In battleground Pennsylvania, Biden accuses Trump of stoking violence

By Jarrett Renshaw and Michael Martina

 

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden accepts the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., August 20, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

 

PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Monday called for rioters and looters to be prosecuted, and slammed President Donald Trump for stoking violence in American cities gripped by protests over police brutality and racial inequality.

 

Biden's speech in battleground state Pennsylvania was his most forceful counter yet to accusations by Trump that he is weak on crime and that leaders in his Democratic Party have lost control over the mass demonstrations that in some instances have turned violent.

 

"Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting," Biden said from a converted steel mill in Pittsburgh. "It's lawlessness, plain and simple, and those who do it should be prosecuted."

 

Trump, who trails his rival in opinion polls ahead of the Nov. 3 election, has argued he stands for "law and order." The theme featured prominently at his nominating convention last week as he sought to motivate his political base and broaden his support.

 

Republicans deny Trump is seeking to exacerbate violence with incendiary rhetoric. But Biden on Monday said Trump was sowing chaos.

 

"This president long ago forfeited any moral leadership in this country," Biden said. "He can't stop the violence because for years he has fomented it."

 

Trump, noting he had watched Biden's remarks, said in a tweet afterward that the former vice president seemed to blame police more than the "Rioters, Anarchists, Agitators, and Looters."

 

Biden has repeatedly condemned disorder at demonstrations but has defended peaceful protesters, arguing justice must be served in cases of "unwarranted police violence."

 

Biden pushed back on Republican assertions that he catered to his party's most liberal members.

 

"Ask yourself, do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters? Really?" Biden asked.

 

SWING STATE

Biden's visit to Pennsylvania, an important swing state that helped propel Trump to victory in 2016, marked an unusual trip afield for the former vice president, who has worked mostly from his Delaware home since March, when the coronavirus began spreading widely in the country.

 

His campaign has indicated that Biden expects to increase his travel to the states that will decide the election as the vote draws nearer. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are both due to campaign in Pennsylvania this week.

 

In Pittsburgh, Biden depicted an America that was unsafe under Trump, with COVID-19 killing thousands of people a week and an economy in tatters.

 

He said he wanted a country safe from the coronavirus, crime, racially motivated violence and "bad cops."

 

"And let's be crystal clear: Safe from four more years of Donald Trump," he said.

 

Samuel DeMarco, the Republican chairman in Allegheny County, where Biden was speaking, said his speech showed "desperation."

 

"We have violent protests for 90 some days and now he's going to address it and try to blame Trump. Good luck with that," he said.

 

Demonstrations have swept the United States since the killing in May of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

 

New protests erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last week following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, another African-American man, multiple times in front of his children, paralyzing him.

 

Tensions between rival protest groups have led to more shooting deaths. Last week, a white teenager was charged with shooting three demonstrators, two fatally, in Kenosha, and a clash in Portland, Oregon, over the weekend resulted in a fatal shooting.

 

Trump is set to visit Kenosha on Tuesday, but Democrats including the state's governor have urged him to stay away.

 

The White House said it is making efforts to reach Blake's family but has been unable to connect.

 

Biden has been in touch with Blake's family. As he delivered pizzas to firefighters in Pittsburgh on Monday, Biden told reporters he hoped to visit Wisconsin soon.

 

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Steve Gorman; Additional reporting and writing by Michael Martina; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Peter Cooney and Bill Berkrot)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-01

 

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21 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting," Biden said from a converted steel mill in Pittsburgh. "It's lawlessness, plain and simple, and those who do it should be prosecuted."

This is what makes me made about people like Biden - all talk , no trousers. He makes no mention of how he would stop it and what he would do to his new voters for punishment for rioting and looting.

 

Like him or hate him , at least Trump is trying to end the looting and riots, even though it appears the government of some states would rather their cites stay in anarchy and lawlessness

 

 

Edited August 31, 20205 yr by RichardColeman

5 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

This is what makes me made about people like Biden - all talk , no trousers. He makes no mention of how he would stop it and what he would do to his new voters for punishment for rioting and looting.

 

Like him or hate him , at least Trump is trying to end the looting and riots, even though it appears the government of some states would rather their cites stay in anarchy and lawlessness

 

 

Trump’s doing nothing of the sort.

 

He will today head to a city where he is not welcome with the express intention of aggravating an already inflamed situation.

 

He’ll then blame those who advised against his visit.

 

It’s a tactic that has a history going right back to the 1930s.

 

Meanwhile the real threat to America has killed over 183,000 Americans. 

 

Riots, looting, lawlessness and an out of control deadly disease - all in Trump’s America.

Funny he decided not to go to Kenosha, but instead the Battleground state of Pennsylvania. 

