Former Vice President Joe Biden is officially in the 2020 White House race and is already a frontrunner thanks to his undeniable name recognition. Justice Democrats, a group associated with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and who many credit with helping launch her political career, is among the grassroots progressives hoping to curb his momentum.
Justice Democrats announce they'll oppose Joe Biden's candidacy. Only in the primary though.
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) April 25, 2019
"The old guard of the Democratic Party failed to stop Trump, and they can’t be counted on to lead the fight against his divide-and-conquer politics today." pic.twitter.com/w1wTwUl05b
Justice Democrats Executive Director Alexandra Rojas is frustrated that Biden stands "in near complete opposition" to issues that matter most to progressives, like Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, which was introduced by Ocasio-Cortez, and free college tuition.
His centrist views aren't the group's only complaints. They aired a few others.
Why are @justicedems formally opposing @JoeBiden?
— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) April 25, 2019
They have a list. And it would not be unreasonable to add:
* NAFTA
* Fast-Track Trade Authority
* Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China
* Gutting Glass-Steagall
* Patriot Act
* More Fast-Track Authority and
* Anita Hill... pic.twitter.com/7hPkTNYr1g
In regards to that last item, Biden has been criticized by Democrats for failing to give Anita Hill a proper hearing during then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas's confirmation hearings in 1991. She claimed Thomas had sexually harassed her, but Republicans questioned her story. Biden regrets that he didn't do more to silence his colleagues. Hill confirmed on Thursday that Biden reached out to her earlier this month to share those regrets, but she "cannot be satisfied" until there is "real change."
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