Team Biden fires back: 'You can't let people say bullshit and not respond to it' (by The Hill)

[Skya Rhen]

Snip...

Biden was initially cautious about picking fights with Democrats, the ally said, because he “didn't want to contribute to a narrative that the president can use in a general election.” But on the same note, “these are people who have come to him for advice, and have said what a great public servant he's been, and they're now attacking his record.”

The ally said the campaign is prepared for other campaigns to join the attacks.“They see Harris had her moment and achieved what she wanted to achieve, and Booker is trying to have his moment, so why not?” the ally said.

“I think the message sent to him lately is that people want a uniter but they also want a fighter. He can be both. And when he needs to fight there's nothing he won't do.” Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates said he’ll be ready for whatever his rivals throw at him.

“He's proud of his accomplishments, and many of his opponents were until a sudden, recent about-face,” Bates said. “We're not going to let anyone — whether Democrat or Republican — distort or misrepresent his record.”



https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/454802-team-biden-fires-back-you-cant-let-people-say-bullshit-and-not-respond-to#bottom-story-socials

[Dream Girl]

1. Russian trolls will try to use the Biden is racist bs to chip away at his support

That black women knew how bad Trump would be from a few days ago is exhibit A. Then there was the sock puppet bs about Biden responding to criticism from Harris and Booker’s criticism is somehow racist. We are smarter than that. I hope.

[Skya Rhen]

2. People won't fall for the workings of the Twitter Russian bots. Everyone knows that it's not racist

Last edited Fri Jul 26, 2019, 11:15 AM - Edit history (1)

to defend yourself or point out inconsistencies in the arguments of one's opponents. The American people are smarter than that.

Bring it on, Joe!!!

[Dream Girl]

3. Nice one Skya

Welcome to DU 🙃

[Skya Rhen]

5. Thanks, Dream Girl!

[TreasonousBastard]

40. I don't know about Russian trolls-- we have enough of our own.

[LakeArenal]

53. Got that right.

[Kahuna7]

55. Who needs Russia or the GOP when the Dems are engaged..

in a circular firing squad.

[Peacetrain]

4. Oh Yeah.. he will punch back.. and as I said to someone else

he will expect the other person to shake hands and move on, just like he does.. that is how he is made.. he does not hold grudges... but he does not forget either .. not until he gets his punch in.. not a guy to mess with just for the hell of it..

[Thekaspervote]

52. Indeed!!

[still_one]

6. Thanks Skya for this

[crazytown]

7. That's what I like to see. Torpedo the Swift Boats.

Good on him.

[bigtree]

9. describing his Democratic opponents as 'swiftboaters' is despicable

...none of the Democratic candidates has 'swiftboated' Biden.

Labeling the two black candidates who will flank him on the debate stage like you would right-wing trolls isn't going to fly. Demonizing opponents for raising questions about his record and statements is weak, and frankly just a transparent dodge.

No one wants to see Biden beat up on these Democrats. It's absolutely the most ignorant move he could make, and it's not going to win him any points with black voters to come back this late with obviously scripted zingers telegraphed for over a week trying to make up for fumbling in the first debate, so I have to wonder who such a performance would be directed to.

I hope he reconsiders. He's going to fall flat on his face if he tries this.

[crazytown]

10. If he is swift boated

I would expect him to respond in kind. The statement reads "“We're not going to let anyone — whether Democrat or Republican — distort or misrepresent his record.” That is exactly right.

Booker has described Biden as 'the architect of mass incarceration'. That is close to swift boating IMO, and nothing like criticism of his positions on busing or nostalgia for work with segrationists.

[bigtree]

13. this 'nostalgia' for working with segregationists... let's be clear on that

Biden, in his opposition to busing, used the very same arguments of the segregationists he bragged about being able to work across the aisle with; often using their very same bigoted language to describe his opposition to busing...

