cnbc--2020-08-20--Here are the highlights from Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention

WASHINGTON — A former president and the Democratic nominee for vice president were at center stage Wednesday during the third night of the Democratic National Convention .
Former President Barack Obama tore into President Donald Trump in a night otherwise dominated by female Democratic leaders .
Capping it off was Sen. Kamala Harris , the first Black woman and Asian American on a major presidential ticket , formally accepting the nomination to become vice president .
The event was emceed by actress Kerry Washington .
Here are some highlights : Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona , who was shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about her painful recovery during a segment on gun violence in the United States .
Her address , which lasted a minute and 26 seconds , was the longest she has given since the shooting , according to her husband , the U.S. Senate candidate and former astronaut Mark Kelly .
At the beginning of her video address , Giffords plays `` America : My Country , 'T is of Thee '' on a French horn , an instrument she was well-versed in as a child but had to relearn after the shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight , but fighting makes me stronger .
Words once came easily ; today I struggle with speech .
But I have not lost my voice .
America needs all of us to speak out , even when you have to fight to find the words , '' Giffords said .
`` We are at a crossroads .
We can let the shooting continue or we can act .
We can protect our families , our future .
We can vote .
We can be on the right side of history .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there for me ; he 'll be there for you , too . ''
`` We need numbers so overwhelming Trump ca n't sneak or steal his way to victory , '' Clinton said from her home in Chappaqua , New York .
`` Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line , because they are , '' she said .
`` I wish Donald Trump had been a better president .
Because America needs a better president than this , '' Clinton added .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Mitch McConnell for obstructing legislation that her chamber has passed .
`` We have sent the Senate bills for lower health-care costs , for bigger paychecks , for cleaner government , protecting John Lewis ' voting rights and enacting George Floyd Justice in Policing Act , '' she said .
`` We 've sent the Senate bills to protect our dreamers , LGBTQ equality , to prevent gun violence , and to preserve our planet for future generations , and even more .
All of this is possible for America .
Who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell and Donald Trump . ''
She also blamed the Senate majority leader and the president for blocking more coronavirus relief .
The House in May passed a $ 3 trillion bill , while Senate Republicans have proposed a $ 1 trillion law .
Talks between the two sides have broken down as millions face economic peril as the illness continues to spread .
`` Our nation faces the worst health and economic catastrophe in our history .
More than 5 million Americans are infected by the coronavirus .
Over 170,000 have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science based action in the Heroes Act we enacted three months ago is essential to safeguard lives , livelihood and the life of our democracy .
And who is standing in the way ?
Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump . ''
Sen. Elizabeth Warren slammed the Trump administration 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and urged voters to turn out for Joe Biden and his plan to `` build back better . ''
`` I love a good plan , and Joe Biden has some really good plans — plans to bring back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union jobs in clean energy .
Plans to increase Social Security benefits , cancel billions in student loan debt , and make our bankruptcy laws work for families instead of the creditors who cheat them , '' Warren said .
Warren called Trump 's `` ignorance and incompetence '' a danger to the United States .
`` Covid-19 was Trump 's biggest test .
He failed miserably .
Today , America has the most Covid deaths in the world and an economic collapse — and both crises are falling hardest on Black and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Millions out of work .
Millions more trapped in cycles of poverty .
Millions on the brink of losing their homes .
Millions of restaurants and stores hanging by a thread .
This crisis is bad — and did n't have to be this way .
This crisis is on Donald Trump and the Republicans who enable him .
On November 3 , we hold them all accountable , '' she added .
Obama unloaded on his successor , painting him as incompetent , selfish and full of himself .
`` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the work ; no interest in finding common ground ; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends ; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves , '' Obama said .
The former president , who spoke live from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia , also made the case for why voters should pick Biden this fall — even though `` most of you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Harris and Biden , Obama said , `` understand that in this democracy , the commander-in-chief does n't use the men and women of our military , who are willing to risk everything to protect our nation , as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil . ''
Obama added : `` This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that 's what it takes to win . ''
Trump tweeted during Obama 's address , accusing him of taking a long time to endorse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a handful of policy proposals in her speech , did address the racial justice movements sparked by the police killing of George Floyd .
She cited her work in criminal justice and law enforcement as a prosecutor and U.S. senator .
`` There is no vaccine for racism , '' she said .
`` We have got to do the work . ''

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination during an acceptance speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., August 19, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters
WASHINGTON — A former president and the Democratic nominee for vice president were at center stage Wednesday during the third night of the Democratic National Convention. Former President Barack Obama tore into President Donald Trump in a night otherwise dominated by female Democratic leaders. Capping it off was Sen. Kamala Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American on a major presidential ticket, formally accepting the nomination to become vice president. The event was emceed by actress Kerry Washington. Here are some highlights:
Gabby Giffords gives a powerful address
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, who was shot in the head in 2011, spoke about her painful recovery during a segment on gun violence in the United States. Her address, which lasted a minute and 26 seconds, was the longest she has given since the shooting, according to her husband, the U.S. Senate candidate and former astronaut Mark Kelly. At the beginning of her video address, Giffords plays "America: My Country, 'Tis of Thee" on a French horn, an instrument she was well-versed in as a child but had to relearn after the shooting. "My recovery is a daily fight, but fighting makes me stronger. Words once came easily; today I struggle with speech. But I have not lost my voice. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words," Giffords said.
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"We are at a crossroads. We can let the shooting continue or we can act. We can protect our families, our future. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history. We must elect Joe Biden. He was there for me; he'll be there for you, too."
Hillary Clinton calls for overwhelming voter turnout
Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton urged Americans to "vote and convince everyone you know to vote" for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
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"We need numbers so overwhelming Trump can't sneak or steal his way to victory," Clinton said from her home in Chappaqua, New York. "Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are," she said. "I wish Donald Trump had been a better president. Because America needs a better president than this," Clinton added.
Pelosi rails against McConnell and Trump
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used her time to take aim at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for obstructing legislation that her chamber has passed. "We have sent the Senate bills for lower health-care costs, for bigger paychecks, for cleaner government, protecting John Lewis' voting rights and enacting George Floyd Justice in Policing Act," she said. "We've sent the Senate bills to protect our dreamers, LGBTQ equality, to prevent gun violence, and to preserve our planet for future generations, and even more. All of this is possible for America. Who is standing in the way? Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump." She also blamed the Senate majority leader and the president for blocking more coronavirus relief. The House in May passed a $3 trillion bill, while Senate Republicans have proposed a $1 trillion law. Talks between the two sides have broken down as millions face economic peril as the illness continues to spread. "Our nation faces the worst health and economic catastrophe in our history. More than 5 million Americans are infected by the coronavirus. Over 170,000 have died," Pelosi said. "The science based action in the Heroes Act we enacted three months ago is essential to safeguard lives, livelihood and the life of our democracy. And who is standing in the way? Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump."
