Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the ranking Democrat on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, wrote to Biden earlier this month urging him to consider the fate of the country if he stays in the presidency.
The letter dated July 6th It was first reported on Thursday In a statement published by The New York Times and obtained by The Hill, Raskin called Biden an admirer, supporter, friend and “fellow politician.”
“But I write to you now above all as a citizen who shares your crazy love of American democracy and freedom. We are besieged daily by dictators and monarchists from Moscow to Mar-a-Lago, and the decisions we make will be historic for the destiny of our nation,” Raskin wrote.
In the four-page letter, Raskin said he wasn’t writing to tell Biden what to do, but to “remind you of who you are.”
The Maryland Democrat highlighted Biden’s achievements in office and reminded the president of a speech he gave earlier this year to mark the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack, in which he spoke about protecting American democracy and the threat posed by former President Trump.
“In the next four and a half months everything we believe in is at stake. We have an overriding duty to defeat the resurgent forces of monarchy and tyranny,” Raskin wrote. “All else pales in comparison to this struggle, even the accomplishments of your fine policies.”
Raskin argued that millions of voters are forming judgments about Biden’s health and political fitness following Biden’s poor debate performance. The decision the president must make is “not just a private medical judgment about how he feels, but also a public political judgment about how others feel, for ultimately the American people will decide the fate of this election and of our very democracy,” he wrote.
Raskin’s letter comes amid growing scrutiny of Biden. Biden’s poor debate performance has sparked panic among Democrats and led to weeks of calls for him to step aside and bring in a new candidate to take on Trump. Biden intends to continue his campaign and has argued he is the best person to challenge the former president in the election.
The senator then offered the analogy of Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez, who played in Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series despite being tired.
Raskin writes that Martinez kept pitching, even though he knew the statistic that a pitcher would be exhausted after 110 pitches. Martinez allowed three consecutive hits and one run, but “protested vehemently that he was OK.” The Yankees went on to tie the game and win.
“There’s no shame in bowing your head to the well-deserved applause of an overflowing crowd when your arms are tired. Ignoring statistics is a real danger to a team,” Raskin wrote.
“It’s a difficult situation because you’re a star pitcher and you’re also a manager. But in a democracy, as you’ve shown more than any president before you, you’re not a manager acting alone. You’re a co-manager with our great team and great people,” Raskin continued. “Mr. President, consult with your team. Listen to them. You’ll make the right decision.”