WaPo:

He wrote columns for local newspapers and pushed legislation requiring courts to consider solutions besides busing, often siding with conservatives such as Sen. Jesse Helms (N.C.), who welcomed Biden “to the ranks of the enlightened.”

“I do not buy the concept, popular in the ’60s, which said, ‘We have suppressed the black man for 300 years and the white man is now far ahead in the race for everything our society offers. In order to even the score, we must now give the black man a head start, or even hold the white man back, to even the race,’ ” Biden told a Delaware-based weekly newspaper in 1975. “I don’t buy that.”

...he added, “I don’t feel responsible for the sins of my father and grandfather. I feel responsible for what the situation is today, for the sins of my own generation. And I’ll be damned if I feel responsible to pay for what happened 300 years ago.”

“The new integration plans being offered are really just quota systems to assure a certain number of blacks, Chicanos, or whatever in each school. That, to me, is the most racist concept you can come up with,” Biden said. “What it says is, ‘In order for your child with curly black hair, brown eyes, and dark skin to be able to learn anything, he needs to sit next to my blond-haired, blue-eyed son.’ That’s racist! Who the hell do we think we are, that the only way a black man or woman can learn is if they rub shoulders with my white child?”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bidens-tough-talk-on-1970s-school-desegregation-plan-could-get-new-scrutiny-in-todays-democratic-party/2019/03/07/9115583e-3eb2-11e9-a0d3-1210e58a94cf_story.html?utm_term=.6beb77ab8067

(can't get a clear citation for the rest.)

[crazytown]

14. On nostalgia for working with segregationists

I was referencing Senator Harris -

I’m saying that the characterization and the nostalgia about who they were, I find to be misplaced and it was hurtful to me to hear that we would be nostalgic who if they had their way I would not serve in the United States Senate.

This was more offensive to a black woman serving in the Senate, than his positions on busing IMO. Dixiecrats raison dêtre was white supremacy: keeping People of Color out of power.

[Demsrule86]

11. Calling him a racist is swiftboating...and using his record in deceptive ways is swiftboatig too.

"I know your not a racist but' and of course using misleading words about the crime bill when really Booker's broken glass style of policing caught up innocent POC... and ruined lives more recently.

[bigtree]

12. Kamala Harris specifically said in the debate she didn't believe Biden was racist

Last edited Fri Jul 26, 2019, 10:05 PM - Edit history (1)

...what you wrote is offensive and wrong.

It's basically a lie. You may not agree with her perspective, but twisting it to pretend she called him a racist is eerily similar to the types of obfuscation and prevarication that's infecting our politics today.

[emmaverybo]

31. Oh stop. She used a well known rhetorical device in which you state something you then cancel out

in subsequent statements. It’s an easy trick and any trial lawyer certainly knows it.

[Demsrule86]

47. This is exactly what she did.

[Thekaspervote]

56. It is.. and it certainly has not gained her any traction in the long run

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287199440

[Demsrule86]

74. I agree...I actually liked her but I don't like dirty tricks on Democrats...would vote for

her in a general but not a primary.

[Demsrule86]

46. When you begin with I know you are not racist then add a BUT... she is calling him a racist...this

is how I took it so no it is not a lie. I didn't pretend and if you look on twitter...you will multiple posts saying the same thing.

[LakeArenal]

58. "He's not s racist, but......"

Come on. Uninformed live on sound bites.
First, the “but” dismisses any part of the “I don’t think” part.

Just putting racist in the sentence with Joe and sending it into the universe is pure crap.

Plus Harris, Booker, Sanders and Warren all railroaded Al Franken.

Call it swiftboating or railroading youropponent, it makes for ugly politics.

Then I think hey wait, Franken and Joe are one of us. WTH?

[emmaverybo]

72. Did not know Warren was on board that one. NT

[LakeArenal]

77. Indeed she is on with that.

[Dream Girl]

19. So if he defends his record, he's beating up on black candidates.

Nice race card you're playing there. And I am black myself. He has every right to defend his record.