 

Spoke for 12 minutes from a teleprompter. 

 

Bungled parts of it quite badly. 

Didn't take a single question. 

 

Got heckled. 

 

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Trump’s doing nothing of the sort.

 

He will today head to a city where he is not welcome with the express intention of aggravating an already inflamed situation.

 

He’ll then blame those who advised against his visit.

 

Any American is allowed in any city in America and anyone who says someone is "not welcome" in one has a serious internal issue they need to deal with. 

2 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Any American is allowed in any city in America and anyone who says someone is "not welcome" in one has a serious internal issue they need to deal with. 

Free speech and all. Trump can go where he wants but no one has to welcome him. Why welcome a serial liar who stokes division.

7 minutes ago, Sujo said:

Free speech and all. Trump can go where he wants but no one has to welcome him. Why welcome a serial liar who stokes division.

 

If you think Trump is the only one stoking division, then you also might have an internal issue you need to deal with, and you also have not been paying attention. 

 

But sure, keep on with the "this American is not welcome in this American city" schtick. Surely plays well with the "peaceful protesters" line. 

23 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

If you think Trump is the only one stoking division, then you also might have an internal issue you need to deal with, and you also have not been paying attention. 

 

But sure, keep on with the "this American is not welcome in this American city" schtick. Surely plays well with the "peaceful protesters" line. 

I dont hear biden stoking division. He has condemned violence on both sides, trump has not, in fact he calls the far right protestors great patriots.

2 minutes ago, Sujo said:

I dont hear biden stoking division. He has condemned violence on both sides

 

Both sides eh? 

 

Irony overload. 

1 minute ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Both sides eh? 

 

Irony overload. 

Yes, you know, not just one side. Have you ever heard of it? Its call condemning violence no matter who does it. Trump wont do that.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"Ask yourself, do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters? Really?"

 

Your VP Pick definitely does, which is why you picked her. 

 

Why do peaceful protesters need bail? 

 

 

 

Who has she fundraised money for you ask? Well lets meet some of them:

 

Minnesota nonprofit with $35M bails out those accused of violent crimes

 

Quote

(FOX 9) - A Minnesota nonprofit has bailed out defendants from Twin Cities jails charged with murder, violent felonies, and sex crimes, as it seeks to address a system that disproportionately incarcerates Black people and people of color.  

 

And it has plenty of money to do it.  

 

Continued:

 

https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-nonprofit-with-35m-bails-out-those-accused-of-violent-crimes

Good speech called trump out for what he is the polling is showing it as well the difference this time around is trump has a track record it’s perfectly obvious to most Americans trump is stoking division and calling out and supporting vigilantes for political gain trying desperately to suppress the vote cheat and rig the election we aren’t buying trumps bs keep calling him out joe and kamala don’t let up

Edited August 31, 20205 yr by Tug

2 minutes ago, shdmn said:

Also, I see lots of comments basically saying black people bad.  Why is that?  Could it be because you are a racist?  

 

Yawn.... 

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

Funny he decided not to go to Kenosha, but instead the Battleground state of Pennsylvania. 

 

Spoke for 12 minutes from a teleprompter. 

 

Bungled parts of it quite badly. 

Didn't take a single question. 

 

Got heckled. 

 

Ahhhh he probably thinks it would place an undue burden on the Kenosha civil authorities during a trying time although imo a visit by Biden would have a greater defusing effect than trump fanning hate and vigilante violence don’t you???

Edited August 31, 20205 yr by Tug

2 minutes ago, Tug said:

Ahhhh he probably thinks it would place an undue burden on the Kenosha civil authorities during a trying time although imo a visit by Biden would have a greater defusing effect than trump fanning hate and vigilante violence don’t you???

 

Then why go to Pennsylvania which has zero to do with the content of his speech? He could have done that from his basement like always. 

 

Nope, it was using the crisis as a campaign event. Thats why he was handing out pizza to firefighters  etc. 

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Any American is allowed in any city in America and anyone who says someone is "not welcome" in one has a serious internal issue they need to deal with. 

Damn it! Wherrrre's ma gun!

14 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Then why go to Pennsylvania which has zero to do with the content of his speech?  

Erm....

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Any American is allowed in any city in America....

 

Biden is toast and anyone with even a smidgen of objectivity can recognize that. 

He probably won't make it to November. 

Cannot wait for the Debates! ???? 

Try giving this "law & order" speech in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Atlanta, Democrat Party city bastions Joe, and see what kind of reception you get.

Edited September 1, 20205 yr by Pattaya Spotter

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

Biden is toast and anyone with even a smidgen of objectivity can recognize that. 

He probably won't make it to November. 

