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There's no doubt that Democratic President Joe Biden's speech last week about the "Soul of a Nation" resonated with liberals. But it seems to have hit home with some conservatives as well.
Republican strategist Rina Shah is one of them. Shah, who has served as a senior aide to Republican members of Congress and as a strategist on Evan McMullin's Independent presidential bid, even went so far as to say Biden's speech made her "cry like a child."
Shah expressed her feelings about the speech in an appearance on Ali Velshi's MSNBC program over the weekend, seen below.
\u201c\u201cWhat I heard from Joe Biden last night gave me tremendous hope...It made me cry like a child," says @RinainDC. "I was told by my parents that Americans are inherently good. By virtue, they're accepting people. How far we have come away from that." #velshi\u201d— Ali Velshi (@Ali Velshi) 1662223139
Referencing the fallout from the FBI search of former Republican President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, Shah began by by elucidating a feeling all too many of us will identify with.
“Everything feels really dark. Really heavy. We’re in uncharted territory."
"We are in [an] absolutely unbelievable moment right now, where we have a person who wants to hijack the country for his own gain.”
Shah went on to say that Biden provided an important counterpoint to the national mood.
“So what I heard from Joe Biden last night gave me tremendous hope. Actually, to be very honest with you, it made me cry like a child."
Shah then described how Biden's comments on the country's problems with right-wing extremism reminded her of the American ideals that inspired her immigrant parents to come to this country.
"[I]t reminded me of my late father, who came to America in 1970 and my mother, who came in 1980... I was raised to believe in the goodness of American people.”
“I was told by my parents that Americans are inherently good. By virtue, they’re accepting people. My, how far we’ve come away from that.”
“So what I heard from Joe Biden was, again: There are certain Americans amongst us who have been radicalized and are extremists.
"And it’s up to each one of us not just to be vigilant and to push back but to take a whole new responsibility.”
On Twitter, many were deeply moved by Shah's take on Biden's speech.
\u201c@AliVelshi @RinainDC Me too! We can get through this if we come together at the polls in November and say enough is enough as we vote blue for the future of our country and our grandchildren! They have the right to expect us to pass on to them a free and healthy America where hope springs eternal! \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\u201d— Ali Velshi (@Ali Velshi) 1662223139
\u201cShe so beautifully expresses the need for hope in these dark, dangerous days, hope to recover our fundamental goodness, to rebuild it into something better than we've ever done.\u201d— Lilybeth (@Lilybeth) 1662395217
\u201c@AliVelshi @RinainDC People like @RinainDC are what this country needs right now. This message is so important. Please continue to give her a platform! I refuse to give up on this country! @AliVelshi\u201d— Ali Velshi (@Ali Velshi) 1662223139
\u201c@AliVelshi @RinainDC You\u2019re so right about that . So many republicans are so corrupt and determined to fight everything the left stands , for even to the detriment of the people they were elected to serve .\u201d— Ali Velshi (@Ali Velshi) 1662223139
\u201cI long for seeing Americans that way again too.\u201d— David Hoffman DPS CCE (@David Hoffman DPS CCE) 1662349468
\u201c@AliVelshi @RinainDC Felt it was SO NEEDED for the honest Americans wanting to preserve our democracy. Loved this speech. Loved JB getting out what we\u2019re all saying at homes across America\u201d— Ali Velshi (@Ali Velshi) 1662223139
\u201c@AliVelshi @RinainDC Thank you, Rina, for sharing that. Powerful!\u201d— Ali Velshi (@Ali Velshi) 1662223139
\u201cPREACH @RinainDC!!!\u201d— Jonathan (@Jonathan) 1662341509
\u201c@AliVelshi @RinainDC Awesome Rina!\u201d— Ali Velshi (@Ali Velshi) 1662223139
Biden's speech did not mince words about the people he called "MAGA Republicans," saying that they do not respect the Constitution or the rule of law and calling on Americans to defend our country from their offensive.
With few exceptions, Republicans have slammed the speech as divisive and even fascistic, including Trump himself, who labeled the speech "vicious" and "hateful," which is quite rich coming from him.