[bigtree]

20. it's not going to be a good look

...and I don't control those perceptions with my personal opinion.

He can defend his record all he wants, but if he's intent on deflecting from his own anti-busing past, or his sponsorship of a crime bill which victimized the black community with several of it's components, by demonizing the two black candidates with objections, he's going to be in the wrong.

I don't know what he'll do, but scapegoating these two because he's afraid to face up to his own record and statements will be a mistake and backfire greatly.

In fact, given over a week of haranguing and caterwauling over their challenges to his record, anything he does in that regard is going to look staged and stunted and will likely be received with groans and ridicule.

...btw, 'race card' isn't an actual thing. It's a right-wing invention to deflect from questions about race.

[R B Garr]

23. Your post is just pure wishful thinking. Hello again, I remember these anti-Biden biases

from before. All pure opinion on your part, but you do like to insinuate otherwise. "he's afraid", "haranguing and caterwauling" "deflect" " victimized" "demonizing" "he's going to be in the wrong".

Welcome.

[R B Garr]

25. Isn't it your nerves that are being hit? Just more projection on your part...again.

But trying to drum up some phony race issue between Democrats goes beyond not being enamored. It's a gift to the GOP. The GOP is the party of racists and racism. Not Democrats.

[bigtree]

26. the fact that race is part of the discussion isn't a function of ME 'drumming it up'

...it's a reaction to Biden's clumsy and offensive attempt to portray himself as amenable to working with republicans.

Hyped as an 'attack' on Biden... it was definitely a public confrontation, but Harris' challenge to Biden in the debate was in response to a deliberate set of remarks Biden made to establish himself as someone who can work across the aisle, a political strategy and calculation which fell flat with many black Americans for whom those times and those issues are not ancient history.

Biden bragged that he was able to work with two specific men (by name) who were well-known segregationists. His argument was that he could maintain Democratic values and still work with an adverse, and objectionable opposition. However, the examples he used happened to be unrepentant racists. Several problems with that...

In many of these compromises he's touting, we can see winners and losers, more often than not the losers in those political deals at the time were black Americans; black Americans alive today who happened to be living with the effects and consequences of institutionalized racism at the time who might not be as amenable to the argument Biden was making.

More importantly, Biden was asserting that he was able to maintain Democratic values in those relationships. So it was quite right for Kamala Harris and others to not only make clear just who Biden was talking about working with, but to point out his positions and statements on the issue of busing at the time, which agreed with those same segregationists he was working with, very often using the SAME offensive language as the white supremacists.

Lets get some of those in here so it's a bit harder to deflect from them...

WaPo:

He wrote columns for local newspapers and pushed legislation requiring courts to consider solutions besides busing, often siding with conservatives such as Sen. Jesse Helms (N.C.), who welcomed Biden “to the ranks of the enlightened.”

“I do not buy the concept, popular in the ’60s, which said, ‘We have suppressed the black man for 300 years and the white man is now far ahead in the race for everything our society offers. In order to even the score, we must now give the black man a head start, or even hold the white man back, to even the race,’ ” Biden told a Delaware-based weekly newspaper in 1975. “I don’t buy that.”

...he added, “I don’t feel responsible for the sins of my father and grandfather. I feel responsible for what the situation is today, for the sins of my own generation. And I’ll be damned if I feel responsible to pay for what happened 300 years ago.”

“The new integration plans being offered are really just quota systems to assure a certain number of blacks, Chicanos, or whatever in each school. That, to me, is the most racist concept you can come up with,” Biden said. “What it says is, ‘In order for your child with curly black hair, brown eyes, and dark skin to be able to learn anything, he needs to sit next to my blond-haired, blue-eyed son.’ That’s racist! Who the hell do we think we are, that the only way a black man or woman can learn is if they rub shoulders with my white child?”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bidens-tough-talk-on-1970s-school-desegregation-plan-could-get-new-scrutiny-in-todays-democratic-party/2019/03/07/9115583e-3eb2-11e9-a0d3-1210e58a94cf_story.html?utm_term=.6beb77ab8067

Those statements trouble me deeply. It's not ancient history to me, and I don't countenance the excuses that this was in the past, especially since the response to criticism has mainly been to 'attack' those who have raised concerns and questions about those statements and positions.

