Speaking to an audience of Hispanic activists, Vice President Joe Biden compared the struggles of Latino Americans to that of his own Irish ancestors and cast the GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney as out of touch with the American people.
He told those gathered for the civil rights group National Council of La Raza, “There's always been a fight between the voices of inclusion and the voices of exclusion — between those pushing forward and those who continue to try to pull us back."
The Vice President spoke of how Irish Americans had faced a wave of discrimination and bigotry when they arrived to the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. He included the racist signs which appeared in the windows of businesses - "No Irish allowed" or "No irish need apply" - which greeted Irish Immigrants in major US cities.
Biden said, “The same kind of backlash — that kind of backlash — is not new in American history; it is not new in American politics.
"But then we in America prevailed because of the better angels of the American people. But even though the stakes are higher today and more consequential and more severe today, I am still convinced you — we — will prevail because of the better angels of the American people."
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Read more:
New information on Vice President Joe Biden’s Irish roots uncovered
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In his speech he painted Romney as being out of touch. He commented on the fact that “until recently [he] had a Swiss bank account and millions of dollars invested in the Grand Cayman Islands beyond scrutiny.”
During his speech he also commented on the Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s immigration policies including his hard-line immigration measures, opposed by the majority of the Hispanic community.
The VP said, “Imagine what the Supreme Court will look like after four years of a Romney presidency.
"Imagine the court with two more [Justice Antonin] Scalias, or two more [Chief Justice John] Roberts.
"Romney wants you to show your papers, but he won't show us his. It's kind of fascinating."
He added, “This is your moment. This is the moment for your community. It's much much much too important to remain silent."
Here’s the CBS coverage of his speech:
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.BrianO | Jul 13, 2012, 01:25 PM EDT
Hey ephraim why didn't the fearless leader attend the NAACP convention? Too busy to give this segment of the population his time? He must be a racist. Maybe he doesn't feel an connection to the NAACP because he is a first generation American of Kenyan decent and not down with the struggle.
irishpjk | Jul 12, 2012, 11:26 PM EDT
wtf That is pure BS, the facts are we came here to work and make a living for ourselves and the families we left in Ireland. I say we, because it was my aunts and uncles who came here before me and my friends that brought us over and set the tone for us. What we were told is this, be honest, work hard study and learn the American ways and culture, I did, I served in the US Military did my duty and asked for no favors. Today’s influx of people want to be catered too, the want Americans to learn their language, give tests in their language, have police, fire and hospitals learn to communicate with them in their language. They are too lazy to find a school and learn basic English so they can better themselves. The kick in the butt is that our liberals cater to them and call it equal rights, equal with who is what I wonder. Most of the Irish emigrants came here to better himself and in the process he made this a better country for all of us.
EphraimKibbey | Jul 12, 2012, 04:14 PM EDT
Excellent, vibrant and IN TOUCH speechs given by Vice President Joe Biden to both the Hispanic Convention and the NAACP Convention. Both groups were with him all the way through. I watched both as well as Romney's on MSNBC. Romney's speechs to the groups neither connected with nor inspired confidence from either group. He was at 14% approval with Hispanics and 1% approval with African-Americans before the speechs. I wonder if his approvals with either group have changed since? He doesn't seem to understand that to get elected he must persuade voters that they have a vested interest in voting FOR him over President Obama rather than just voting AGAINST Obama like the GOP base will. He said nothing in either speech that would inspire one to vote FOR him while Biden laid out exactly why it is in their best interest to vote FOR the current administration. Great work Joe!!!!
Nicomax | Jul 12, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT
More than once on this site I've seen estimates of illegal Irish in the US up to 50,000 . I suspect some of them have actually made their way to Arizona, Alabama etc. but would not likely be subject to a "show your papers" inquiry when picked up for going through a red light. In those states it's not so much the illegals they are concerned about, but the fact that the legals don't look and act like 'real Americans' that has them is such a twit.
Seanmor | Jul 12, 2012, 02:46 PM EDT
Joan and Ciare: By "Gaelic" you mean the Irish language that had been rapidily declining since the establishment of the Iris Free State in 1922, even though it is still the official language of that section of Ireland, which is known by a different name. One account has it Irish was widely spoken by Washington's forces at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78. In the 1960s the U.S. Army had a tank-propelled projectile called the Shillelagh. Some years later The Air Force had some planes called "Banshees. While clearing a simulated field in the Marine Corps in the 60s, our captain called out to one of his men: "Private - , if that had been a real mine, you would have blown to asitheredens". Ocassiolan Irish words are heard in everyday American English, but the Irish language has never been officially used for the convenience of recent arrivals, no matter how little English they knew.
