Democrats Praise Biden’s ‘Soul of the Nation’ Speech as ‘Inspiring,’ ‘Urgent War-Time Address’

While Republicans have roundly criticized President Joe Biden’s so-called “soul of the nation” speech as unnecessarily demagogic and divisive, many Democrats and liberal commentators have praised it as an optimistic and inspiring pre-election battle cry.

During the primetime speech on Thursday, Biden took aim at supporters of former president Donald Trump – “MAGA Republicans,” as Biden labeled them – and accused them of representing “an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.” He accused the Right of fostering political violence, and said “there’s no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans and that is a threat to this country.”

Speaking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Friday, Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson said that “to me, it was an urgent war-time address.”

“The speech last night to me sounded like a president delivering a war-time address,” said Robinson. “And indeed, Joe Biden sees this, as he said, a battle for the soul of the country. It’s a battle for the preservation of our democracy.”

Democratic strategist Michael Starr Hopkins ran with the war comparison on MSNBC later on Friday morning. “I’ve been critical of the president, his unwillingness to really take it to Republicans and call them what they are, which is fascist,” he said. “And I think now we’re seeing a president who’s ready to go to battle, he’s ready for the midterms.”

Starr Hopkins said Biden is taking a page out of former president Bill Clinton’s playbook and triangulating. “He’s not saying all Republicans are bad. But he’s saying these MAGA wing, these Trump supporter, CPAC, Viktor [Orbán]-endorsing Republicans are a threat to our democracy, which is exactly what’s going on.”

Elected Democrats also weighed in. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware tweeted “I stand with my friend,” and called it an “honor” to witness Biden’s “fierce defense of the soul of our nation.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted that “Biden, in his inspiring and optimistic remarks, made crystal clear that our rights, or freedom and our Democracy are on the line,” before adding that “extreme MAGA Republicans are orchestrating a sinister campaign.”

Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina tweeted that Biden “spoke passionately about what it means to put people over politics. MAGA Republicans want to divide our nation. Democrats are fighting to strengthen our democracy.”

Democratic political consultant and commentator Paul Begala tweeted simply “I loved this speech.” Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather took aim at Republican critics, tweeting that “after President Biden’s speech last night, it seems like a lot of people are unhappy that they got the shoe, and it fits.”

Not all the feedback from the left was positive. CNN anchor Brianna Keilar accused Biden of using the military as a prop for a political speech. “Positioning Marines in uniform behind President Biden for a political speech flies in the face of that. It’s wrong when Democrats do it. It’s wrong when Republicans do it,” said Keilar.

CNN and MSNBC aired Biden’s speech, but Fox News and the broadcast networks passed on it.