His strategy has been to deflect, carrying on, I think to the next debate where it looks like he's going to treat the two black candidates who've challenged his version of history like they're the issue, attacking them like they're more problematic than his own controversial history.

I think that is a strategy which invites conflict, instead of the illumination Harris and others sought to bring to the issues Biden himself raised with his selective recitation of his past political associations and conduct.

[R B Garr]

27. Yes, I remember your anti-Biden biases and your distortions about

Biden's words about working with Republicans. I remember how offended you were about it all. I've seen you describe other posts as "silly", so no offense, but I find your deep concern and distortions rather silly considering that is the way our government is set up -- it's a two party system. So bellyaching about having to work with Republicans makes zero sense and is really a waste of time. They are there and they are not going away.

Speaking of deep political mistakes, it's a big mistake to imply that Democrats are racists when there are real and dangerous racists in the White House. Talking about inflammatory and divisive race issues from 40 years ago is a huge mistake for a Democrat to put at the feet of our party so the GOP can snicker about how Democrats attack each other and let them off the hook for their real and troubling assaults against people of color. Enough of this unnecessary and damaging distraction.

edit: p.s. -- I have articles to post about black Americans being arrested under Harris' truancy laws in California. How far can we go with this distraction...…...

[bigtree]

29. I've never implied ANY Democrat is racist, your accusation is a weak deflection

...it's a despicable tactic.

I can certainly speak for myself, RGarr. I don't deserve, nor is it proper to accuse me of something so vile and banal. I write extensively on race, and if I felt someone was a racist, I'd certainly not feel restrained from saying so, clearly, forcefully, and unabashedly.

I'm not the subversive demagogue you project in your personal attack. And yes, it's just that offensive to me that I regard it as an attack. It's uncalled for, nothing I wrote asked for that slander, and nothing in this forum or this election deserves that kind of manipulative insult to my character for expressing my opinion.

[Thekaspervote]

60. Yes you did imply racism in several comments in posts above

You like Kamala why not write some positives about her instead of continuing to say how much you just can’t stand Joe Biden. That doesn’t change anyone’s minds

[Dream Girl]

28. Pure distortion. Any yes there is a race card.

I've seen it played and ashamed to say I've played it myself...

[ucrdem]

59. That won't wash because Harris bragged about planning her debate attack before the fundraiser.

So forget trying to claim, as she has on TV, that she "had to speak out" because she was offended by the mention of segregationists. Per her own bragging she was planning her attack when she took that selfie with Joe and when she sent the tweet about Beau. There was nothing about her performance and subsequent refusal to accept Joe's apologies that wasn't calculated and that's deeply offensive.

Kamala's attack on Biden was months in the making
She and her advisers assiduously plotted the attack — and how to capitalize on it afterward.

By CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO 06/28/2019 06:31 PM EDT

Her campaign had spent months fixated on Biden, whose support from black voters has kept him atop all of the early polls. They gamed out several scenarios in which she could use her personal story as a point of contrast with his decades-long record, including over his opposition to busing.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/28/kamala-harris-joe-biden-debate-1390383

[sheshe2]

63. Ouch.

[ucrdem]

64. heya sheshe!

Good to see ya!

[sheshe2]

66. Heya ucrdem.

Good to see you too.

[oasis]

87. "Kamala's attack on Biden was months in the making"

Wow. I must confess, I slept that one. Now I'm really disappointed in her.

[Cha]

116. +1!

[emulatorloo]

32. "Stalking Horse" "Coronation"? Maybe lighten up a little on the hyperbole. Your arguments might

be more convincing without all the loaded negative language and hyperbole.

[bigtree]

35. so you're the language police?

...Biden was chosen as a stalking horse to attract or deflect the effect of white working-class males' opposition to the nation's first black nominee.

He's the yin to Obama's yang.

[Cha]

41. Yeah, bigtree.. I'll make this short and succinct..

all that hyperbole you load up on is nothing but BALONEY.. nothing but hyperbolic insults.. you lose your whole argument.

[LakeArenal]

80. Yes. What Cha says.

There is not one Dem candidate or any person onDU who is despicable.

[Cha]

90. Actually you don't know anything about it.

I had to look up "stalking horse".. right, I hadn't heard of that insult before.

President Obama said that "..choosing Biden as his VP was one of the best decisions he ever made.. ". And, your gratuitous insults at this brilliant team is never going to change that. Ever.

[emulatorloo]

96. Additionally Obama and Biden developed a friendship during the primary

Yet someone feels compelled to insinuate there was something evil and nefarious going on when Biden was chosen to be Obama’s running mate.

[Cha]

99. I know, emulatorloo...

It's really sad that a Democratic would try to do that.

Mahalo

[emulatorloo]

95. Yeah, i'm a student of language and understand hyperbole and loaded negative words

I also understand how baseless innuendo works. I again advise you to lighten up on this stuff if you want to sound more credible. Some friendly advice, take it or leave it.

[melman]

101. "Some friendly advice"

Doesn't really seem all that friendly.

[emulatorloo]

108. That's your misperception. I like bigtree's issues threads a lot. She knows how to use

positive language and is very persuasive when she does.

[melman]

109. "That's your misperception"

It's not. Your tone is clear.

[Cha]

112. Yeah, that's your misperception, melman.

[emulatorloo]

114. I love BT's positive threads.

Bigtree is a very convincing writer when he writes positive threads about issues or Senator Harris.

I still look forward to some positive campaigning on your part. I know your positive threads would be excellent.

[Cha]

111. Does to me.. much "Friendlier" than

who he's addressing.

[Cha]

43. Yeah, he automatically loses with all

the insulting accusations.

[Demsrule86]

51. 'stalking horse running mate'...really? VP Biden was a great Vice President and thanks to his

influence with President Obama, my daughter will marry Chelsea ...the love of her life. This is no way to talk about a Democrat.

[Cha]

103. No, it wasn't any way for a

Dem to talk about President Obama and VP Biden.. but there you have it.

[Thekaspervote]

57. Why so angry?? So you're not enamored with Biden, okay. Seems the nerve being hit is your own

[George II]

65. Biden is a three-time election loser? Hm, he was the sixth youngest Senator (elected before....

...he was old enough to serve) and was Senator from 1973 until he ran for Vice President in 2008. Won two terms as Vice President.

Not a loss in the bunch.

[emulatorloo]

30. Thanks for pointing out all the very loaded negative language

[bigtree]

37. like 'racist' and 'race card'?

...tsk, tsk.

[emulatorloo]

98. The post I replied to said nothing about 'race card' or 'racist'. Quoting:

“All pure opinion on your part, but you do like to insinuate otherwise. "he's afraid", "haranguing and caterwauling" "deflect" " victimized" "demonizing" "he's going to be in the wrong".

Don’t piss on my shoes and tell me it’s raining.

Additionally don’t put words in other people’s mouths they did not say.

Word to the wise, these kinds of rhetorical tricks don’t help your credibility. Probably best it you stick to positive threads about Senator Harris.

[emmaverybo]

34. The black community were victims of a violent crack epidemic which blighted their neighborhoods,

made them prey to armed drug-dealing gangs who killed their law abiding neighbors in drive by and cross fire shootings, to silence their testimony, in robberies and carjackings, while police seldom intervened and jail or prison was a revolving door putting the same criminals back on the street corner again and again or next door where off site landlords ignored that their rental income came from a crack house.

The black community wanted both law enforcement and the justice system to get tough on the crimes that they and their children were victimized by. The mandate for harsher sentencing, greater law enforcement presence came from the black community. They wanted their neighborhoods back. That simple.

[bigtree]

38. they wanted these?

Subsidies for state prison expansion
- A brutally inflexible federal three-strikes law ensuring that record numbers of prisoners would remain locked up for nonviolent and second-tier felonies
- Abolition of federal Pell grants for prisoners’ college tuition, ensuring that paroled offenders return to their communities without having had a chance to advance their education past high school
- Enthusiastic promotion of mandatory minimum sentences
- 13-year-old offenders tried as adults
- A vastly expanded federal death penalty, imposed just as growing numbers of states were backing away from capital punishment
- A tidal wave of military gear arriving at local police departments, bigger than the arsenals of many nations
https://www.thenation.com/article/nothing-about-the-1994-crime-bill-was-unintentional/

The pols I followed at the time (newspaper, c-span) didn't think so...

[Demsrule86]

49. You do understand that the crime bill applied to federal crimes right? Sen. Harris was a DA and AG

and you can check out her record on google.

[George II]

69. You might want to do a little research of the times in America back in the 1990s.

[BlueWI]

39. Not that simple at all.

Black communities vary in their opinions. I agree mostly that there was support for a crime bill, but many of us were also aware of differential sentencing that occured due to racism.

There was wide agreement I would say that a stronger law enforcement response was needed related to organized crime (or gangs, if you will). But the patterns of sentencing low level drug offenders to lengthy terms had negative effects. And it seems to me that interest in re-investment and economic development of black communities is still inconsistent, even under Obama, where at least the stimulus package green lighted some projects. Biden should definitely talk up his record in this area as senator and/or vice president, along with showing with his proposals that his future interest is strong for reinvesting.

Oversimplification of these issues should be avoided. Booker has a perspective as an urban mayor that should be heard with an open mind, and then we vote.

[Demsrule86]

50. Booker engaged in broken window policing...so he should stay far away from that subject.

[BlueWI]

88. I would prefer for both candidates to discuss their record

Isn't that what a primary is for?

[Demsrule86]

93. Biden's vote is decades ago...while Booker did this as Mayor of Newark...and broken window

policing is horrible unfair to the poor ...particularly if you are Black. The crime bill is different...there were real issues back then and some in the Black community backed it...and it was on the federal level. I don't think 40 year old issues should be used to kneecap Democrats...so no I don't consider that an issue...now broken window policing should be outlawed.

[BlueWI]

94. I've heard your take repeatedly.

I'm prioritizing what the candidates say over predictable interpretations that are not objective.

[Demsrule86]

105. How a person governs is important...especially recent experience.

[BlueWI]

107. Agreed. It is important.

But your view of Booker's record and character is reductive.

I get it. You support Biden. But that doesn't mean that career accomplishments and stances of other candidates for the nomination should be oversimplified and minimized. At the end of the day, Booker has had a remarkable career as a Rhodes Scholar, a student athlete, a mayor of an extremely tough city to govern, and one of an extremely small number of black U.S. senators in the entire history of the United States. Even in disagreement, he deserves more deference for a remarkable career, especially among Democrats.

There's plenty of room for honest debate without oversimplification of people's records, especially when the reputations of our small number of black senators is being undermined over differences of opinions I'm a campaign.

[Demsrule86]

48. Staged? as in the entire busing thing at the last debate?

[Cha]

86. LOL@this bigtree.. "..In fact, given over a week of haranguing and caterwauling.."

haha.. So back to reality.. What Biden is doing is responding to the disingenuous attacks.

I think you have that totally mixed up who's doing what.

[R B Garr]

21. He's defending himself against distorted attacks, not "beating up" on Democrats, lol

"No one wants to see Biden beat up on these Democrats." No one wants to see those Democrats beat up on Biden; right??

[Cha]

45. I know, right! What's up with the distorted language?

Biden responding to attacks is, according to that poster.. "beating up on Democrats"!

What exactly does he think he's accomplishing by using such deceptive language?

Hey RB.. Thanks as usual!

[Cha]

44. ".. beating up on Democrats.." Your language, bigtree..

all yours. And, it's not getting you anywhere.

[Thekaspervote]

54. Biden doesn't "beat up" on anyone or put "telegraphed zingers" out there

Highly doubt he and his campaign have been “planning and rehearsing” his response.

[Cha]

75. Cool your jets, bigtree.. you need to talk to

Cory Booker for starting this crap..

Link to tweet

Joe Biden has every right to respond to this personally insulting, gaslit shite from Booker.

Nobody's "falling flat on their face".. well, maybe Cory.. we'll see.

Oh btw, Biden is Not looking for some "badge of honor" as Booker is stating.

[George II]

79. Cory Booker wasn't even in kindergarten when Biden entered the Senate.

[Cha]

81. Yeah, Cory's getting way bad advice..

and Biden isn't looking for some stupid "badge of honor" as Cory insultingly states.

Thanks, George

[George II]

82. I think you're right, this isn't the Cory Booker we've seen in the Senate. He's getting bad advice..

He's smarter than this.

[Cha]

83. Here's an article I dug up on it yesterday in NJ..

Cory Booker is sworn in as a U.S. senator in 2013 by then-Vice President Joe Biden. (John Munson |The Star-Ledger)

For Cory Booker, it’s no more Mr. Nice Guy

WASHINGTON — For Cory Booker, peace and love has given way to confrontation and criticism.

Booker, trailing in opinion polls and fundraising, has taken aim at former Vice President Joe Biden, the early frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

For almost a month now, he has leveled attacks on Biden that are getting more personal — ignoring the rest of the Democratic field as well as his own campaign mantra of emphasizing a positive vision for America

But in being aggressive, Booker runs the risk of losing the brand that made him a contender in the first place. His new stance isn’t sitting well with some fellow Jersey Democrats.

“If I was asked to give advice, I would say, ‘Cory, I love you. Stay away from doing this,’” said Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9th Dist. “'You have enough good qualities. You may get a few more headlines if you do it that way. It’s not worth it. It cheapens your own campaign, period.”

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., said she worried that confrontations between Democrats now will provide ammunition to President Donald Trump later.

https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/07/for-cory-booker-its-no-more-mr-nice-guy.html

[PatSeg]

8. Joe has always been a fighter,

but he is more decent and respectful than many politicians. He won't sling false allegations at other candidates or intentionally misrepresent their records.

[BootinUp]

15. Un Guard!

[peggysue2]

16. Joe is getting his groove on

The uniter and the fighter. That's what I and lots of other people would expect. As I've said elsewhere, there's a difference between punching down and punching back to defend a long, distinguished career. Sounds as if Joe is ready to do that.

Good one on him. And watch out, people. Joe Biden is in the ring!

[duforsure]

17. Bide maybe doesn't realize

trump is trying to make it on a personal level, and directing attention away from policies , and actual facts, and that way he doesn't expose how ignorant he is on policy, and his refusal to use facts.

[Cetacea]

18. He needs to don his aviators for the next debate

Nobody cooler than Joe in his shades.

[Skya Rhen]

22. I concur!

[Kahuna7]

33. And flash his Joker grin...

[Cha]

102. Great Debate

Advice, Cetacea!

[ucrdem]

42. Maybe if they'd been gracious.

But they were not. So yeah, in this media environment, he'd better call BS on their (bad word omitted)!

[Cha]

61. Yeah..

******** bad word omitted.. so there!

Yeah.. it was the opposite of "gracious" so, of course, Biden has to call them on their ********.