Warren blasts Trump's handling of the pandemic
Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaking during the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19th, 2020. DNC
Sen. Elizabeth Warren slammed the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and urged voters to turn out for Joe Biden and his plan to "build back better." "I love a good plan, and Joe Biden has some really good plans — plans to bring back union jobs in manufacturing and create new union jobs in clean energy. Plans to increase Social Security benefits, cancel billions in student loan debt, and make our bankruptcy laws work for families instead of the creditors who cheat them," Warren said. Warren called Trump's "ignorance and incompetence" a danger to the United States. "Covid-19 was Trump's biggest test. He failed miserably. Today, America has the most Covid deaths in the world and an economic collapse — and both crises are falling hardest on Black and Brown families," she said. "Millions out of work. Millions more trapped in cycles of poverty. Millions on the brink of losing their homes. Millions of restaurants and stores hanging by a thread. This crisis is bad — and didn't have to be this way. This crisis is on Donald Trump and the Republicans who enable him. On November 3, we hold them all accountable," she added.
Obama slams Trump
Former President Barack Obama speaking during the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19th, 2020. DNC
Obama unloaded on his successor, painting him as incompetent, selfish and full of himself. "He's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves," Obama said. The former president, who spoke live from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, also made the case for why voters should pick Biden this fall — even though "most of you have already made up your mind." Harris and Biden, Obama said, "understand that in this democracy, the commander-in-chief doesn't use the men and women of our military, who are willing to risk everything to protect our nation, as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil." Obama added: "This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that's what it takes to win." Trump tweeted during Obama's address, accusing him of taking a long time to endorse Biden.
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Harris accepts historic VP nomination
U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination during an acceptance speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., August 19, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters
Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American on a major presidential ticket, formally accepted the nomination to become vice president. Harris, who spoke from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, began her acceptance speech describing her parents and her upbringing. "She came here from India at age 19 to pursue her dream of curing cancer," Harris said of her mother. "At the University of California, Berkeley, she met my father, Donald Harris — who had come from Jamaica to study economics. They fell in love in that most American way — while marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s," she added. "My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know she's looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman — all of 5 feet tall — who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California. On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America," Harris said.
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cnbc--2020-08-20--Barack Obama slams the president at the DNC: 'Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can'

Barack Obama slams the president at the DNC: 'Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't'

WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama delivered a searing critique of his successor , President Donald Trump , during his keynote address Wednesday night at the virtual Democratic National Convention .
Obama spoke live from Philadelphia , where he described why he thinks his former vice president , Joe Biden , is the right man for the White House .
Asked to respond to excerpts of Obama 's criticism Wednesday , Trump told reporters , `` President Obama did not do a good job .
...
The reason I 'm here is because of President Obama and Joe Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I would n't be here . ''
`` Good evening , everybody .
As you 've seen by now , this is n't a normal convention .
It 's not a normal time .
So tonight , I want 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 .
`` I 'm in Philadelphia , where our Constitution was drafted and signed .
It was n't a perfect document .
It allowed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee women – and even men who did n't own property – the right to participate in the political process .
But embedded in this document was a North Star that would guide future generations ; a system of representative government – a democracy – through which we could better realize our highest ideals .
Through civil war and bitter struggles , we improved this Constitution to include the voices of those who 'd once been left out .
And gradually , we made this country more just , more equal , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office elected by all of the people is the presidency .
So at minimum , we should expect a president to feel a sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of all 330 million of us – regardless of what we look like , how we worship , who we love , how much money we have – or who we voted for .
`` But we should also expect a president to be the custodian of this democracy .
We should expect that regardless of ego , ambition , or political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect , and defend the freedoms and ideals that so many Americans marched for and went to jail for ; fought for and died for .
`` I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president .
I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies .
I did hope , for the sake of our country , that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously ; that he might come to feel the weight of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the democracy that had been placed in his care .
`` But he never did .
For close to four years now , he 's shown no interest in putting in the work ; no interest in finding common ground ; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends ; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves .
`` Donald Trump has n't grown into the job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences of that failure are severe .
170,000 Americans dead .
Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever .
Our worst impulses unleashed , our proud reputation around the world badly diminished , and our democratic institutions threatened like never before .
`` Now , I know that in times as polarized as these , most of you have already made up your mind .
But maybe you 're still not sure which candidate you 'll vote for – or whether you 'll vote at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction we 're headed , but you ca n't see a better path yet , or you just do n't know enough about the person who wants to lead us there .
`` So let me tell you about my friend Joe Biden .
`` Twelve years ago , when I began my search for a vice president , I did n't know I 'd end up finding a brother .
Joe and I came from different places and different generations .
But what I quickly came to admire about him is his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; his empathy , born of too much grief .
Joe 's a man who learned – early on – to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity , living by the words his parents taught him : `` No one 's better than you , Joe , but you 're better than nobody . ''
`` That empathy , that decency , the belief that everybody counts – that 's who Joe is .
`` When he talks with someone who 's lost her job , Joe remembers the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he 'd lost his .
When Joe listens to a parent who 's trying to hold it all together right now , he does it as the single dad who took the train back to Wilmington each and every night so he could tuck his kids into bed .
When he meets with military families who 've lost their hero , he does it as a kindred spirit ; the parent of an American soldier ; somebody whose faith has endured the hardest loss there is .
`` For eight years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room whenever I faced a big decision .
He made me a better president – and he 's got the character and the experience to make us a better country .
`` And in my friend Kamala Harris , he 's chosen an ideal partner who 's more than prepared for the job ; someone who knows what it 's like to overcome barriers and who 's made a career fighting to help others live out their own American dream .
`` Along with the experience needed to get things done , Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn their vision of a better , fairer , stronger country into reality .
`` They 'll get this pandemic under control , like Joe did when he helped me manage H1N1 and prevent an Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores .
They 'll expand health care to more Americans , like Joe and I did 10 years ago when he helped craft the Affordable Care Act and nail down the votes to make it the law .
They 'll rescue the economy , like Joe helped me do after the Great Recession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recovery Act , which jump-started the longest stretch of job growth in history .
`` And he sees this moment now not as a chance to get back to where we were , but to make long-overdue changes so that our economy actually makes life a little easier for everybody – whether it 's the waitress trying to raise a kid on her own , or the shift worker always on the edge of getting laid off , or the student figuring out how to pay for next semester 's classes .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world – and as we 've learned from this pandemic , that matters .
Joe knows the world , and the world knows him .
He knows that our true strength comes from setting an example the world wants to follow .
A nation that stands with democracy , not dictators .
A nation that can inspire and mobilize others to overcome threats like climate change , terrorism , poverty , and disease .
