From The Darkness We Can See A Light: 5 Takeaways From Biden's Independence Hall Speech
The president's speech Thursday night was a time-setting moment that clarifies where we are and, most importantly, where we are going
Presidents are strange things. While often called “the most powerful person on Earth,” they are also bound by political and economic forces and relegated to fronting a larger project that can work beyond their control. For the most part, presidents can articulate the moment or sell the conditions to the electorate, or, for better or worse, embody the spirit.
Joe Biden’s tenure has been uneven, filled with moments of legislative achievement and exasperation. On a recent episode of The Muckrake Podcast I was talking about how Biden seems to be one of the most emotional presidents of the modern era and reflects the rollercoaster-nature of the office. Suffering through the doldrums of a congressional slog, Biden seemed noticeably depressed. Now, we have a recharged president whose statements and speeches have carried a renewed charge and urgency.
On Thursday night, Biden took the podium outside of Independence Hall in Philadelphia and delivered a speech that will more than likely become one of the defining moments of this term. Bathed in unfortunate lighting and backed by a pair of Marines to emphasize the strength of the state, he warned of the dangers posed by Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement, drawing a distinct line between the Democratic Party, “respectable” Republicans, and what he deemed a threat “to the very foundations of our Republic.”
In this, Biden was correct. But what the speech has revealed, both about this moment and what we are now facing for the future, goes much deeper than that.
Here are five pressing takeaways from the Independence Hall address.
1. This speech was years overdue
Though the subject of Biden’s speech is as serious as it gets, it isn’t too cynical to state the obvious: this is about the November midterms. The fallout from the overturning of Roe V Wade this summer has shown there is a steep political price for the Republican Party in embracing authoritarianism. The victory in Kansas by the people, as well as the emerging picture for November’s contests, has shown the Democratic Party that there is a massive opening to run against Donald Trump and his movement as being too extreme. It’s a winning political strategy, so much so that it almost boggles the mind that the Democrats have chosen it.