ETA.. have you seen this?!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287212352

[ucrdem]

62. Yes he does even if he personally would prefer to overlook it.

The media have been gunning for his hide since he got in and they'll make no attempt to sort out the facts so that means Biden has to do it himself. Like Hillary, Barack, Kerry, Bill C, Michael Dukakis and all the rest have had to.

[Kurt V.]

67. biden should think twice about taking on harris, even if she did launch the first salvo.

[ucrdem]

68. He's not going to swing at her first, that's for sure, or at anyone else.

But if he takes a low blow he'll be obliged to defend himself then and there if he doesn't want to hear about how he folded like a cheap suit for the next month.

[Kurt V.]

70. mostly agree. but this isn't one he should. she has skills the other candidates don't.

[ucrdem]

71. She also has a record that's all her own.

And that will be fair game if she brings up Joe's.

[Kurt V.]

73. agree.

[emmaverybo]

78. She has the same prosecutorial skill many good trial lawyers possess and an excellent speaking

presence along with the ability to make use of her personal story.

However, in terms of a president’s multiple duties and the perilous moment we are in now, closer than ever as the world is to a nuclear conflict, her skill set compared to Joe’s is shallow.

She ascended due to performance, theatrics. But her own record is spotty and she has less experience than even Warren.

There is a reason that she does not have tremendous support among the black electorate. She has yet to earn it.

[ucrdem]

91. I didn't find her all that skilful

Sure she drew a little blood, but she relied on the element of surprise and what troubles me more, exploiting a personal and party relationship. She basically threw Biden under the bus to achieve a t-shirt gotcha on national TV. He will forgive her of course and offer her a plum job, because he's a professional, but what said to me is that she's a garden-variety careerist who puts her personal advancement before everything. Fine, but we're not electing a corporate CEO and as you say her skill set for this office is shallow. She also wasn't ready for pushback and got flustered when Biden corrected her. That's when she started jabbing and raised her voice. I also saw a look of contempt on her face that was inappropriate. They are running to be international leaders, not competing for a classroom trophy.

[emmaverybo]

97. Well done. Last line a gem. NT

[ucrdem]

106. Thanks and likewise!

Gotta love DU!!

[emmaverybo]

76. She does not enjoy the respect and love that Joe does from much of the country. Despite her

Last edited Fri Jul 26, 2019, 10:04 PM - Edit history (1)

flashy and strategic debate performance, she lacks Joe’s long experience. He has gone up against
people far more powerful than Harris. If he takes the gloves off, she has some controversial and flawed record to defend.

[LakeArenal]

84. What? Harris should have thought twice about taking on Joe.

Now Joe doesn’t get to respond? Cuz he’s a-scared of Harris? Cuz she’s what?

[wyldwolf]

110. because...?

[LakeArenal]

85. Joe Biden remains the most qualified and well-liked both nationally and globally.

Despite concerted efforts not just by Pukes but folks right here on the DU

I sure hope Joe picks almost anyone but Harris for VP. She already snarkily said Joe might be her VP.
No dream team there for me.

Please note, I realize it’s my opinion. I usually don’t consider opinion as fact like a lot of folks do.

[Tarheel_Dem]

89. Bring it Joe! I know you didn't want to go there, but..........

[Cha]

104. Perfect Tarheel!

[Tarheel_Dem]

115. Hi Cha!

[Gothmog]

92. From Deadline White House

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Cha]

100. Thanks, Goth!

[IronLionZion]

113. Biden has made some big mistakes on race

and while it's great to admit that the sentencing disparities in his crime bill were very wrong to disproportionately impact black Americans, he should put forth plans to fix it now. Having experience and wisdom goes both ways. He's got a long record to pick apart that may have seemed mainstream at the time but turned out to be wrong now, and offer solutions to make things better.

There's something wrong with the link above. Try this one https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/454802-team-biden-fires-back-you-cant-let-people-say-bullshit-and-not-respond-to