Obama makes the case for Biden — and democracy – in passionate DNC address


They spent eight years together in the White House, and former President Barack Obama considers Joe Biden to be more than his vice president — he's "a brother."
In a spirited speech delivered during night three of the Democratic National Convention, Obama made it clear that these are not "normal" times, and he aimed to "talk as plainly as I can about the stakes in this election. Because what we do these next 76 days will echo through generations to come."
President Trump, Obama said, has "shown no interest in putting in the work" that comes along with being a successful leader, and has "no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves." In contrast, Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), "actually care about every American and they care deeply about this democracy," Obama said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Biden and Harris have "concrete policies that will turn their vision of a better, fairer, stronger country into reality," Obama said, before delving into several major events that Biden guided the country through. Biden helped manage the response to the H1N1 pandemic and his leadership helped "prevent an Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores," Obama said, and he will use the knowledge he gained following the Great Recession "to rescue the economy."
Biden and Harris both care "deeply about this democracy," and believe that the "right to vote is scared, and you should be making it easier for people to cast their ballots, not harder." Obama encouraged people to come up with a voting plan to ensure that their voices are heard in November, and called on young Americans to not let their frustrations with the messiness of politics keep them from the polls. "You can give our democracy new meaning," he said. "You can take it to a better place. You're the missing ingredient — the ones who will decide whether or not America becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Spaniards seeing red over bullfighting
Under the Radar Shock resignation of top matador is latest blow in culture war over tradition that increasingly divides Spain
-
Bailouts: Why Trump is rescuing Argentina
Feature The White House approved a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina
-
James indictment: Trump’s retribution
Feature Trump pursues charges against Letitia James in revenge for her civil fraud lawsuit
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leak
Speed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroom
speed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deployment
Speed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies
Speed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth