Andrew Stiles of the Washington Free Beacon reports on former President Joe Biden’s return to the public spotlight.
Joe Biden, the 82-year-old former president sometimes referred to as “Sleepy Joe,” rambled and occasionally shouted Monday evening during his first major speech since leaving the White House. Biden delivered the keynote address, billed as a defense of Social Security, at a conference in Chicago hosted by a disability rights organization. He also received the “Beacon of Hope” award.
It’s unclear if Biden was paid for his time. A former president would typically command a speaking fee in the low- to mid-six-figure range. Biden’s talent agency, Creative Arts Agency, did not return a request for comment.
After shuffling up to the microphone nearly 30 minutes behind schedule, Biden immediately started talking even though his walk-on music—”We Take Care of Our Own” by Bruce Springsteen—was still blaring at full volume. Eventually a technician cut the audio so the audience could hear Biden deliver a characteristically long-winded (and factually dubious) anecdote about how the civil rights movement inspired him to go into politics. …
… Biden eventually got around to talking about Social Security, which was established in 1935, seven years before Biden was born. For the first of many, many times throughout his speech, Biden explained that Social Security was so much more than just a government program. “Simple dignity!” he shouted. “Everyone! Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity! Regardless of [incomprehensible]! Regardless economic [incomprehensible]! Regardless who they are!” He slammed Republicans for allegedly plotting to “cut and gut” Social Security, and suggested that “roughly 30 percent of the country … has no heart” on account of their support for Donald Trump’s agenda. “Who the hell do they think they are?” Biden yelled. “I will not go further, I’ll get in trouble.”