`` But more than anything , what I know about Joe and Kamala is that they actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care deeply about this democracy .
`` They believe that in a democracy , the right to vote is sacred , and we should be making it easier for people to cast their ballot , not harder .
They believe that no one – including the president – is above the law , and that no public official – including the president – should use their office to enrich themselves or their supporters .
`` They understand that in this democracy , the commander-in-chief does n't use the men and women of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything to protect our nation , as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil .
They understand that political opponents are n't `` un-American '' just because they disagree with you ; that a free press is n't the 'enemy ' but the way we hold officials accountable ; that our ability to work together to solve big problems like a pandemic depends on a fidelity to facts and science and logic and not just making stuff up .
`` None of this should be controversial .
These should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They are American principles .
But at this moment , this president and those who enable him , have shown they do n't believe in these things .
`` Tonight , I am asking you to believe in Joe and Kamala 's ability to lead this country out of these dark times and build it back better .
But here 's the thing : No single American can fix this country alone .
Not even a president .
Democracy was never meant to be transactional – you give me your vote ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an active and informed citizenry .
So I am also asking you to believe in your own ability – to embrace your own responsibility as citizens – to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure .
`` Because that 's what at stake right now .
Our democracy .
`` Look , I understand why a lot of Americans are down on government .
The way the rules have been set up and abused in Congress make it easier for special interests to stop progress than to make progress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand why a White factory worker who 's seen his wages cut or his job shipped overseas might feel like the government no longer looks out for him , and why a Black mom might feel like it never looked out for her at all .
I understand why a new immigrant might look around this country and wonder whether there 's still a place for him here ; why a young person might look at politics right now , the circus of it all , the meanness and the lies and conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point ?
`` Well , here 's the point : this president and those in power – those who benefit from keeping things the way they are – they are counting on your cynicism .
They know they ca n't win you over with their policies .
So they 're hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote , and to convince you that your vote does n't matter .
That 's how they win .
That 's how they get to keep making decisions that affect your life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you love .
That 's how the economy will keep getting skewed to the wealthy and well-connected , how our health systems will let more people fall through the cracks .
That 's how a democracy withers , until it 's no democracy at all .
`` And we can not let that happen .
Do not let them take away your power .
Do not let them take away your democracy .
Make a plan right now for how you 're going to get involved and vote .
Do it as early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and friends how they can vote too .
Do what Americans have done for over two centuries when faced with even tougher times than this – all those quiet heroes who found the courage to keep marching , keep pushing in the face of hardship and injustice .
`` Last month , we lost a giant of American democracy in John Lewis .
Some years ago , I sat down with John and the few remaining leaders of the early civil rights movement .
One of them told me he never imagined he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a president who looked like his grandson .
Then he told me that he 'd looked it up , and it turned out that on the very day that I was born , he was marching into a jail cell , trying to end Jim Crow segregation in the South .
`` What we do echoes through the generations .
`` Whatever our backgrounds , we 're all the children of Americans who fought the good fight .
Great grandparents working in firetraps and sweatshops without rights or representation .
Farmers losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italians and Asians and Latinos told to go back where you came from .
Jews and Catholics , Muslims and Sikhs , made to feel suspect for the way they worshipped .
Black Americans chained and whipped and hanged .
Spit on for trying to sit at lunch counters .
Beaten for trying to vote .
`` If anyone had a right to believe that this democracy did not work , and could not work , it was those Americans .
Our ancestors .
They were on the receiving end of a democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They knew how far the daily reality of America strayed from the myth .
And yet , instead of giving up , they joined together and said somehow , some way , we are going to make this work .
We are going to bring those words , in our founding documents , to life .
`` I 've seen that same spirit rising these past few years .
Folks of every age and background who packed city centers and airports and rural roads so that families would n't be separated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot up .
So that our kids wo n't grow up on an uninhabitable planet .
Americans of all races joining together to declare , in the face of injustice and brutality at the hands of the state , that Black lives matter , no more , but no less , so that no child in this country feels the continuing sting of racism .
`` To the young people who led us this summer , telling us we need to be better – in so many ways , you are this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be persuaded that everyone has equal worth .
For you , it 's a given – a conviction .
And what I want you to know is that for all its messiness and frustrations , your system of self-government can be harnessed to help you realize those convictions .
`` You can give our democracy new meaning .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after this election .
But any chance of success depends entirely on the outcome of this election .
This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that 's what it takes for them to win .
So we have to get busy building it up – by pouring all our efforts into these 76 days , and by voting like never before – for Joe and Kamala , and candidates up and down the ticket , so that we leave no doubt about what this country we love stands for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come .

WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama delivered a searing critique of his successor, President Donald Trump, during his keynote address Wednesday night at the virtual Democratic National Convention.
Obama spoke live from Philadelphia, where he described why he thinks his former vice president, Joe Biden, is the right man for the White House.
Asked to respond to excerpts of Obama's criticism Wednesday, Trump told reporters, "President Obama did not do a good job. ... The reason I'm here is because of President Obama and Joe Biden. Because if they did a good job, I wouldn't be here."
Below are Obama's full remarks:
"Good evening, everybody. As you've seen by now, this isn't a normal convention. It's not a normal time. So tonight, I want 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.
"I'm in Philadelphia, where our Constitution was drafted and signed. It wasn't a perfect document. It allowed for the inhumanity of slavery and failed to guarantee women – and even men who didn't own property – the right to participate in the political process. But embedded in this document was a North Star that would guide future generations; a system of representative government – a democracy – through which we could better realize our highest ideals. Through civil war and bitter struggles, we improved this Constitution to include the voices of those who'd once been left out. And gradually, we made this country more just, more equal, and more free.
"The one Constitutional office elected by all of the people is the presidency. So at minimum, we should expect a president to feel a sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of all 330 million of us – regardless of what we look like, how we worship, who we love, how much money we have – or who we voted for.
"But we should also expect a president to be the custodian of this democracy. We should expect that regardless of ego, ambition, or political beliefs, the president will preserve, protect, and defend the freedoms and ideals that so many Americans marched for and went to jail for; fought for and died for.
"I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care.
"But he never did. For close to four years now, he's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.
"Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't. And the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.
"Now, I know that in times as polarized as these, most of you have already made up your mind. But maybe you're still not sure which candidate you'll vote for – or whether you'll vote at all. Maybe you're tired of the direction we're headed, but you can't see a better path yet, or you just don't know enough about the person who wants to lead us there.
"So let me tell you about my friend Joe Biden.
"Twelve years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didn't know I'd end up finding a brother. Joe and I came from different places and different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief. Joe's a man who learned – early on – to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity, living by the words his parents taught him: "No one's better than you, Joe, but you're better than nobody."
