During a Tuesday broadcast of Fox Business Network's “The Big Money Show,” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) expressed frustration that 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and 2024 Democratic VP nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) had not called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 election, and in response to Walz's defense of Biden's fitness to run, said, “It's unfortunate because I think anyone who's seen the president up close and personal would have had the same concerns.”
“It was over two years ago that you said Biden needed to pass the baton. The people at the top of your shortlist never bought into that. Are you a little disappointed that they didn't have the courage to take the same stand as you?” host Brian Bremberg asked.
Phillips responded, “Yes, I certainly did, and that's why I did it. As you and everyone watching knows, courage doesn't get rewarded in Washington. In fact, we reward cowardice. Only those who are willing to keep quiet, fall in line and toe the company line are rewarded. And that reward is leadership opportunities, fundraising opportunities and climbing the political ladder. So somebody had to do it. And let me be clear: I'm not the only one who felt this way. In fact, most of us felt that way. I just happened to be the only one who was willing to do it publicly, and I'm thrilled that my party ultimately made the right decision and that the outcome has been as great as I could have ever dreamed it would be. So, good outcome.”
Bremberg asked.[Y]You are a Minnesotan. I am a Minnesotan. Our governor is Tim Walz. More than two years ago, you came out publicly and said we needed to pass the baton. Now this summer, two years after you said that, Tim Walz went on national television and said Biden is fit to be president. It's puzzling to me. How could he not see what you saw? Of course he could. You talk about courage, but it seems to me that Tim Walz was completely lacking in courage in that moment.”
Phillips responded: “I've known Tim for a long time. He was my governor and he was my friend and we supported each other and we helped each other. In fact, I hired a lot of his staff in Washington when I went to Congress and he left. But I'll be honest with you, I was disappointed because I think anybody who's been watching the president up close had the same concerns. But like I said, this is an industry that rewards certain behaviors. If you're prepared to lose your job, and I was one of those people, you can say what you want, you can be independent, you can be brave. But if you have ambitions to get up the political ladder, whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, you've got to be in the game. And I'm sure a lot of people that I actually respect were a little disappointed with President Biden before he dropped out of the race. It's a disappointment that I've been vocal about, but I know Tim Walz is a man of integrity.”
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