Murph46 | Jul 12, 2012, 02:43 PM EDT
Joan if I own a business do I have to take Spanish to exist? Never had to b4 the liberals started sanctuary.Three cities in California have declared bankruptcy recently because of the money they are spending to feed ,clothe ,educate,and minister health to a large portion of 12 million illegal immigrants.
peterson | Jul 12, 2012, 02:10 PM EDT
Obama and Biden seem to be the ones out of touch with U.S. citizens !!
michaelidaho | Jul 12, 2012, 01:11 PM EDT
If you were ignorant and took what this guy said to be the truth, then you would think there are No Latino Need Apply signs prevalent throughout the USA and all people who are against illegal immigration are bigots. Biden is just another shameless, unscrupulous, demagogic politician using the race, ethnic, religious, etc. card. He fits in well with his boss.
borefield | Jul 12, 2012, 01:04 PM EDT
Biden would sell his mothers soul and lie, lie, lie to get votes for Obama. Unlike Obama, if need be Romney has legal papers to show where he came from. In the era Biden is referring to all Irish came here legally and faced much hatered and discrimination. Unlike today there were no social programmes or bleeding heart lawyers to help, yep! They helped themselves and rose up in the ranks. How come we are not compelled to offer phone service, banking and street signs in Italian, German, Polish, Israeli and all other languages, no , just Spanish, its no help to them as they continue to hold themselves back, as long as the government pays them for votes it's all good. Yes, in more recent times many Irish are here illegally and yes, it's plain wrong. if caught they should be returned. They came here educated and know better. If you start a new life in a new country by breaking the law well, it doesn't say much for your character and the US would be well rid of them.
FastEddy | Jul 12, 2012, 01:04 PM EDT
US Dept of Agriculture now promoting food stamps to illegals ... Irish next?
ciaradexy | Jul 12, 2012, 12:25 PM EDT
Joan, 'gaelic'? Seriously?
chris13 | Jul 12, 2012, 10:55 AM EDT
I checked the comments here because I suspected the Righties would find something to spew about. I was right (no capital, LOL). BTW, several of my Irish friends here are illegal, been here for years, some even raised families. Hope they don't get caught and deported, leaving American-born kids behind. Sad state of affairs. They are very worried. Of course I don't have to worry because my ancestors came before there were immigration policies. They were neither legal nor illegal, LOL.
micky74007 | Jul 12, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT
The Irish came here legally. They paid their dues and assimilated into the American culture. The Bidenistas just want the American dream without the need of following our laws, speaking our language, or respecting our culture.
boydshield | Jul 12, 2012, 10:46 AM EDT
And what is wrong with 'English Spoken Here?' This is the US. The Irish had a MUCH harder time coming n, illegal or not. Joe Biden does not know what he is speaking about on any given day, and even less about the Irish!
joan1954 | Jul 12, 2012, 10:28 AM EDT
Murph46, I have seen store front signs that say English only spoken here. And one city recently had a pizza company only serve spanish speakers one afternoon as it was a special. Needless to say it made some people very upset. The pizza is really good.
joan1954 | Jul 12, 2012, 10:25 AM EDT
We never asked for anything and worked our way up. Not like some groups who ask for handouts. We also never asked that Gaelic be put on the ballots but back then it was understood that English was the route to go and the education was the stepping stone to a better life. Biden is crazy to make such a comparison as they are worlds apart.
jamieLM | Jul 12, 2012, 10:16 AM EDT
Irish immigrants didn't get services and "freebies" from the U.S. govt. after LEGALLY entering the country. Leave it to Biden to make an idiotic comparison between 2 different situations. This is why I usually tune him out.
pickateer | Jul 12, 2012, 09:50 AM EDT
I never saw an Irish Immigrant burn the American flag or hoist the Irish flag over the Stars & Stripes! This man is an embarrassment and Obozo is the other half. In fact Obozo chose him because of his lack of intellect and common sense knowing he would never be a threat to him, but both are a threat to our country and hopefully will be fired in November!
kelauggie1 | Jul 12, 2012, 09:45 AM EDT
Biden is out of touch with reality - what a bumbling fool and an embarrassment on a global stage. A village on Mars is looking for their idiot.
Nicopernicus | Jul 12, 2012, 09:41 AM EDT
Joseph Biden has had a lifetime of struggling with one problem...His own mouth.
Seanmor | Jul 12, 2012, 09:39 AM EDT
Biden is mixing oranges and apples. Very few people from Ireland ever entered the U.S, illegally; from time to time an ocassikonal Irish person came here by was of Canadea without a visa. But their numbers were very minute compared with the millions who unlawfully crossed the Southern border, many of whom speak little or no English, some have criminal records or contageous diseases. Unlike the Irish immigrants who legally came here, a large percentage illegal Hispanic aliens recive benefits, including free health care, at the expense of U.S. taxpayers.Bu I, who came here from Ireland with proper documentation and served 4 years in the Marine Corps, have to pay for the treatment I receive at Albany Veterans Hospital, while I also pay federal and state taxes, some of which are used for the benefit of illegal Hispanic aliens.
Murph46 | Jul 12, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT
Haven't seen a Jobs available Latinos need not apply sign yet!
dev4 | Jul 12, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT
what a shame his family made it to the u s a. that man is leech never held a job in his life living on the tax payer dime.