A meeting between Hispanic House Democrats and President Biden ended somewhat awkwardly on Friday when one member used his question to directly ask the president to drop out of the race.
Bold PAC, the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), organized the call with time for two questions, but Biden spontaneously answered a third.
Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) took the opportunity to call on Biden to step down from the presidential race against former President Trump.
According to multiple sources, Levin’s request was a calm, preamble of praise for Biden and his agenda, but based on interactions with voters in his district.
In his response, Biden explained why his public engagements have increased in recent weeks.
“That’s why I’m going out and letting people touch me, poke me, ask me questions. I think I know what I’m doing – because the truth is – I’m going to say something outrageous – no president in three years has done what we did in three years other than Franklin Roosevelt, because of his help. That’s not hyperbole, that’s a fact,” Biden said, according to a source familiar with the conversation.
“And that doesn’t answer the question. That was great when you were feeling good, Biden, are you okay now? That’s what’s underlying it. That’s what people are worried about. ‘I have a grandfather who is 85 years old and can’t walk.’ It’s a legitimate concern for people, but that’s why I think it’s important to go out and show people everything from how well I move to how much I know and that I’m still in charge.”
After the call, Levin released a statement praising Biden but asking him to “pass the torch.”
“We must prevail against the incalculable threat that Donald Trump poses to American institutions of freedom and democracy. Donald Trump actively seeks dark authoritarianism and the overthrow of the values that have guided us toward justice and prosperity for nearly two and a half centuries,” Levin said in his statement.
“Once again, our national value must be forged in the crucible of history. It’s time to move on. With a new leader. Together.”
Since Biden’s debate against Trump last month, domestic sentiment about Biden’s viability as a candidate has fluctuated along with his performances at public events, but a steady stream of Democrats have joined calls for him to drop out.
Biden’s performance at a one-on-one press conference following the NATO summit in Washington on Thursday allayed fears that the president had lost a step in controlling policy issues, but his verbal flaws and inconsistent delivery kept doubts in mind. about your ability to communicate your administration’s achievements.
Biden’s agenda on Friday included the CHC meeting and a later meeting with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which was scheduled to begin about an hour before the CHC meeting ended.
“Today, the CHC Bold PAC received a positive call where we heard the latest from President Biden on the state of the November elections,” said CHC Chair Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.). “The president answered our questions and thanked us for supporting him and for the critical role we played in working to re-elect him,” she said.
“President Biden has my unwavering support and I believe he is the best candidate who can overcome Trump’s hateful anti-American rhetoric,” Barragán added.
The conference call’s host, Bold PAC President Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), ended the meeting following Biden’s response to Levin, referring to the president’s upcoming nomination.
“Once again, Mr. President, we want to thank you for being very generous with your time. That will be the last question for today, but we know you have another commitment with some of our colleagues in the AAPI community,” Sánchez said.
Several senior CHC members, including Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) — who was the second Democrat and the first CHC member to call for Biden to withdraw — did not attend the conference call because of travel or other reasons.
Many CHC members after the call said they were satisfied with the content of the meeting, even less so with the leak about Levin’s interaction with Biden.
According to Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), who also serves as co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign, Reps. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) and Lou Correa (D-California) were the first members of the Bold PAC to play Sánchez a place in line.
“She stated that they would be the two people who would definitely ask her questions. But the chair kept a list of all the members who raised their hands on the call and who wanted to ask questions. And in fact, at a certain point in the conversation, she announced who was in line,” said Escobar.
Correa, a member of the “Three Amigos” who has butted heads with Democratic leadership on immigration issues, pressed Biden on the importance of finding a path to citizenship for long-term undocumented immigrants.
“We need your help, Mr. President. We need your help with Latino voters. Once again, we need a strong message of hope from you,” Correa said, according to a source familiar with the conversation.
“They need hope to become Americans. I ask that in your messages you talk to these families and tell them, there is a way in my second administration for all of you who have been here for decades, who have followed the laws, who have paid taxes to be part of the American dream, sir,” he added later.
Biden, whose standing with immigration advocates at the CHC rose substantially with the June announcement of immigration relief for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, responded with a proposal in favor of the bipartisan border agreement — not popular with that crowd, but a critique of Trump – and the immensely CHC-friendly immigration aid package.
“Look, you know, I strongly agree with every word you just said, it’s not a joke. I’m being extremely serious. And one of the things that I tried to achieve, with all your help, we tried to achieve that compromise that was approved, that bipartisan compromise that was negotiated for weeks and weeks. And Trump decided that this would benefit us, so he told us to give up. And all these guys from before backed off,” Biden said.
“We are in a situation where, this is why I used executive action, for example, to ensure that over a million Latinos who are married to a U.S. citizen have full access to citizenship and get — you get a green card now. And that will change the dynamic a lot.”
But the anonymous leak revealed divisions within the CHC, a group that has experienced extreme ups and downs in terms of membership unity.
“It is disheartening that we have members who would undermine Linda’s leadership, who would undermine their colleagues and who would undermine the president. I mean, honestly, all of this helps Donald Trump,” Escobar said.
Mychael Schnell contributed to this report.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
