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Vice President Biden spoke before the Labor Day parade in Pittsburgh, PA, where he admitted that he is angry over the rich getting richer as workers get left behind. Biden also urged workers to stand up against the corporate “barbarians” that are holding them down.

Audio of Vice President Biden:

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The Vice President said:

You know, I don’t have to tell you, you’ve done a remarkable job in Pittsburgh, but nationally, labor’s been clobbered. Some of you heard me say some time ago actually 15 years ago that the national Chamber of Commerce, they declared war on labor’s house. Flat out, not a joke, not an exaggeration, because you’re the only ones who have the power to keep the barbarians from the gate, man.

No, no, no, not a joke. Without the ability to sit down with the most powerful entities in the world, without that ability to negotiate…there is no shot for any American worker. I don’t mean labor. I mean every American worker.

….

What’s changed out there folks, and we can’t let it stand. We can’t let the changes taking place — and they’ve creeped in over the last 20 years. I hope everyone in America has a chance to become a billionaire…the tax code’s not fair, it’s simply not fair.”

The level playing field doesn’t exist.

….

I’m hot. I acknowledge that. I’m mad. I’m angry.

It was no coincidence that VP Biden appeared with labor leaders Leo Gerad and Richard Trumpka. Labor is not happy with Hillary Clinton because she did not take a clear stand against the TPP. They are not going to give her their endorsement easily.

Appearing with the Vice President was an overt signal that they are open to supporting another Democratic candidate. This was a typical Biden speech that revealed why his plain-spoken populism could be popular with voters if entered the presidential race.

On this Labor Day, when far too many Americans have to be at work because low wages are forcing them to miss more holidays in order to keep the lights on and food on the table, the Vice President made it clear who the enemies of workers are and which party is going to champion the rights of every American worker.