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(UnitedVoice.com) – Several Democrats have called on President Joe Biden to step down as the party’s nominee for POTUS. The commander-in-chief has refused, saying he’s the best candidate to beat former President Donald Trump. A senior House Democrat doesn’t think so and made it clear how he feels on national television.
On Monday, July 8, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) appeared on CNN’s “The Lead” and spoke to Jake Tapper about the president. The television host was one of the moderators of the June debate between Biden and Trump that has caused concern on the left. Smith, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, told Tapper that he believes Biden “should step aside.”
Smith went on to say that the 81-year-old POTUS isn’t “the best person to carry the Democratic message” forward. The congressman praised the president for doing “a great job” during the national health crisis and helping avoid a recession afterward but doesn’t think he should run again. He argued that the Democratic Party had a “good message,” but the president had proven that he wasn’t “capable of delivering that message” effectively.
The Washington lawmaker also criticized members of his party who want the press to move on from the issue of whether Biden is fit for office. He said that a lot of Democrats want to move on and “stop talking about it,” but that critics aren’t “the ones who said, ‘Anytime, anyplace,’” and they aren’t the ones who were on stage with Trump.
Smith pointed out that it’s not people like him who keep bringing up the issue. “Our constituents are bringing it up, the country is bringing it up,” he said.
Smith isn’t alone. House Minority Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) held a call with the Democratic caucus the day before the congressman’s interview with Tapper. Three other Democrats, including Smith, reportedly voiced support for replacing Biden on the top of the ticket. The lawmakers, all ranking members of various committees, included Reps. Jerry Nadler (NY), Mark Takano (CA), and Joe Morelle (NY).
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