked President Donald Trump. Still, he talked about national unity and harmony. Although he read a text, Biden spoke in a conversation style that eludes many political speakers. He projected a calm, confident manner that contrasted with Donald Trump’s in-your-face delivery style. In short, he gave the American voters a choice between two styles of presidencies. 

Image: Official VP Portrait