Biden Accepts Democratic VP Nomination

Sen. Joseph Biden, accepting the Democratic vice-presidential nomination.

AMY GOODMAN: The Democratic Party formally nominated Senator Barack Obama as their presidential candidate on Wednesday, making him the first African American major party candidate in US history. The historic moment came after Senator Hillary Clinton walked onto the floor of the convention hall and asked Democratic delegates to suspend their count and approve Obama’s nomination by acclamation.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON: Madame Secretary, on behalf of the great State of New York, with appreciation for the spirit and dedication of all who are gathered here, with eyes firmly fixed on the future, in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let’s declare together in one voice, right here, right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate, and he will be our president.


Madame Secretary, Madame Secretary, I move that the convention suspend the procedural rules and suspend the further conduct of the roll-call vote—all votes cast by the delegates will be counted—and that I move Senator Barack Obama of Illinois be selected by this convention by acclamation as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States.

AMY GOODMAN: Hours later, former President Bill Clinton spoke. He addressed the convention, expressed his support for Barack Obama.

BILL CLINTON: The long, hard primary tested and strengthened him. And in his first presidential decision, the selection of a running mate, he hit it out of the park. With Joe Biden’s experience and wisdom supporting Barack Obama’s proven understanding, instincts and insight, America will have the national security leadership we need. And so, my fellow Democrats, I say to you, Barack Obama is ready to lead America and to restore American leadership in the world. Barack Obama is ready to honor the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

AMY GOODMAN: Senator Joe Biden headlined the third night at the convention, as he accepted the vice-presidential nomination.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN: When John McCain proposes $200 [billion] in new taxes for corporate America, $1 billion alone for the largest companies in the nation, but no—none—no relief for 100 million American families, that’s not change; that’s more of the same.


Even today, as oil companies post the biggest profits in history, nearly a half-a-trillion dollars in the last five years, John wants to give them another $4 billion in tax breaks. That’s not change; that’s the same.


And during the same time, John voted again and again against renewable energy: solar, wind, biofuels. That’s not change; that’s more of the same.

Millions of Americans have seen their jobs go offshore, yet John continues to support tax breaks for corporations that send them there. That’s not change; that’s more of the same.

He voted nineteen times against the minimum wage, for people who are struggling just to make it to the next day. That’s not change; that’s more of the same.

And when he says he’ll continue to spend $10 billion a month, when the Iraqis have a surplus of nearly $80 billion, that’s not change; that’s more of the same.

The choice in this election is clear. These times require more than a good soldier. They require a wise leader, a leader who can change, change—the change that everybody knows we need. Barack Obama is going to deliver that change, because, I want to tell you, Barack Obama will reform our tax code. He will cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people who draw a paycheck. That’s the change we need.

Barack Obama—Barack Obama will transform the economy by making alternative energy a national priority, and in the process creating five million new jobs and finally, finally, freeing us from the grip of foreign oil. That’s the change we need.


Barack Obama knows that any country that out-teaches us today will out-compete us tomorrow. That’s why he’ll invest in the next generation of teachers and why he’ll make college more affordable. That’s the change we need.

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