Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued a weak statement in response to calls for President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race following his poor debate performance, calling on Republicans to urge President Trump to drop out and arguing that Biden has a “great record of accomplishments” that everyone should see.
“The foundations of our democracy are at stake in this election,” Japaipal said in a statement after Biden sent a defiant letter to Democratic lawmakers expressing his determination to continue the campaign, and slammed reporters and commentators who described Biden’s poor performance in the debate.
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“Any reporter or pundit who asks or talks about President Biden’s debate performance or the aftermath of his health should be spending at least as much time and energy speaking to Republicans about why they are still supporting a convicted felon who incited an insurrection and wants to be a dictator on his first day in office,” she said, reviving a defeated Democratic talking point that Trump did not incite the riot.
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In addition, the legislator context The fact that Trump made joking comments about the damage he would cause Undo The order was issued by presidential decree on his first day in office.
“I said, we love the guy, we’re going to do that. He says, you’re not going to be a dictator. I said, no, no, no, except on day one. We’re closing the border, we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not going to be a dictator,” Trump told Sean Hannity.
Japayar went on to call on Republicans to demand that Trump resign as a presidential candidate and called on media outlets to cover “his lies during the debates and his continued horrific comments about immigrants and women,” without giving specific examples.
Only midway through her statement did she address the Democratic panic over Biden, acknowledging that “it is true that the Democratic Party is engaged in many discussions among its members and voters to consider the best way forward to protect our democracy.”
“As CPC chair, I am listening carefully to party members across the country, including in battleground states and safe districts, as we work to defeat Donald Trump and win the House and the Senate,” she said, concluding that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris “were elected by the voters and have made remarkable progress over the past three and a half years, demonstrating what we can do together for the American people.”
She then pointed to the CPC’s proposed 2025 agenda and said she plans to focus on it, outlining what Democrats would do if they win the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“I will continue to focus on communicating positive policies and the differences between the Democratic Party and Donald Trump,” she continued, without further addressing the very real concerns about Biden remaining the Democratic nominee.
Jayapal’s statement. pic.twitter.com/yKXof4B6zk
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) July 8, 2024
The statement followed a letter sent by Biden to Democratic lawmakers in which he said he “would not run again” if he did not believe he was the best person to defeat Trump.
“The Democratic Party voted and selected me as their candidate. Are you now saying that this process didn’t matter?” he asked in the letter. “Do voters not have a say?”
“I refuse to do that,” he concluded, expressing “no doubt” he would defeat Trump.
“The issue of how to proceed has been under discussion for over a week now and it’s time to end it,” he added.
This morning, I sent a letter to my Democratic colleagues in Congress in which I shared my thoughts about this moment in the campaign.
Now is the time to come together, move forward as a united party, and defeat Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/ABtAaJrr0n
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 8, 2024
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Courtesy of CNN Presidential Debate
The statement coincided with the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) platform committee formally adopting Trump’s 2024 Republican platform, which includes stopping the “epidemic” of immigrant crime, sealing the southern border, ending the weaponization of the justice system, defeating radical gender ideology, ensuring election security, and much more.