"That empathy, that decency, the belief that everybody counts – that's who Joe is.
"When he talks with someone who's lost her job, Joe remembers the night his father sat him down to say that he'd lost his. When Joe listens to a parent who's trying to hold it all together right now, he does it as the single dad who took the train back to Wilmington each and every night so he could tuck his kids into bed. When he meets with military families who've lost their hero, he does it as a kindred spirit; the parent of an American soldier; somebody whose faith has endured the hardest loss there is.
"For eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better president – and he's got the character and the experience to make us a better country.
"And in my friend Kamala Harris, he's chosen an ideal partner who's more than prepared for the job; someone who knows what it's like to overcome barriers and who's made a career fighting to help others live out their own American dream.
"Along with the experience needed to get things done, Joe and Kamala have concrete policies that will turn their vision of a better, fairer, stronger country into reality.
"They'll get this pandemic under control, like Joe did when he helped me manage H1N1 and prevent an Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores. They'll expand health care to more Americans, like Joe and I did 10 years ago when he helped craft the Affordable Care Act and nail down the votes to make it the law. They'll rescue the economy, like Joe helped me do after the Great Recession. I asked him to manage the Recovery Act, which jump-started the longest stretch of job growth in history.
"And he sees this moment now not as a chance to get back to where we were, but to make long-overdue changes so that our economy actually makes life a little easier for everybody – whether it's the waitress trying to raise a kid on her own, or the shift worker always on the edge of getting laid off, or the student figuring out how to pay for next semester's classes.
"Joe and Kamala will restore our standing in the world – and as we've learned from this pandemic, that matters. Joe knows the world, and the world knows him. He knows that our true strength comes from setting an example the world wants to follow. A nation that stands with democracy, not dictators. A nation that can inspire and mobilize others to overcome threats like climate change, terrorism, poverty, and disease.
"But more than anything, what I know about Joe and Kamala is that they actually care about every American. And they care deeply about this democracy.
"They believe that in a democracy, the right to vote is sacred, and we should be making it easier for people to cast their ballot, not harder. They believe that no one – including the president – is above the law, and that no public official – including the president – should use their office to enrich themselves or their supporters.
"They understand that in this democracy, the commander-in-chief doesn't use the men and women of our military, who are willing to risk everything to protect our nation, as political props to deploy against peaceful protesters on our own soil. They understand that political opponents aren't "un-American" just because they disagree with you; that a free press isn't the 'enemy' but the way we hold officials accountable; that our ability to work together to solve big problems like a pandemic depends on a fidelity to facts and science and logic and not just making stuff up.
"None of this should be controversial. These shouldn't be Republican principles or Democratic principles. They are American principles. But at this moment, this president and those who enable him, have shown they don't believe in these things.
"Tonight, I am asking you to believe in Joe and Kamala's ability to lead this country out of these dark times and build it back better. But here's the thing: No single American can fix this country alone. Not even a president. Democracy was never meant to be transactional – you give me your vote; I make everything better. It requires an active and informed citizenry. So I am also asking you to believe in your own ability – to embrace your own responsibility as citizens – to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure.
"Because that's what at stake right now. Our democracy.
"Look, I understand why a lot of Americans are down on government. The way the rules have been set up and abused in Congress make it easier for special interests to stop progress than to make progress. Believe me, I know. I understand why a White factory worker who's seen his wages cut or his job shipped overseas might feel like the government no longer looks out for him, and why a Black mom might feel like it never looked out for her at all. I understand why a new immigrant might look around this country and wonder whether there's still a place for him here; why a young person might look at politics right now, the circus of it all, the meanness and the lies and conspiracy theories and think, what's the point?
"Well, here's the point: this president and those in power – those who benefit from keeping things the way they are – they are counting on your cynicism. They know they can't win you over with their policies. So they're hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote, and to convince you that your vote doesn't matter. That's how they win. That's how they get to keep making decisions that affect your life, and the lives of the people you love. That's how the economy will keep getting skewed to the wealthy and well-connected, how our health systems will let more people fall through the cracks. That's how a democracy withers, until it's no democracy at all.
"And we cannot let that happen. Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy. Make a plan right now for how you're going to get involved and vote. Do it as early as you can and tell your family and friends how they can vote too. Do what Americans have done for over two centuries when faced with even tougher times than this – all those quiet heroes who found the courage to keep marching, keep pushing in the face of hardship and injustice.
"Last month, we lost a giant of American democracy in John Lewis. Some years ago, I sat down with John and the few remaining leaders of the early civil rights movement. One of them told me he never imagined he'd walk into the White House and see a president who looked like his grandson. Then he told me that he'd looked it up, and it turned out that on the very day that I was born, he was marching into a jail cell, trying to end Jim Crow segregation in the South.
"What we do echoes through the generations.
"Whatever our backgrounds, we're all the children of Americans who fought the good fight. Great grandparents working in firetraps and sweatshops without rights or representation. Farmers losing their dreams to dust. Irish and Italians and Asians and Latinos told to go back where you came from. Jews and Catholics, Muslims and Sikhs, made to feel suspect for the way they worshipped. Black Americans chained and whipped and hanged. Spit on for trying to sit at lunch counters. Beaten for trying to vote.
"If anyone had a right to believe that this democracy did not work, and could not work, it was those Americans. Our ancestors. They were on the receiving end of a democracy that had fallen short all their lives. They knew how far the daily reality of America strayed from the myth. And yet, instead of giving up, they joined together and said somehow, some way, we are going to make this work. We are going to bring those words, in our founding documents, to life.
"I've seen that same spirit rising these past few years. Folks of every age and background who packed city centers and airports and rural roads so that families wouldn't be separated. So that another classroom wouldn't get shot up. So that our kids won't grow up on an uninhabitable planet. Americans of all races joining together to declare, in the face of injustice and brutality at the hands of the state, that Black lives matter, no more, but no less, so that no child in this country feels the continuing sting of racism.
"To the young people who led us this summer, telling us we need to be better – in so many ways, you are this country's dreams fulfilled. Earlier generations had to be persuaded that everyone has equal worth. For you, it's a given – a conviction. And what I want you to know is that for all its messiness and frustrations, your system of self-government can be harnessed to help you realize those convictions.
"You can give our democracy new meaning. 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.
"That work will continue long after this election. But any chance of success depends entirely on the outcome of this election. This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that's what it takes for them to win. So we have to get busy building it up – by pouring all our efforts into these 76 days, and by voting like never before – for Joe and Kamala, and candidates up and down the ticket, so that we leave no doubt about what this country we love stands for – today and for all our days to come.
"Stay safe. God bless."


cnbc--2020-08-20--Here's what Kamala Harris said at the Democratic National Convention

WASHINGTON – Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris used her highly anticipated speech Wednesday night to describe the vision of America that she was raised with , and to contrast it with the state of the country today under President Donald Trump .
