“Since its founding, America has served as a beacon for the most powerful idea in the history of world politics,” Biden said Sunday. “That idea is stronger than any army. We are more powerful than any dictator.”
Biden, who is 82, spoke publicly for the first time since completing a cycle of radiation therapy for an aggressive form of prostate cancer. He addressed an audience in Boston after receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute.
He said America depends on a presidency with limited powers, a functioning Congress and an independent judiciary. As the federal government faces the second-longest shutdown in history, Trump has used the funding shutdown to expand his control over the government apparatus.
“My friends, I can’t sugarcoat this. These are dark times,” Biden said. He predicted that the country would “find its true compass again” and “come out of this as it always was—stronger, wiser, more resilient and juster, as long as we keep the faith.”
Biden cited examples of people standing up to threats from the current administration, including federal employees resigning in protest, and universities and comedians who have been targeted by Trump.
“Late-night show hosts continue to defend free speech knowing their careers hang in the balance,” he said.
Biden also praised Republican officials who vote against the Trump administration’s decisions.
“America is not a fairy tale,” he said. “For 250 years it’s been a constant struggle – an existential tug-of-war between danger and opportunity.”
Speaking at the end, he told the people to “stand up again”.
The Democrat left the White House in January after serving one term. Biden dropped out of his re-election bid after pressure from a disastrous debate performance against Trump and concerns about his age, health and mental capacity. Biden endorsed his running mate Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump last November.
In May, his post-presidential office announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
Prostate cancer is graded according to the degree of aggressiveness using the so-called Gleason score. The score ranges from 6 to 10, with crabs scoring 8, 9, and 10 showing more aggressive behavior. Biden’s office said his score was 9.
Biden, who turns 83 in November, completed a course of radiation therapy earlier this month. It is not clear what the next steps in his treatment might be.
Biden will be the keynote speaker at a Nebraska Democratic Party event in Omaha next month.
(Vijesti.ba)
