Former US President Barack Obama (L) and US President Joe Biden.Photo:BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty
PresidentBarack Obamasays that the reasons he selectedJoe Bidenas his running mate in 2008 are the same reasons he thinks Biden deserves to be reelected in 2024: his moral conviction and ability to find common ground even amid complex political issues.
Obama, 62,attended a Democratic fundraiseron Thursday evening with Biden andBill Clintonto discuss the state of democracy and the upcoming election. During a Q&A between the presidents, Obama touched on Biden’s positive traits — a topic that arose after protesters in the audience interjected with shouts of disapproval about how the White House has handled thehumanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The disruption prompted the presidents to each speak on theIsrael-Gaza war, but while Obama was responding, the protestors cut him off. “No, no listen. You can’t just talk and not listen,” Obama told the audience. “That’s what the other side does. And it is possible for us to understand that it is possible to have moral clarity and have deeply held beliefs, but still recognize that the world is complicated and it is hard to solve these problems.”
“The reason why I originally selected Joe Biden to be my vice president, the reason that I think he was one of the best vice presidents we’ve ever had, and the reason why I think he has been an outstanding president is because he has moral conviction and clarity,” Obama continued.
“But he’s also willing to acknowledge that the world is complicated, and that he’s willing to listen to all sides in this debate and every other debate and try to see if we can find common ground. That’s the kind of president I want.”
Stephen Colbert moderates a discussion between Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on March 28, 2024.BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty
As protesters were escorted out of the event, Clinton took a turn addressing their concerns, saying, “I believe that this is one of the most important reasons to elect President Biden. And I’m going to tell you why. Because he genuinely cares about preserving the existence of Israel, which Hamas doesn’t. And he genuinely cares about giving the Palestinians a decent state, self-governance and the support they need for self-determination.”
“You should trust him to work for it,” Clinton said. “To work to ease the suffering of the totally innocent Palestinian citizens, and not to allow Israel’s security to be lost over a bitter difference between the legitimacy of the Palestinians to statehood, which we agree with, all three of us.”
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Thursday night’s Q&A covered several topics — including the economy, border security and the peaceful transfer of power — each of which led to the presidents emphasizing the difference between Biden andDonald Trump’s leadership.
The event, hosted at New York’s Radio City Music Hall and dubbed “An Evening with the Presidents,” brought in an estimated $25 million for the Biden Victory Fund.
In addition to the Biden campaign tappingStephen Colbertto moderate the presidents' discussion, it lined upMindy Kalingas host and featured musical guestsLizzo,Queen Latifah,Ben Platt,Cynthia ErivoandLea Michele.
Alexandra Schonfeld
source: people.com