The California senator is the daughter of two immigrants , her mother is from India and her father is from Jamaica .
Wednesday is the third day of the virtual Democratic National Convention , one that is traditionally headlined by the vice presidential nominee .
As the running mate of former Vice President Joe Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic vice presidential picks on the campaign trail , and attacked the Republicans on Wednesday .
The Trump campaign released a statement Wednesday before Harris started speaking , calling her `` a total phony . ''
`` Greetings America .
It is truly an honor to be speaking with you .
That I am here tonight is a testament to the dedication of generations before me .
Women and men who believed so fiercely in the promise of equality , liberty , and justice for all .
`` This week marks the 100th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amendment .
And we celebrate the women who fought for that right .
Yet so many of the Black women who helped secure that victory were still prohibited from voting , long after its ratification .
`` But they were undeterred .
Without fanfare or recognition , they organized , testified , rallied , marched , and fought—not just for their vote , but for a seat at the table .
These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy and opportunity real in the lives of all of us who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the trailblazing leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton .
And these women inspired us to pick up the torch , and fight on .
Women like Mary Church Terrell and Mary McCleod Bethune .
Fannie Lou Hamer and Diane Nash .
Constance Baker Motley and Shirley Chisholm .
We 're not often taught their stories .
But as Americans , we all stand on their shoulders .
`` There 's another woman , whose name is n't known , whose story is n't shared .
Another woman whose shoulders I stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gopalan Harris .
She came here from India at age 19 to pursue her dream of curing cancer .
At the University of California Berkeley , she met my father , Donald Harris—who had come from Jamaica to study economics .
They fell in love in that most American way—while marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s .
`` In the streets of Oakland and Berkeley , I got a stroller's-eye view of people getting into what the great John Lewis called `` good trouble . ''
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and my mother raised us mostly on her own .
Like so many mothers , she worked around the clock to make it work—packing lunches before we woke up—and paying bills after we went to bed .
Helping us with homework at the kitchen table—and shuttling us to church for choir practice .
`` She made it look easy , though I know it never was .
My mother instilled in my sister , Maya , and me the values that would chart the course of our lives .
She raised us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage .
She taught us to put family first—the family you 're born into and the family you choose .
`` Family , is my husband Doug , who I met on a blind date set up by my best friend .
Family is our beautiful children , Cole and Ella , who as you just heard , call me Momala .
Family is my sister .
Family is my best friend , my nieces and my godchildren .
Family is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Family is Mrs. Shelton—my second mother who lived two doors down and helped raise me .
Family is my beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha ... our Divine 9…and my HBCU brothers and sisters .
Family is the friends I turned to when my mother—the most important person in my life—passed away from cancer .
`` And even as she taught us to keep our family at the center of our world , she also pushed us to see a world beyond ourselves .
She taught us to be conscious and compassionate about the struggles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service is a noble cause and the fight for justice is a shared responsibility .
`` That led me to become a lawyer , a District Attorney , Attorney General , and a United States Senator .
And at every step of the way , I 've been guided by the words I spoke from the first time I stood in a courtroom : Kamala Harris , For the People .
`` I 've fought for children , and survivors of sexual assault .
I 've fought against transnational gangs .
I took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take down one of the biggest for-profit colleges .
I know a predator when I see one .
`` My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning .
And oh , how I wish she were here tonight but I know she 's looking down on me from above .
I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman—all of five feet tall—who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland , California .
On that day , she probably could have never imagined that I would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : I accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States of America .
`` I do so , committed to the values she taught me .
To the Word that teaches me to walk by faith , and not by sight .
And to a vision passed on through generations of Americans—one that Joe Biden shares .
A vision of our nation as a Beloved Community—where all are welcome , no matter what we look like , where we come from , or who we love .
`` A country where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we are united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth , deserving of compassion , dignity and respect .
A country where we look out for one another , where we rise and fall as one , where we face our challenges , and celebrate our triumphs—together .
Today ... that country feels distant .
`` Donald Trump 's failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods .
If you 're a parent struggling with your child 's remote learning , or you 're a teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screen , you know that what we 're doing right now is n't working .
`` And we are a nation that 's grieving .
Grieving the loss of life , the loss of jobs , the loss of opportunities , the loss of normalcy .
And yes , the loss of certainty .
And while this virus touches us all , let 's be honest , it is not an equal opportunity offender .
Black , Latino and Indigenous people are suffering and dying disproportionately .
`` This is not a coincidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism .
Of inequities in education and technology , health care and housing , job security and transportation .
The injustice in reproductive and maternal health care .
In the excessive use of force by police .
And in our broader criminal justice system .
`` This virus has no eyes , and yet it knows exactly how we see each other—and how we treat each other .
And let 's be clear—there is no vaccine for racism .
We 've got ta do the work .
For George Floyd .
For Breonna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many others to name .
For our children .
For all of us .
We 've got ta do the work to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law .
Because , none of us are free ... until all of us are free ... '' We 're at an inflection point .
The constant chaos leaves us adrift .
The incompetence makes us feel afraid .
The callousness makes us feel alone .
It 's a lot .
And here 's the thing : We can do better and deserve so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a president who will bring something different , something better , and do the important work .
A president who will bring all of us together—Black , White , Latino , Asian , Indigenous—to achieve the future we collectively want .
We must elect Joe Biden .
`` I knew Joe as Vice President .
I knew Joe on the campaign trail .
But I first got to know Joe as the father of my friend .
Joe 's son , Beau , and I served as Attorneys General of our states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recession , we spoke on the phone nearly every day , working together to win back billions of dollars for homeowners from the big banks that foreclosed on people 's homes .
`` And Beau and I would talk about his family .
How , as a single father , Joe would spend 4 hours every day riding the train back and forth from Wilmington to Washington .
Beau and Hunter got to have breakfast every morning with their dad .
They went to sleep every night with the sound of his voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endured an unspeakable loss , these two little boys Always knew that they were deeply , unconditionally loved .
`` And what also moved me about Joe is the work he did , as he went back and forth .
This is the leader who wrote the Violence Against Women Act—and enacted the Assault Weapons Ban .
Who , as Vice President , implemented The Recovery Act , which brought our country back from The Great Recession .
He championed The Affordable Care Act , protecting millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests around the world , standing up with our allies and standing up to our adversaries .
`` Right now , we have a president who turns our tragedies into political weapons .
Joe will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose .
Joe will bring us together to build an economy that does n't leave anyone behind .
Where a good-paying job is the floor , not the ceiling .
Joe will bring us together to end this pandemic and make sure that we are prepared for the next one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ squarely face and dismantle racial injustice , furthering the work of generations .
