GREAT decisions by President Joe Biden on both counts: 1) stepping aside, after doing an incredible job in 2020 (saving our democracy) and in 2021-2024 (passing numerous pieces of HIGHLY consequential pieces of legislation, helping Ukraine fight off Russia’s invasion, strengthening NATO and our other alliances after Trump’s disastrous term in office, etc.); 2) endorsing VP Kamala Harris to be the Democrats’ 2024 nominee. And yes, “it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
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I’ll post reactions below, as they come in…
Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), a senior member of the House of Representatives and the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, released the following statement:
“President Joe Biden will be remembered among the most consequential presidents in American history. His decision today to put country above all else has only cemented that fact.
Joe Biden delivered us from the darkness of his predecessor’s time in office. His presidency has bettered the lives of countless Americans. He dragged us out from the depths of the pandemic, leading an economic recovery that outpaced the world. With war raging in Europe, he has forged renewed strength and vigor in the transatlantic alliance and has overseen the most consequential years for NATO since its founding 75 years ago. And, with the ugly threat of authoritarianism rearing its head again, he has held the democratic world together in strength and unity.
I had the distinct honor of working for Joe Biden on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I wrote bills and speeches for him, traveled with him, and spent time with his family in Delaware. I know now what I knew then – Joe Biden, and the entire Biden family, are patriots in the truest sense of the word. They are good, honorable people whose dedication to their country is matched only by their dedication to each other as a family. They have served us nobly over the years, and I am personally grateful for their sacrifice and their service.
President Joe Biden, a man I revere, has today made a deeply difficult decision the only way he knows how – with the American people at heart. We owe him a debt of gratitude.”
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DPVA Chair Susan Swecker shared this statement following President Biden’s announcement that he is withdrawing from the presidential race:
President Joe Biden has been one of the most transformative and effective presidents in history. In 2020, he ran with a promise to restore the soul of our nation, and he did just that. He has–and will continue to–deliver on his campaign promises that have changed the lives of millions of Americans by leading us out of the pandemic, rebuilding our economy, and reestablishing America’s position as a trusted global leader.
President Biden has never been in politics for himself. Though his decision not to run is painful for so many of us, it represents his greatest quality: unwavering patriotism and service to the American people. Joe Biden’s decision to step aside is one that we deeply respect and we thank him for everything that he has done and will continue to do.
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