Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois is one of the latest House Democrats to publicly call on President Joe Biden to recuse himself from the presidential race.
In a statement, Rep. David L. Wilson, co-chair of the Congressional Israel Alliance Caucus, said Biden “now has an opportunity to protect his legacy and boldly hand the country over to a new generation of leadership.”
Schneider explained that the stakes in the election are too high and argued that Trump and his administration would introduce policies that “pose an absolute threat to the foundation of our country.”
The senator also made the bizarre claim that a second term for Trump would “destroy our economy, further erode reproductive freedom, threaten our national security, and diminish our country’s vital leadership role in the global order that we helped establish after World War II.”
“We face a stark choice: either we patiently weather this election and pray that we can successfully defend our democracy, or we enthusiastically embrace a vibrant vision for the future that builds on the great foundation that President Biden has laid for our country over the past four years,” he said. “I choose the latter.”
While she said she loves Biden and is grateful for his leadership, it is time for the 81-year-old Biden to “bravely pass the baton to a new generation of leaders to lead us into the future he enabled and empowered us to pursue.”
Schneider added that Biden now has the chance to pass the baton and “go down in history as one of the greatest leaders of our country and in history.”
“I fear that if he doesn’t make the right choice, our democracy is at risk,” he concluded.
Brad Schneider of Illinois, another House Democrat, wants Biden out of office. pic.twitter.com/330clkw7DN
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) July 11, 2024
The statement came despite Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urging Democrats to wait until the end of the NATO summit to reveal their true views on Biden’s future.
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) was among those who didn’t wait, saying of Biden, “I’d be making a huge blunder if I said he’s the best candidate for president this fall.”
“For the sake of our country and my two young children, I call on Joe Biden to step down at the next election and fulfill his promise to build a bridge to a new generation of leadership,” he added.