Joe and I believe that we can build that Beloved Community , one that is strong and decent , just and kind .
One in which we all can see ourselves .
`` That 's the vision that our parents and grandparents fought for .
The vision that made my own life possible .
The vision that makes the American promise—for all its complexities and imperfections—a promise worth fighting for .
`` Make no mistake , the road ahead will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stumble .
We may fall short .
But I pledge to you that we will act boldly and deal with our challenges honestly .
We will speak truths .
And we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us .
`` We believe that our country—all of us , will stand together for a better future .
We already are .
We see it in the doctors , the nurses , the home health care workers and the frontline workers who are risking their lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We see it in the teachers and truck drivers , the factory workers and farmers , the postal workers and the Poll workers , all putting their own safety on the line to help us get through this pandemic .
And we see it in so many of you who are working , not just to get us through our current crises , but to somewhere better .
`` There 's something happening , all across the country .
It 's not about Joe or me .
It 's about you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all ages and colors and creeds who are , yes , taking to the streets , and also persuading our family members , rallying our friends , organizing our neighbors , and getting out the vote .
And we 've shown that , when we vote , we expand access to health care , expand access to the ballot box , and ensure that more working families can make a decent living .
`` I 'm inspired by a new generation of leadership .
You are pushing us to realize the ideals of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the values we share : decency and fairness , justice and love .
You are the patriots who remind us that to love our country is to fight for the ideals of our country .
In this election , we have a chance to change the course of history .
We 're all in this fight .
You , me , and Joe—together .
What an awesome responsibility .
What an awesome privilege .
`` So , let 's fight with conviction .
Let 's fight with hope .
Let 's fight with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to each other .
To the America we know is possible .
The America , we love .
Years from now , this moment will have passed .
And our children and our grandchildren will look in our eyes and ask us : Where were you when the stakes were so high ?
They will ask us , what was it like ?
`` And we will tell them .
We will tell them , not just how we felt .
We will tell them what we did .
`` Thank you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States of America . ''

WASHINGTON – Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris used her highly anticipated speech Wednesday night to describe the vision of America that she was raised with, and to contrast it with the state of the country today under President Donald Trump.
The California senator is the daughter of two immigrants, her mother is from India and her father is from Jamaica. Wednesday is the third day of the virtual Democratic National Convention, one that is traditionally headlined by the vice presidential nominee.
As the running mate of former Vice President Joe Biden, Harris also fulfilled the traditional role of Democratic vice presidential picks on the campaign trail, and attacked the Republicans on Wednesday.
The Trump campaign released a statement Wednesday before Harris started speaking, calling her "a total phony."
Below are Harris' full remarks.
"Greetings America. It is truly an honor to be speaking with you. That I am here tonight is a testament to the dedication of generations before me. Women and men who believed so fiercely in the promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all.
"This week marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment. And we celebrate the women who fought for that right. Yet so many of the Black women who helped secure that victory were still prohibited from voting, long after its ratification.
"But they were undeterred. Without fanfare or recognition, they organized, testified, rallied, marched, and fought—not just for their vote, but for a seat at the table. These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy and opportunity real in the lives of all of us who followed.
"They paved the way for the trailblazing leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. And these women inspired us to pick up the torch, and fight on. Women like Mary Church Terrell and Mary McCleod Bethune. Fannie Lou Hamer and Diane Nash. Constance Baker Motley and Shirley Chisholm. We're not often taught their stories. But as Americans, we all stand on their shoulders.
"There's another woman, whose name isn't known, whose story isn't shared. Another woman whose shoulders I stand on. And that's my mother—Shyamala Gopalan Harris. She came here from India at age 19 to pursue her dream of curing cancer. At the University of California Berkeley, she met my father, Donald Harris—who had come from Jamaica to study economics. They fell in love in that most American way—while marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
"In the streets of Oakland and Berkeley, I got a stroller's-eye view of people getting into what the great John Lewis called "good trouble." When I was 5, my parents split and my mother raised us mostly on her own. Like so many mothers, she worked around the clock to make it work—packing lunches before we woke up—and paying bills after we went to bed. Helping us with homework at the kitchen table—and shuttling us to church for choir practice.
"She made it look easy, though I know it never was. My mother instilled in my sister, Maya, and me the values that would chart the course of our lives. She raised us to be proud, strong Black women. And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage. She taught us to put family first—the family you're born into and the family you choose.
"Family, is my husband Doug, who I met on a blind date set up by my best friend. Family is our beautiful children, Cole and Ella, who as you just heard, call me Momala. Family is my sister. Family is my best friend, my nieces and my godchildren. Family is my uncles, my aunts—my chitthis. Family is Mrs. Shelton—my second mother who lived two doors down and helped raise me. Family is my beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha...our Divine 9…and my HBCU brothers and sisters. Family is the friends I turned to when my mother—the most important person in my life—passed away from cancer.
"And even as she taught us to keep our family at the center of our world, she also pushed us to see a world beyond ourselves. She taught us to be conscious and compassionate about the struggles of all people. To believe public service is a noble cause and the fight for justice is a shared responsibility.
"That led me to become a lawyer, a District Attorney, Attorney General, and a United States Senator. And at every step of the way, I've been guided by the words I spoke from the first time I stood in a courtroom: Kamala Harris, For the People.
"I've fought for children, and survivors of sexual assault. I've fought against transnational gangs. I took on the biggest banks, and helped take down one of the biggest for-profit colleges. I know a predator when I see one.
"My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know she's looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25-year-old Indian woman—all of five feet tall—who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California. On that day, she probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States of America.
"I do so, committed to the values she taught me. To the Word that teaches me to walk by faith, and not by sight. And to a vision passed on through generations of Americans—one that Joe Biden shares. A vision of our nation as a Beloved Community—where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love.
"A country where we may not agree on every detail, but we are united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth, deserving of compassion, dignity and respect. A country where we look out for one another, where we rise and fall as one, where we face our challenges, and celebrate our triumphs—together. Today... that country feels distant.
"Donald Trump's failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods. If you're a parent struggling with your child's remote learning, or you're a teacher struggling on the other side of that screen, you know that what we're doing right now isn't working.
"And we are a nation that's grieving. Grieving the loss of life, the loss of jobs, the loss of opportunities, the loss of normalcy. And yes, the loss of certainty. And while this virus touches us all, let's be honest, it is not an equal opportunity offender. Black, Latino and Indigenous people are suffering and dying disproportionately.
"This is not a coincidence. It is the effect of structural racism. Of inequities in education and technology, health care and housing, job security and transportation. The injustice in reproductive and maternal health care. In the excessive use of force by police. And in our broader criminal justice system.
