Wednesday (May 29), Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden made a joint appearance in Philadelphia for the launch of Black Voters for Biden-Harris. (I have to note, as an aside, that what helps Black Americans, helps all Americans and it’s white people who need to step up to the plate and vote for Biden-Harris and for Democrats up and down all ballots, everywhere.)
Philly was fired up, shouting “Four more years” as President Biden and VP Harris enetered the venue.
VP Harris’ speech was greeted with rounds of applause. Here are some excerpts:
So, in 2020, Black voters in Philadelphia and across our nation helped President Biden and me win the White House. (Applause.) Yes, you did. And in 2024, with your voice and your power, we will win again. (Applause.)
As a candidate for president, Joe Biden gave his word that we would fight to address some of the biggest issues facing the Black community, and we have delivered. (Applause.)
In 2020, Joe Biden and I vowed that we would lower the cost of healthcare, like insulin.
For far too many years, too many of our seniors with diabetes had to make the awful decision about either filling their prescription or paying their rent, and Black Americans are 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. So, we capped the cost of insulin for seniors at $35 a month. (Applause.)
And under Joe Biden’s leadership, finally, we took on Big Pharma and finally gave Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. (Applause.)
In 2020, we promised to take on the issue of the epidemic of gun violence, knowing that today, in America, gun violence is the number-one cause of the death of the children of America — not car accidents, not cancer — gun violence.
We took on the issue knowing Black Americans are 10 times as likely to be the victim of gun homicide.
So, to address this crisis, under the President’s leadership, we passed the first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years — (applause) — a bipartisan law to strengthen background checks.
And, Philadelphia, in all of our work, the President had been guided by a fundamental belief: We work for you, the American people — (applause) — not the special interests, not the billionaires or the big corporations, but the people.
We beat Donald Trump once and we’re going to beat him again. (Applause.)
And now it is my honor to introduce our President, Joe Biden. (Applause.)
And chants of “Four more years”.
Full event:
VP Harris’ remarks start at 6:30 minutes.
After the rally, Vice President Harris flew to Colorado Springs, Colorado:
Thursday (May 30), VP Harris delivered the keynote address at the United States Air Force Academy Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremony. This is a nice article about the class of 2024. The class chose as its exemplar, Maj. LeRoy Homer, Jr., a 1987 USAFA graduate, who was first officer on Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. Homer was among those on the flight who fought back against Al Qaeda terrorists. Every time a speaker mentioned the Class of ‘24, the cadets shouted, “Roy!”. Vice President Kamala Harris brought Homer’s wife and daughter to the ceremony as honored guests.
VP Kamala Harris’ speech starts at 21:39 minutes.
Vice President Harris shook hands with each cadet (974 — over an hour’s time), and it was awesome to note the diversity, as their names were called, and she shook their hands.
After the graduation ceremony, Vice President Harris participated in a tour and briefing at U.S Space Command’s (USSPACECOM) Joint Operation Center. Vice President Harris is Chair of the National Space Council.
There will be more about VP Harris’ activities throughout the week in the comments.
Reminder: VP Kamala Harris Roundup is a weekly series, published on Tuesdays at 8 AM ET. Please share widely. For daily updates, see my MVP Kamala Harris comments in the Abbreviated Pundit Roundup.
Vote and GOTV. “When we fight, we win!” — VP Kamala Harris