Cannot wait for the Debates! ???? 

Thanks for the laugh love the sound of desperation lol

14 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Try giving this "law & order" speech in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Atlanta, Democrat Party city bastions Joe, and see what kind of reception you get.

Joe could go anywhere to give a law and order speech kamala is probably much better suited because she was California’s AG the difference is they would be talking about the causes of the behavior and offering ways to solve the problems trump on the other hand will go and proclaim pontificate and try to stir fear and hate it’s all he’s got he needs desperately to distract everyone from his epic failures covid healthcare environment trade fiasco 32% drop in GDP largest job losses in history ect ect ect hey it’s all he’s got he is what he is

16 minutes ago, Tug said:

Thanks for the laugh love the sound of desperation lol

Joe could go anywhere to give a law and order speech kamala is probably much better suited because she was California’s AG the difference is they would be talking about the causes of the behavior and offering ways to solve the problems trump on the other hand will go and proclaim pontificate and try to stir fear and hate it’s all he’s got he needs desperately to distract everyone from his epic failures covid healthcare environment trade fiasco 32% drop in GDP largest job losses in history ect ect ect hey it’s all he’s got he is what he is

Joe Biden Had Better Watch It https://nyti.ms/31FL698

Edited September 1, 20205 yr by Pattaya Spotter

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

This is what makes me made about people like Biden - all talk , no trousers. He makes no mention of how he would stop it and what he would do to his new voters for punishment for rioting and looting.

 

Like him or hate him , at least Trump is trying to end the looting and riots, even though it appears the government of some states would rather their cites stay in anarchy and lawlessness

 

 

From the way you are talking you would think that Biden is the one currently in the White House!

 

Trump has done nothing but stoke the violence. He has done nothing but send in Federal law enforcement into entire cities when it is just a couple of square blocks that are the problem. This does nothing but increase the level of violence

 

Straining logic a bit, and I've no skin in this game, but it seems to me stoking the fire, then pulling back and blaming the fireman is a bit much.

Trolling post has been removed.   Please use the proper reference to politicians or your post will get removed and the risk of a suspension is greatly increased.  

 

Let's be clear about this, Biden thinks Pennsylvania is in Asia.

The most funny aspect of this event was Trump frantically tweeting about it. Priceless!

Edited September 1, 20205 yr by candide

Summs up Biden's argument pretty good...

 

Biden’s attempt to blame the president for the violence undercuts his condemnation of that violence. Giving the rioters an excuse basically gives them a pass. And how is Trump responsible for riots that were started and continue with the goal of ending his presidency?

 

New York Post : Biden tries to blame Trump for Democrat-run cities' unrest: Goodwin.
https://nypost.com/2020/08/31/biden-tries-to-blame-trump-for-democrat-run-cities-unrest-goodwin/

1 minute ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Biden’s attempt to blame the president for the violence undercuts his condemnation of that violence. Giving the rioters an excuse basically gives them a pass. And how is Trump responsible for riots that were started and continue with the goal of ending his presidency?

Circular logic at its worst. 

If Trump had simply shown any compassion or willingness to reach out, instead of saying that we needed to show strength when people were protesting peacefully, and then snatching up people in unmarked vans, shooting them with gas or rubber bullets, doing low altitude fly overs, etc this might have ended a long time ago. Instead he's given us such brilliant healing messages like, "when the looting starts the shooting starts!" Or retweeting people saying that Kyle R (the 17 year old who just killed protesters) is the reason they support Trump. And let's not forget this gem which is particularly relevant, "When you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon, you just seen them thrown in, rough. I said, 'Please don't be too nice,'". And how could we forget him retweeting a white nationalist showing false stats that claimed 81% of white murders were at the hand of blacks... When the actual number is 15%. 

Trump's political career has been based on racism. From the birther movement. To trying to ban muslims from entering the country. Every opportunity he has had to try to bring people together he has dodged.
 

15 minutes ago, jcsmith said:

Trump's political career has been based on racism. From the birther movement. To trying to ban muslims from entering the country.

Muslim is a race...what race is that?

15 minutes ago, jcsmith said:

Every opportunity he has had to try to bring people together he has dodged.

That's a feature...not a bug; bringing people together is for losers like Romney and McCain. If you need togetherness, go to your local house of worship or an ice-cream social with your friends.

9 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Your VP Pick definitely does, which is why you picked her. 

 

Why do peaceful protesters need bail? 

 

 

 

Who has she fundraised money for you ask? Well lets meet some of them:

 

Minnesota nonprofit with $35M bails out those accused of violent crimes

 

 

Continued:

 

https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-nonprofit-with-35m-bails-out-those-accused-of-violent-crimes

Bail is part of the legal system