"This virus has no eyes, and yet it knows exactly how we see each other—and how we treat each other. And let's be clear—there is no vaccine for racism. We've gotta do the work. For George Floyd. For Breonna Taylor. For the lives of too many others to name. For our children. For all of us. We've gotta do the work to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law. Because, none of us are free...until all of us are free...
"We're at an inflection point. The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone. It's a lot. And here's the thing: We can do better and deserve so much more.
"We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us together—Black, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenous—to achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect Joe Biden.
"I knew Joe as Vice President. I knew Joe on the campaign trail. But I first got to know Joe as the father of my friend. Joe's son, Beau, and I served as Attorneys General of our states, Delaware and California. During the Great Recession, we spoke on the phone nearly every day, working together to win back billions of dollars for homeowners from the big banks that foreclosed on people's homes.
"And Beau and I would talk about his family. How, as a single father, Joe would spend 4 hours every day riding the train back and forth from Wilmington to Washington. Beau and Hunter got to have breakfast every morning with their dad. They went to sleep every night with the sound of his voice reading bedtime stories. And while they endured an unspeakable loss, these two little boys Always knew that they were deeply, unconditionally loved.
"And what also moved me about Joe is the work he did, as he went back and forth. This is the leader who wrote the Violence Against Women Act—and enacted the Assault Weapons Ban. Who, as Vice President, implemented The Recovery Act, which brought our country back from The Great Recession. He championed The Affordable Care Act, protecting millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. Who spent decades promoting American values and interests around the world, standing up with our allies and standing up to our adversaries.
"Right now, we have a president who turns our tragedies into political weapons. Joe will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose. Joe will bring us together to build an economy that doesn't leave anyone behind. Where a good-paying job is the floor, not the ceiling. Joe will bring us together to end this pandemic and make sure that we are prepared for the next one. Joe will bring us together to squarely face and dismantle racial injustice, furthering the work of generations. Joe and I believe that we can build that Beloved Community, one that is strong and decent, just and kind. One in which we all can see ourselves.
"That's the vision that our parents and grandparents fought for. The vision that made my own life possible. The vision that makes the American promise—for all its complexities and imperfections—a promise worth fighting for.
"Make no mistake, the road ahead will not be not easy. We will stumble. We may fall short. But I pledge to you that we will act boldly and deal with our challenges honestly. We will speak truths. And we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us.
"We believe that our country—all of us, will stand together for a better future. We already are. We see it in the doctors, the nurses, the home health care workers and the frontline workers who are risking their lives to save people they've never met. We see it in the teachers and truck drivers, the factory workers and farmers, the postal workers and the Poll workers, all putting their own safety on the line to help us get through this pandemic. And we see it in so many of you who are working, not just to get us through our current crises, but to somewhere better.
"There's something happening, all across the country. It's not about Joe or me. It's about you. It's about us. People of all ages and colors and creeds who are, yes, taking to the streets, and also persuading our family members, rallying our friends, organizing our neighbors, and getting out the vote. And we've shown that, when we vote, we expand access to health care, expand access to the ballot box, and ensure that more working families can make a decent living.
"I'm inspired by a new generation of leadership. You are pushing us to realize the ideals of our nation, pushing us to live the values we share: decency and fairness, justice and love. You are the patriots who remind us that to love our country is to fight for the ideals of our country. In this election, we have a chance to change the course of history. We're all in this fight. You, me, and Joe—together. What an awesome responsibility. What an awesome privilege.
"So, let's fight with conviction. Let's fight with hope. Let's fight with confidence in ourselves, and a commitment to each other. To the America we know is possible. The America, we love. Years from now, this moment will have passed. And our children and our grandchildren will look in our eyes and ask us: Where were you when the stakes were so high? They will ask us, what was it like?
"And we will tell them. We will tell them, not just how we felt. We will tell them what we did.
"Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."


cnbc--2020-08-20--Here are the speakers at the Democratic National Convention tonight

Former President Barack Obama and Sen. Kamala Harris to speak on Day 3 of the 2020 Democratic National Convention .
@ @ @ @ @ the Democratic Party 's vice presidential nomination , and former President Barack Obama will make @ @ @ @ @ ex-running mate during the third night of the Democratic National Convention .
Joe Biden became @ @ @ @ @ nominee on Tuesday night .
Harris , a California Democrat , is expected to vouch @ @ @ @ @ for office and criticize President Donald Trump 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Obama @ @ @ @ @ the third former president to advocate for Biden during the convention .
( See the @ @ @ @ @ second nights ) .
Speakers will start at 9 p.m .
ET on Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ virtually from around the country after the coronavirus pandemic forced the party to scrap its @ @ @ @

Former President Barack Obama and Sen. Kamala Harris to speak on Day 3 of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Sen. Kamala Harris will accept the Democratic Party's vice presidential nomination, and former President Barack Obama will make the case for his own ex-running mate during the third night of the Democratic National Convention.
Joe Biden became the party's official presidential nominee on Tuesday night. Harris, a California Democrat, is expected to vouch for the ticket's readiness for office and criticize President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Obama, meanwhile, will be the third former president to advocate for Biden during the convention.
(See the highlights from the first and second nights).
Speakers will start at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday. They will address the convention virtually from around the country after the coronavirus pandemic forced the party to scrap its event in Milwaukee.


cnbc--2020-08-21--What to watch for on the final night of the Democratic National Convention

WASHINGTON – It 's Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's big night , and he will deliver an acceptance speech that represents the culmination of four decades during which Biden has either considered running or officially run for the presidency at least nine times .
Now , at 77 years old , he 's finally the party 's nominee .
But the party that Biden leads today has , in many ways , moved beyond him .
Biden 's challenge on Thursday night will be to prove that he can still capture the hearts of Democrats in 2020 , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington as a young senator .
Democrats today are younger , more diverse , more progressive and , after four years of President Donald Trump , more skeptical of government than ever before .
So how do you rally them to action when they 're sitting at home , and you 're standing alone on a stage in Wilmington , Delaware ?
One answer is that Biden will need to offer Democratic voters a concrete policy picture of what he 'll do if he 's elected president .
So far this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nightly telethon-style Democratic convention speeches have heard a lot about what a great guy Biden is , as a father and a husband , as a legislator and a vice president .
But they have n't heard a lot about what a Biden administration would look like , what he would do on his first day in office , and what hard choices Biden would make in order to tackle the three concurrent crises that are engulfing the country : the coronavirus pandemic , the economic devastation caused by the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roils American cities on a near-nightly basis .
Would Biden shut down the U.S. economy again , federalize testing and issue a nationwide mask mandate – all controversial moves – if that meant the country could achieve something more akin to Western Europe 's low coronavirus infection rates ?
How long would Biden artificially float U.S. industries like travel and tourism , but also individual businesses , that might never return to their pre-pandemic business models ?
