In a break with the past, both his own recent past and those of presidents in the modern era, Barack Obama will trash President Trump by name tonight in his big speech at the DNC.
A portion of Obama’s speech have been released to the media. He will say of Trump,
“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.”
“I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president,” Obama will say.
“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.”
“Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t,” Obama plans to say.
“And the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone.”
“Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.”
“Twelve years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didn’t know I’d end up finding a brother,” Obama will say.
“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.”
“Over eight years, Joe was the last one in the room whenever I faced a big decision. He made me a better president. He’s got the character and the experience to make us a better country,” Obama will say.
Obama has basically refrained from going after Trump by name. Until tonight. Excerpts pic.twitter.com/AndTTt6ACo
— Sam Stein (@samstein) August 19, 2020
