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On Tuesday June 1st, we welcomed Vice President Joe Biden to a sold out event in support of Congressman John Hall at the Bedford Post Inn. The Vice President was introduced by local resident and Inn owner, Richard Gere. According, to Roslyn Stone-Pollock, chairperson of the Pound Ridge Democratic Committee, the Vice President was “upbeat but concerned – concerned about the environment, education and healthcare. He was clear that we need to take positive forward thinking action on all three of those fronts in order to be ready for the future. ” Per Biden, ” There is no going back – back to old thinking and old ways of acting. We simply cannot do that.”
The event included a broad host committee which included actor Chevy Chase, musician Stevie Van Zandt, Tom Secunda (head of Bloomberg), Richard Gere and his wife, actress Carey Lowell, and Roslyn Stone-Pollock, representing Northern Westchester Democrats. Over $100,000 was raised for Congressman Hal’s re-election campaign. Supporters from near and far were in attendance, tributes to both Vice President Biden and Congressman Hal. Congressman Hall is running for his third term in Congress. Vice President Biden spoke about how quickly Congressman Hal became a well-respected member of the Congressional delegation and how highly his peers think of him. ”He is known as being prepared and thoughtful”, said Biden. And Biden made is clear that he was here to show his and the President’s appreciation of Congressman Hall’s unwaivering support on key issues like health care and economic recovery.
Vice President Biden served seven terms in the Senate before being tapped by President Obama for his vice-presidency. According to Ms. Stone – Pollock, “Mr. Biden’s yeas of experience, coupled with his thoughtful approach to our role in the world, make him an ideal partner for President Obama.” At one point, Vice President Biden, who was supplied with teleprompters that he chose not to use, told the group that “they” were trying to get the President to use teleprompters less and him to use them more. “But not today…” he said.
The audience, which filled the Bedford Post Inn to capacity, listened with rapt attention as the Vice President talked about the many challenges facing our country. He talked at length about the economy and how the very worst month economically was likely January 2009, when he and President Obama were inaugurated. That month, there were staggering job losses – beyond what either administration had forecast or could really fathom. He told us that the new administration didn’t yet have computers when the real jobs loss numbers for that month started to come in and were likely somewhere between 750,000 and 800,000 jobs lost. Job recovery is taking place but slower than those dramatic job losses some months ago. He talked about the wars and how 70% of the wounded veterans returning home would have died in previous wars – but that advances in medicine have significantly impacted survival rates and at the same time, created great needs for caring for veterans.
The room was scattered with area celebraties. Among them, former Rangers goalie, Mike Richter, was in attendance and expressed interest in some day running for Congress.
Local Democratic committees were well represented and proud to play a part in hosting such a successful event with the Vice President.<
