Joe Biden says ‘10-15 percent’ of Americans ‘not very good people’

Presidential candidate Joe Biden has accused Donald Trump of playing to a small sliver of the American public that consists of “not very good people” – echoing comments by previous candidates who sought to explain rifts in the electorate at times of bitter division.

“Do we really think this is as good as we can be as a nation?” said Mr. Biden during an online discussion with black supporters. “I don’t think the vast majority of people think that.

“There are probably anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of the people out there that are just not very good people, but that’s not who we are. The vast majority of the people are decent, and we have to appeal to that and we have to unite people. Bring them together. Bring them together.”

Mr. Biden’s remarks come as the US is roiled by the largest protests over racial inequality in a generation, fired up by the death of George Floyd at the knee of a white police officer, the shooting of Breonna Taylor in her apartment by a police officer, and the killing of unarmed Ahmaud Arbery by two white neighbors.

Mr. Trump and many of his supporters, however, are currently focused on imposing “law and order” on the protesters, including by deploying military forces to “dominate” the streets.

In the early reaction to what Mr. Biden said, more than a few people pointed out that his remarks echo sentiments expressed by candidates in recent elections – and in the last two, the losers.

Biden said about 10 to 15 percent of Americans are "not very good people." That's about 50 million Americans!

— Eric Phillips ?? (@ericphillipsusa) June 5, 2020

have no idea if it’ll be a hattrick but telling that the last two major presidential candidates who have talked like this — Romney and Clinton — have lost https://t.co/vptvEZGasc

— curtmills (@CurtMills) June 5, 2020

So, we’ve learned NO lessons from the “deplorables” fiasco. If you’re running for President, its of ALL Americans. Even the ones you don’t like.

Biden Says About ‘10 to 15 Percent’ of Americans Are ‘Not Very Good People’ – The New York Times https://t.co/gwfaCRfF27

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) June 5, 2020