Joe Biden Vows to Unite America as President
By Sabrina Siddiqui, Michael C. Bender
President-elect Joe Biden called for an end of “a grim era of demonization in America,” as he promised to unite a deeply divided nation mired by a pandemic, racial unrest and an economic recession.
“I pledge to be a president who does not seek to divide, but unify, who doesn’t see red states and blue states, but only sees the United States,” Mr. Biden said at a drive-in rally in his hometown of Wilmington, Del.
Mr. Biden addressed the nation hours after the Associated Press declared that he had garnered the 270 electoral votes needed to defeat President Trump.
President Trump hasn’t conceded the race and said in a statement Saturday that his campaign would continue with legal challenges in several states. Republican leaders were largely silent on Mr. Biden’s electoral win, although congratulations poured in from foreign leaders.
The Democratic ticket’s victory also makes Sen. Kamala Harris of California the first woman ever elected as vice president. She was the first Black woman and first of Indian descent nominated on a major party’s ticket, and would be the highest-ranking woman ever in the presidential line of succession as of the inauguration in January.
Ms. Harris took note of the historic nature of her election.
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last,” she said to resounding cheers, as several young girls looking on from the crowd waved flags.
Some conservative lawmakers rejected the declaration of Mr. Biden’s victory, while some more centrist Republicans congratulated him.
It’s time to come together,” Rep. Will Hurd (R., Texas), who is retiring, said on Twitter. “America has spoken and we must respect the decision.”
Neither Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky) nor House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.)—the Republican leaders of both houses of Congress—commented Saturday.
In his Wilmington remarks, Mr. Biden urged both political parties to embrace compromise after years of gridlock.
“The refusal of Democrats and Republicans to cooperate with one another is not due to some mysterious force beyond our control,” Mr. Biden said. “It’s a decision. It’s a choice we make. And if we can decide not to cooperate, then we can decide to cooperate.”
He also extended an olive branch to Mr. Trump’s supporters, saying it was time to “lower the temperature.”
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Posted By: Dea. Ron Gray Sr.
Sunday, November 8th 2020 at 9:36AM
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