President Joe Biden was in Portland, Oregon on Thursday.
We weren’t supposed to record the event or take photos. We signed something saying we wouldn’t record the event, I didn’t sign anything about taking photos. I snapped a few, but stopped when someone with a badge tapped me on the shoulder and shook her head.
Biden looked healthy and at ease.
We needed to attest we had been vaccinated to get into the event and then everyone took a COVID antigen test at the site immediately before entering. I passed and got a red band for my wrist.
Biden began his speech by repeating why he decided to run. We have heard this before. He said he was offended by hearing Trump say that there were good people carrying the Confederate and Nazi flags saying “Jews will not replace us.” He added something new. He said his grandson showed him a photograph of him with his grandson at Beau Biden’s casket, with the caption saying Biden had a new pedophile target. Biden said America had lost something under Trump and MAGA, and he wanted to restore the good soul of America.
The crowd was enthusiastic. The two primary Democratic candidates for governor were there, Toby Read and Tina Kotek.
There was a helicopter overhead and patrol boats on the water.
The most visible security was on the demonstrators kept about 1,000 feet from the event. They had Trump campaign signs, “Fuck Joe Biden” signs, “Let’s Go, Brandon” signs, and a new theme of insult, Cornpop, regarding the improbability of Biden being a tough gangster with corn rows in his hair. I kept a distance. They shouted, “Traitor! Traitor!”
"Cornpop" is not actually a reference to Biden, but a "bad dude" in a rambling campaign story that Biden told in 2017. It is still derisive and unkind. I am so glad that Biden looked good and healthy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oihV9yrZRHg