I thought it was a good speech too. Not groundbreaking, but very very solid.
And yes, it was clear the main point of the speech was to launch his re-election campaign.
Though Biden spent a good portion talking about immigration. He didn’t shy away from it, which was surprising, and he called out the GOP for playing politics instead of helping the country.
For those who didn’t watch/listen, here are his main points:
UKRAINE
“We will not walk away.”
INSURRECTION
“Here’s a simple truth. You can’t love your country only when you win.”
ABORTION
Guarantee Right to IVF. Blames Trump for it and the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“Send me Democratic Congress and I will restore Roe v. Wade again.”
ECONOMY
15 mill new jobs in 3 years - record
unemployment at 50-year lows
800k new manufacturing jobs
more health insurance than any before
wealth gap smallest in 20 years
inflation lowest in world and trending lower
Exporting American products and creating American jobs
United Auto Workers Labor Leader
The middle class built the country and the unions built the middle class.
DRUGS
Capped some prices
Cut Federal deficit by 160 billions dollars by Medicare savings
It’s time to give Medicare more power to negotiate prices
Wants to cap prescription drug costs at $2k/year for everyone
Obamacare will stick around.
HOUSING
As inflation keeps going down, prices will too, but in the meantime…
Annual Mortgage Tax Credit (2 years while prices come down)
EDUCATION
pretty generic stuff here
TAXES
“Pay your fair share.”
Nobody making under $400k will pay one penny more in taxes. Not one penny.
Raise coporate minimum tax to at least 21%.
End tax breaks for Big Pharma, Big Oil, etc.
SENIORS
Will not let anyone take away social security or raise the retirement age.
CONSUMER PROTECTION
Stopping shrinkflation.
Cutting junk fees.
Total price up front on tickets, etc.
IMMIGRATION
Outlined what the new bill would have added to Border Protection
Border Patrol union endorsed the bill
I will not demonize immigrants and say they’re poison to our country
“Send me the border bill now.”
VOTING
Voting Rights Act 59 years ago
Today, going backwards
Pass the Freedom the Vote Act
CLIMATE
Cutting carbon emissions, adding electrical charging stations, conserving water
Launched Climate Corp to put 20k people to work, will triple that
SAFETY
America safer today than when I took office
Violent crime to lowest levels in 50 years
Ramping up enforcement of Violence Against Women Act
The usual gun safety stuff, universal background checks, etc.
HAMAS
Bring every hostage home
Israel has a burden but a fundamental responsibility to protect civilians
Establish temporary pier on Gaza coast for humanitarian aid
Only real solution is 2-State solution
IRAN
Coalition of 22 countries against Red Sea hostilities
CHINA
America on the rise
Trade deficit China is down to lowest point in a decade
Expanded partnership in Pacific: India, Australia, Japan, South Korea
“I want competition with China, not conflict.”