Joe Biden Claims U.S. Presidency Despite Trump’s Refusal to Concede
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – Joe Biden said Saturday he is “humbled by the trust“ Americans placed in him after leading Democrats and media declared him president-elect though incumbent Donald J. Trump refused to concede.
In his first short speech following the declared election victory, Biden said his task would be to get the coronavirus pandemic under control. “That’s the only way we can get back to living,” he said.
President Trump, who recovered of COVID-19, had already pledged to deliver a vaccine soon as well as “promising treatment” free-of-charge to those in need.
Biden said that he too would “name a group of leading scientists and experts as transition advisers to help take the Biden-Harris COVID plan and convert it into an action blueprint that will start on January 20, 2021.”
He did not specify details despite the pandemic being among his main campaign themes, but said that “the plan will be built on bedrock science.”
Critics fear Biden, who managed much of his election campaign from a basement, wants to introduce tougher lockdowns and mask-wearing rules that economists say will again limit economic growth.
Biden spoke to what was supposed to be a drive-in-crowd outside the Chase Center in Wilmington, though many supporters stood near cars disregarding Biden-backed social distancing rules.
Flags, lights, and inflatable Trump balloons were awaiting Biden and Kamala Harris who was due to become the first female vice-president in U.S. history, according to announced results.
After acknowledging his family and the family of his running-mate, Biden praised supporters who he described as bipartisan, young, old, urban, rural, of different races.
He urged at least roughly 70 million Americans who supported Trump to give him a chance. “It’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again…stop treating our opponents as enemies.”
Biden, a Catholic but supporting free abortion, quoted the Bible Book of Ecclesiastes, saying “there is time” for everything. He emphasized to honks: “This is the time to heal in America.”
He pledged: “I will work as hard for those who didn’t vote for me as for those who did.” His short prepared speech lacked details but was strong on rhetoric. He also repeated the words of his former boss, Barack Obama, when he served as vice-president.
“Lincoln in 1860 coming to save the union, FDR [Roosevelt] in 1932 promising a beleaguered country a new deal. JFK in 1960 pledging a new frontier and when Barack Obama made history and told us: ‘Yes we can’” he recalled.
“Our nation is shaped by the constant battle between our better angels and our darkest impulses,” Biden continued. “Now, a president says in this battle matters. It’s time for our better angels to prevail.”
“Tonight, the whole world is watching America and I believe at best, America is a beacon for the globe.”
That global vision appeared at odds with President Trump’s “America First” ideology and it wasn’t clear whether Biden’s heal-the-world-and-nation remarks had convinced Trump supporters.
“Let us be the nation that we know we can be. A nation united, a nation strengthened, a nation healed,” Biden said. “The United States of America. Ladies and gentlemen, there’s never been anything we’ve tried and not been able to do.” He ended with “Spread the faith” without specifying what that faith meant. “Love you all, bless America.”
Biden, 77, was soon joined by supporters and family as fireworks and confetti flew and artist Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” reverberated throughout the area.
While increasingly isolated, President Trump refused to concede citing reports of voter fraud. “THE OBSERVERS WERE NOT ALLOWED INTO THE COUNTING ROOMS,” Trump alleged in a message on social networking site Twitter on Saturday.
“BAD THINGS HAPPENED WHICH OUR OBSERVERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE.”
However, his team pledged they would observe all the rules for a peaceful transition if indeed all legal ballots have been counted.
Ahead of Joe Biden’s speech, remarks were delivered by running mate Kamala Harris who was projected to become the first woman elected to office in the White House.
“You chose hope and unity, decency, science and yes, truth,” she said. “You chose Joe Biden as the next president of the United States of America.”
If everything goes according to plan Joe Biden, who turns 78, will become the oldest president in U.S. history.
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