Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), one of President Joe Biden's only Democratic challengers in the 2024 election, called his party's attempts to avoid the primary “akin to an insurrection.” It was criticized as “dangerous”.
Phillips, who has served in the House of Representatives since 2019, said Friday. exterior upon breakfast club There he criticized Democrats who claim to be “fighting for democracy” while keeping him from voting.
“How can Democrats say we're fighting for democracy, fighting to make it easier to vote, and then remove me from the ballot in Florida or North Carolina?” the presidential candidate told radio personalities DJ Envy and Charlamagne the God.
“How can you say you support free speech and defend freedom and democracy, but not agree to a single debate? How can you say this?” Phillips exclaimed.
He went on to criticize the Democratic National Convention (DNC) for criticizing the New Hampshire Democratic Party's partisans. Unapproved primary process And keeping Biden out of the Florida primary entirely. give All 250 delegates To the incumbent:
Now they're telling New Hampshire voters that their vote doesn't matter, this is a meaningless primary. That's true, by the way, for Democratic voters in Florida, North Carolina, and New Hampshire. Their votes won't be counted because two states don't have Democratic primaries and one state has a Democratic primary. And their votes don't matter. And this is the United States of America.
Phillips then made a startling comparison to January 6, 2021.
On January 6th, I was on the House floor. I know what a rebellion looks like. I know who inspired it and who promoted it. And now, frankly, Democrats are doing something against democracy that I think is as dangerous as insurrection. After all, the goal was to prevent votes from being counted. And now Democrats are literally trying to stop it. You won't be able to add your name to the ballot or even vote on it. That's the truth and they don't want to hear it. They don't want me to say it, but guys, someone has to listen.
breakfast club Co-host Charlamagne Tha God then claimed that there are “probably 50” Democrats that Biden could defeat former President Donald Trump in the next election, but Phillips and He noted that no one other than 2020 candidate Marianne Williamson has announced their name to the primary.
Biden says there are 'probably 50' Democrats who could defeat Trump https://t.co/4zsx5HJVTQ
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) December 7, 2023
“Because no one wants to go through what I'm going through right now. It's the most vicious, brutal, aggressive attack you can imagine,” Phillips responded. “So two months ago, I was the darling of the Democratic Party, and now I'm the devil. And I knew it…I knew what I was getting into.” Ta.”
In a video posted to his social media in November 2023, the Minnesota representative said, “This is the kind of thing that's happening in Tehran, not Tallahassee.”
The Florida Democratic Party is giving all 250 state delegates to Joe Biden without a single vote. we won't put up with it.
Please support our efforts to pursue legal avenues to correct this absolute nonsense. https://t.co/9HToQNkmvK pic.twitter.com/9yMcpsGgMn
— Dean Phillips (@deanbphillips) December 1, 2023
Mr. Phillips turned to Mr. Charlamagne and said: Well, most people wouldn't want that. Most people want to protect their image, their future, and their career. ”
“That’s why there are so many sheep in Washington lined up, always saying the same thing based on the issue, because they don’t want to do anything that will hurt their chances for re-election. ” he continued. “When I did this, I realized my Congressional career was over. And it is.”
He recalled asking other “well-known names” to run, but they all declined because they knew what they would face.
“…I wish more people would have had the courage to stand up now, it’s a shame,” Phillips added.
a recent polls According to the survey, 54% of Democratic voters want to replace the 81-year-old Biden as their presidential candidate in 2024, but they just don't have many options.
Robert Kennedy Jr. was a hot topic in the media as a Democratic challenger until 2023 when he announced: switch to independent He took office in October after facing similar internal party challenges as Phillips.
Republicans are pushing ahead with an open primary, even though Trump is widely considered the front-runner and likely winner.
