Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden fielded questions from undecided voters in Miami, Florida.
Biden fielded questions regarding Trump’s demeanor and health; the coronavirus pandemic; police reforms; reproductive rights; and how he would relate to younger generations. A couple people asking question were looking for insights into how to reunite the country after Trump’s term.
(Update 9:09 p.m. ET) A 21-year-old immigrant from Colombia, who came to the US when he was 2-years-old, asked how someone of Biden’s age (77) can faithfully represent people in Gen-Z, and he asked if he can reassure him that the American Dream still exists.
Biden: “I guarantee you [the American Dream] still exists.” Biden positioned his age as an advantage. “With age comes wisdom.” Biden noted that he has grandchildren who are getting out of law school and college are also having problems finding jobs.
Biden said that the current generation is basically getting screwed and that he would help ease the burden by “eliminating a lot of student debt” if elected, if you come to a family making less than $125,000 and you went to a public university. He said he would push to have $10,000 knocked off of student debt as we emerge from the pandemic. First time home buyers would get $15,000 in credit to buy a home so they can build wealth, which is how people build wealth.
Biden noted that he has called himself a “transitional president.” He didn’t mean one-term; he meant transitioning to the next generation. “You’re best educated, the most open, the least prejudiced generation in American history. The future is yours and I’m counting on you.”
(Update 8:59 p.m. ET) A Latin voter noted that the Trump campaign is running ads in Florida that say “a vote for Biden is a vote for socialism or even communism.” He asked what can be done to make people who understandable are afraid of such rhetoric to vote for Biden-Harris.
Biden said, “Do I look like a socialist?” Biden noted that during the primary he got in trouble for taking on the “socialist”, that being Bernie Sanders, in the Party.
“There’s not a single syllable that I’ve said that leads you to believe that I’m a socialist or a communist.”
(Update 8:55 p.m. ET) A Clinton voter, who’s voted for republicans in the past, asked what three actions Biden would take to reunite the country and bring us out of the partisan landscape.
Biden noted his history of reaching across the aisle. Biden noted that he would have the toxic relationships with people as Trump does, noting Trump’s turning on Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III in Alabama.
Biden said he learned a long time ago, “It’s always appropriate to question another man or woman’s judgement; it’s never appropriate to question their motive.”
Holt interrupted that to ask for something substantive. Biden noted that during the lame duck session in 2016, he put together a bill to fund cancer research, which got overwhelming bipartisan support.
He pointed to his time as VP and a Senator where he worked to bring the opposition in to negotiations for bills.
Biden also noted that previous presidents had brought together coalitions to “advise and consent” to potential Supreme Court picks.
(Update 8:49 p.m. ET) A woman asked about what Biden’s plans are to protect women’s reproductive rights, including access to birth control and abortion.
Biden noted that while we don’t know for certain how Trump Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett would vote, all indicators show that she would vote to strike down Roe v. Wade. Biden said he would support legislation that would make the pro-choice options available through Roe “the law of the land.”
(Update 8:50 p.m. ET) A teacher asked what’s Biden’s plan to make sure teachers and students are safe during the pandemic.
Biden said the first thing would be to look at the local transmission rate is low, relying on science, to not open when the local transmission rate is low. Opening safely requires four things: the teachers having PPE; the children are able to be in smaller modules; the sanitation capacity is upgraded; and that there’s not overcrowding and there are enough teachers.
Biden noted that there hasn’t been any vaccine testing for children. He noted that it would cost $200 billion to open schools safely.
(Update 8:45 p.m. ET) Biden said Trump legitimized the people who support hate and racism, and he said his administration would equip federal, state and local agencies to deal with hate-based groups.
(Update 8:43 p.m. ET) A Black woman asked what a Biden administration would do to stop extremists and white supremacist groups, and what would be his approach to police reform to help Black communities feel safe.
Biden pointed out that Trump’s own FBI director has said that the greatest domestic terrorist threat is white supremacists. (Fact check: TRUE.) He called out Trump for urging the Proud Boys to “Stand back but stand by,” saying it’s a clarion call to extremists.
Biden also said “cops are kinda like school teachers: everything lands on their desk.” He said cops need more help and money to handle what they face every day.
Biden also supported “sensitivity training” to handle the various cultures and backgrounds of the growing population. He also said he wants to diminish the prospect of use of force, as well as banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants.
Biden noted that the commission the Obama Administration set up a commission to do that, but Trump disbanded the effort.
Biden called out Trump’s saying, “there are very fine people on both sides”–which is a true statement–saying no president has every embraced racism like that. (That’s not true, given the history of slavery in this country.)
(Update 8:33 p.m. ET): The wife and mother of police officers asked how his administration would handle police reform so that citizens are served and police are protected.
Biden noted that the vast majority of police are good people who should come home safe every night. He noted that communities and police do not support bad cops. Biden also said that violent protest will not be tolerated and is not legal.
Biden said he would bring police leaders and protest leaders together to best reform policing. He wants social services budget increasing, as well as having community policing. “The kid walking across the street with a hoodie on, could be the next poet laureate.”
(Update 8:30 p.m. ET) A Biden-leaning voter asked how he would handle himself as president if Trump bullied him in the first debate.
Biden responded that he’s used to bullies, having had a stutter while he was a child.
“How I could possibly have him respect the debate, respect the evening and respect the moderator,” Biden said he calculated. Biden noted that Trump didn’t address a specific policy during the debate. Biden said he thought the debate was an embarrassment for the nation.
(Update 8:22 p.m.) An United Airlines furloughed flight attendant asked Biden what he would do to support the travel and tourism industry.
Biden noted that Congress is at standstill at providing funds to help the airline industry in the latest relief bill. He noted that he supports a Department of Transportation mandate that people who ride on planes or buses must wear a mask, a proposal rejected by the Trump Administration.
Biden noted that 10 million people lost their employer-based insurance during the coronavirus recession. Biden asked if you can give a tax break to racehorse owners or people for a three-martini lunch, “why can’t we give a tax break or free access to health care in a COVID crisis?”
(Update 8:20 p.m.) An undecided republican asked how Biden planned to balance the financial, physical and social impacts of the virus, which most say will be with us for awhile?
Biden continued to talk about wearing a mask as a service to others. Biden said his goal is to restore the soul of the country, to rebuild the middle class and finally to reunite the country.
(Update 8:15 p.m.) A pediatric nurse asked, “Can you tell us what Biden-Harris federal response plan to fight the pandemic would be that would unite this country?”
Biden said he would mandate wearing a mask on federal property. Rapidly move to get federal testing so business could open. Schools should get funding for ventilation, masks and testing. Biden claimed that the Trump administration and FEMA stopped emergency funds to schools because they said it’s not a federal emergency.
Holt asked what power the president has to mandate masks. Biden said the president doesn’t have any except on federal land and he would call state governors together to push for state mandates.
(Update 8:11 p.m. ET) Biden stated that more people are forecasted to die from the coronavirus than died in World War II. (Fact check: The United States lost 418,000 people in the Second World War; according to IHME, the current projection sits at 363,000 if we maintain current restrictions. If regulations are lessened, that projection rises to 435,000 by January 1, 2021.)
Biden said he would be largely honest with the American people about his health, but would likely keep minor details “only on the margins” personal. Biden called wearing a mask a patriotic duty.
(Update 8:06 p.m. ET) Biden commented that he was glad that President Trump is apparently doing better in his fight against the coronavirus. Biden rattled off the statistics, and he noted that he wasn’t surprised by Trump’s diagnosis after watching Trump in crowds and not social distancing.
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