Hillary Clinton Speaks At The 2020 DNC: 'I Wish Donald Trump Knew How To Be A President'
On night three of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton looked back at the last election, urged voters to take action, and praised Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for being equipped to "pull our nation back from the brink."
The former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate knows what it's like to face Donald Trump at the polls. This time, while endorsing Democratic candidate Joe Biden, she urged the country to avoid making the same mistake it made four years ago. "And don't forget, Joe and Kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose. Take it from me," said Clinton, referencing the fact that she won the popular vote four years ago. "We need numbers overwhelming, so Trump can't sneak or steal his way to victory."
In addition to applauding Biden as the leader America needs, Clinton also acknowledged the historic significance of his VP pick. “Tonight, I'm thinking of the girls and boys who see themselves in America's future because of Kamala Harris, a Black woman, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, and our nominee for vice president.”
She also empathized with the California senator’s position as a woman in the public eye, making her susceptible to bigoted taunts and criticism. “I know something about the slings and arrows she'll face and believe me, this former district attorney and attorney general and handle them all.”
Wearing her signature white suit, Clinton listed a myriad of reasons to vote—from essential workers and teachers to Black citizens facing injustice—and urged the audience, especially young viewers, to not “give up on America.”
Read her full speech below.
The morning after the last election, I said, "We owe Donald Trump an open mind and a chance to lead." I meant it. Every president deserves that, and Trump came in with so much set up for him: a strong economy plans for managing crises included a pandemic. Yes, we Democrats would disagree with them on many things, but if he had put his own interests and ego aside, seeing the humanity in a child ripped from their parents at the border, or a protestor calling for justice, or a family wiped out by natural disaster, that would have been a good thing for America and the world. I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president because America needs a president right now. Throughout this time of crisis, Americans keep going, checking on neighbors, showing to jobs, first responders, hospitals, grocery stores, nursing homes. Yes. It still takes a village. And we need leaders equal to this moment of sacrifice and service. We need Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Everyone has a story about Joe's caring and empathy. I remember him calling after my mother Dorothy died, and we talked about being raised by strong women. The best testament to Joe is how he's cared for his family. And how great is it that Dr. Jill Biden plans to keep teaching as first lady? And Joe picked the right partner in Kamala. She's relentless in the pursuit of justice and equity. And she's kind. When her press secretary, Tyrone Gayle, was dying of cancer, she dropped everything to be with him in his final moments. I know something about the slings and arrows she'll face and believe me, this former district attorney and attorney general and handle them all. So this is the team to pull our nation back from the brink, but they can't do it without us. For four years, people have told me, I didn't realize how dangerous he was. I wish I could do it all over, or worse: I should have voted.
This can't be another "woulda, coulda, shoulda" election. If you vote by mail, request your ballot now and send it back right away. If you vote in person, do it early. Become a poll worker. Most of all, no matter what, vote. As Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders, warned us, if Trump is reelected, things will get even worse. That's why we need unity now more than ever. Remember, back in 2016, when Trump asked, "What do you have to lose?" Well, now we know: our healthcare, our jobs, our loved ones, our leadership in the world, and even our post office. But let's set our sights higher than getting one man out of the White House. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are going to give us so much to vote for. Let's vote for jobs that Joe's plan will create: clean energy jobs to fight climate change; caregiving jobs with living wages; low-term emergency relief that lifts small businesses and saves hard working people from foreclosures evictions. It's wrong that billionaires got four hundred billion dollars richer during the pandemic, while millions lost their $600 a week in extra unemployment. Vote for the parents and teachers struggling to balance children's education and safety. And for healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 with a little help from the white house. Vote for paid family leave and healthcare for everyone. For social security, Medicare, and Planned Parenthood. Vote for Dreamers and their families. Vote for law enforcement, purged of racial bias that keeps all our streets safe. Vote for justice, for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery because Black lives matter. Vote for honest elections so we, not a foreign adversary, choose our president. Vote for the diverse, hopeful America in last night's roll call. And don't forget, Joe and Kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose. Take it from me. We need numbers overwhelming, so Trump can't sneak or steal his way to victory. Text vote 30330 to get started.
A hundred years ago yesterday, the 19th amendment to the Constitution was ratified. It took seven decades of suffragists marching, picketing, and going to jail to push us closer to a more perfect union. Fifty-five years ago, John Lewis marched and bled in Selma because that work was unfinished. Tonight, I'm thinking of the girls and boys who see themselves in America's future because of Kamala Harris, a Black woman, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, and our nominee for vice president. This is our country's story, breaking down barriers and expanding the circle of possibilities. And to the young people watching don't give up on America. Despite our flaws and problems, we've come so far, we can still be a more just, equal country with opportunities previous generations for never have imagined. There's a lot of heartbreak in America now, and the truth is, many things were broken before the pandemic. But as the saying goes, the world breaks everyone and afterward, many are strong at the broken places. Ask Joe Biden. He knows how to keep going, unify, and lead because he's done that for his family and country. So come November, if we're strong together, we'll heal together. We'll redeem the soul and the promise of our country led by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
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