The teeth are out in the Democratic Party as presidential hopefuls and colleagues lash out at each other on the primary campaign trail. As we covered Wednesday, former Vice President Joe Biden bragged about his ability to politically legislate with fellow Democrats and full-throated racists and segregationists. In turn, his presidential rivals denounced his comments. Katie reported that Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) jumped into the conversation and demanded that Biden apologize. Biden, ever the calm, cool, and collected candidate, barked back, "Apologize for what? Cory [Booker] should apologize. He knows better."
Well, because of this kerfuffle and Biden's stupid choice of words, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, once hailed as the 'future of the party' by Democratic Chairman Tom Perez, has jumped into the fray chastising the Democratic presidential front runner for his remarks.
Here is what I wrote about Biden's remarks at a New York City fundraiser Tuesday night:
"I was in a caucus with James O. Eastland," Biden said, according to NBC. "He never called me 'boy,' he always called me 'son.'"
Of course, one would point out he was probably called "son" and not "boy" because he is a white man and Eastland was a racist, but that did not seem to occur to Biden.
According to Biden, Talmadge was "one of the meanest guys I ever knew, you go down the list of all these guys...Well guess what? At least there was some civility. We got things done. We didn't agree on much of anything. We got things done. We got it finished. But today, you look at the other side and you're the enemy. Not the opposition — the enemy. We don't talk to each other anymore." (emphasis added)
In response, here is what Booker had to say as reported by Katie:
"You don't joke about calling black men 'boys.' Men like James O. Eastland used words like that, and the racist policies that accompanied them, to perpetuate white supremacy and strip black Americans of our very humanity," Booker said. "Vice President Biden's relationships with proud segregationists are not the model for how we make America safer and more inclusive place for black people, and for everyone. I have to tell Vice President Biden, as someone I respect, that he is wrong for using his relationships with Eastland and Talmadge as examples of how to bring our country together."
"And frankly, I'm disappointed that he hasn't issued an immediate apology for the paid his words are dredging up for many Americans. He should," he continued.
As mentioned, Biden accused Booker of being the one who made an egregious offense.
Biden hits back at Booker over segregationist senator.
— Alex Thompson (@AlxThomp) June 20, 2019
“Apologize for what? Cory [Booker] should apologize. He knows better” pic.twitter.com/xq8lLk4tTj
Now, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has told Biden, and in effect, her progressive base that he needs to gain at least a slight part of in order to win the Democratic nomination, that Booker was in the right and Biden was in the wrong.
For the record, Cory Booker does *not* owe Joe Biden an apology for pointing out that waxing nostalgic about working with segregationists is insensitive.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 20, 2019
“He knows better?” Really? What is “better?” To stay quiet about it? https://t.co/RvFzqAXPI5
Virtually all candidates have condemned Biden for his words. Some more aggressive than others. Biden, for his part, keeps digging in further and further. In his NYC fundraising speech, the man also criticized the "new left." Well, after years of being silent on Biden during the Obama years, that "new left" is trying to tear down the man after praising him for so long. The first Democratic debate has not even happened yet. Buckle up, this is going to get ugly for the Democrats.