The Zoom where it happens: Biden speaks with Lin-Manuel Miranda about the Latino vote.
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Version 0 of 1. At this convention, where even the starry encounters have moved online, Joseph R. Biden Jr. live-streamed a conversation on Tuesday afternoon about the importance of the Latino vote with the composer, playwright and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda. “The path to victory in November is going to rely on Latino voters,” Mr. Biden told Mr. Miranda, in a conversation presented by the Latino Victory Project and NowThis. “That’s not hyperbole.” The former vice president made it clear that he was a big fan of “Hamilton,” which Mr. Miranda wrote and starred in. (When Mr. Biden’s successor, Mike Pence, attended the show as vice president-elect, its cast made a statement emphasizing the need for the incoming Trump administration to work on behalf of all Americans. Their appeal drew a sharp rebuke from Mr. Trump, who complained on Twitter that the cast had “harassed” Mr. Pence.) Mr. Biden did most of the talking. “The wage gap is so profound,” he said. “Who the hell is keeping us going during this entire pandemic? Latinos. You have hundreds and hundreds of Dreamers out there who are the ones who are taking care of people. You’ve got nurses putting on garbage bags over their heads working in an operating room because they don’t have the protective equipment.” And he accused the Trump administration of pursuing an “all-out assault on the Latino community.” “He’s failed the Latino community time and again in order to satisfy the vicious right wing of his party that he in fact just keeps feeding raw meat to,” Mr. Biden said. As Mr. Biden wound down, sounding slightly hoarse at times, Mr. Miranda offered him a little advice ahead of his nomination address: “Rest that voice,” he said. “We’ve got a few days to go.” |