Would he extend expanded unemployment benefits into 2021 if there 's still no vaccine next spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his bolder ( read : more expensive ) policy proposals , like the new green economic plan , on hold until the nation recovers somewhat from the coronavirus recession ?
These are all questions that voters want to know the answers to , and which Biden , who has so far resisted tough sit-down interviews , could begin to spell out on Thursday night .
The new , new Democrats These are not the progressive all-stars of the party – there are no `` squad '' members , no especially progressive lawmakers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next generation of pragmatic lawmakers willing to reach across the aisle , updated for a new century perhaps , but still the kind of people with whom Biden identifies .
They are also all Democrats who can appeal to the independent voters and blue-collar Democrats that Biden believes will win him the White House .
The former vice president has said before that he intends to win this race in the Midwest , meaning not necessarily in places like Florida , North Carolina and the Sun Belt .
Thursday 's lineup reflects Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been much hand-wringing in Democratic circles ever since it was announced that former Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democratic primary candidate Michael Bloomberg would be given a prominent speaking role on the biggest night of the convention .
On one hand , this is surely a thank you for the millions of dollars of his own fortune that Bloomberg has poured into Democratic campaign coffers over the past four years .
He was the biggest single outside spender on House Democrats in 2018 when they reclaimed the majority and proceeded to kneecap the remainder of Trump 's first-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend big on Democratic candidates this year , although that money has yet to materialize , leading some Democratic campaign finance pros to wonder when Bloomberg will start cutting checks .
But so far , high-profile Democratic Senate challengers have raised a lot of money on their own , without Bloomberg 's help .
Still , the promise of Bloomberg 's help down the road looms large in the minds of Democratic donors and campaign strategists .
And as someone who shares Biden 's deep disdain for Trump , it 's easy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Will any of it matter ?
The last factor to watch for Thursday night wo n't really be visible for another few days , but clues will emerge Thursday : Does all this work by Democrats , and all this pillorying of Trump and speeches by Biden and Harris and Obama make any difference to voters ?
Does it move the needle at all ?
Historically , presidential candidates have come to expect a bump in the polls following their party conventions , But this year is n't like any in history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the convention is down about 25 % over the 2016 Democratic National Convention , organizers say this week 's online viewership has more than made up for the drop in cable and network eyeballs .
Polling over the coming days may bear this out , or it may suggest that virtual conventions are just that , virtually as effective as a traditional nominating convention , but still missing something .
The only consolation for Democrats may be that if the virtual convention format falls short for them , then it will likely fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If that 's the case , then by early September , the race for the White House could be right back where it was last week : With Biden holding a steady , but far from solid , lead over Trump .

Former Vice President Joe Biden, Democratic presidential nominee, stands on stage during the Democratic National Convention at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images
WASHINGTON – It's Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's big night, and he will deliver an acceptance speech that represents the culmination of four decades during which Biden has either considered running or officially run for the presidency at least nine times. Now, at 77 years old, he's finally the party's nominee. But the party that Biden leads today has, in many ways, moved beyond him. Biden's challenge on Thursday night will be to prove that he can still capture the hearts of Democrats in 2020, more than 40 years after he first arrived in Washington as a young senator. Democrats today are younger, more diverse, more progressive and, after four years of President Donald Trump, more skeptical of government than ever before. So how do you rally them to action when they're sitting at home, and you're standing alone on a stage in Wilmington, Delaware? One answer is that Biden will need to offer Democratic voters a concrete policy picture of what he'll do if he's elected president. Watch Live: The Democratic National Convention
A Biden White House
So far this week, viewers who've tuned in to the nightly telethon-style Democratic convention speeches have heard a lot about what a great guy Biden is, as a father and a husband, as a legislator and a vice president. But they haven't heard a lot about what a Biden administration would look like, what he would do on his first day in office, and what hard choices Biden would make in order to tackle the three concurrent crises that are engulfing the country: the coronavirus pandemic, the economic devastation caused by the virus, and the once-in-a-generation social unrest that still roils American cities on a near-nightly basis. Would Biden shut down the U.S. economy again, federalize testing and issue a nationwide mask mandate – all controversial moves – if that meant the country could achieve something more akin to Western Europe's low coronavirus infection rates? How long would Biden artificially float U.S. industries like travel and tourism, but also individual businesses, that might never return to their pre-pandemic business models? Would he extend expanded unemployment benefits into 2021 if there's still no vaccine next spring? Would Biden consider putting some of his bolder (read: more expensive) policy proposals, like the new green economic plan, on hold until the nation recovers somewhat from the coronavirus recession? These are all questions that voters want to know the answers to, and which Biden, who has so far resisted tough sit-down interviews, could begin to spell out on Thursday night.
The new, new Democrats
Another thing to watch for Thursday night are the speakers ahead of Biden, who together represent a very Biden-esque view of the future of the Democratic party. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, entrepreneur Andrew Yang and Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin are all on deck Thursday night.
Democratic presidential candidate and mayor of South Bend, Indiana Pete Buttigieg responds to a question during a forum held by gun safety organizations the Giffords group and March For Our Lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 2, 2019. Steve Marcus | Reuters
These are not the progressive all-stars of the party – there are no "squad" members, no especially progressive lawmakers, or YouTube activists. These are the next generation of pragmatic lawmakers willing to reach across the aisle, updated for a new century perhaps, but still the kind of people with whom Biden identifies. They are also all Democrats who can appeal to the independent voters and blue-collar Democrats that Biden believes will win him the White House. The former vice president has said before that he intends to win this race in the Midwest, meaning not necessarily in places like Florida, North Carolina and the Sun Belt. Thursday's lineup reflects Biden's path to victory.
Bloomberg returns
There has been much hand-wringing in Democratic circles ever since it was announced that former Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democratic primary candidate Michael Bloomberg would be given a prominent speaking role on the biggest night of the convention. On one hand, this is surely a thank you for the millions of dollars of his own fortune that Bloomberg has poured into Democratic campaign coffers over the past four years. He was the biggest single outside spender on House Democrats in 2018 when they reclaimed the majority and proceeded to kneecap the remainder of Trump's first-term agenda. Bloomberg has also pledged to spend big on Democratic candidates this year, although that money has yet to materialize, leading some Democratic campaign finance pros to wonder when Bloomberg will start cutting checks. But so far, high-profile Democratic Senate challengers have raised a lot of money on their own, without Bloomberg's help. Still, the promise of Bloomberg's help down the road looms large in the minds of Democratic donors and campaign strategists. And as someone who shares Biden's deep disdain for Trump, it's easy to see how he fits into the lineup.
Democratic presidential candidate former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg delivers remarks during a campaign rally on February 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. Brett Carlsen | Getty Images
Will any of it matter?