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Harris distances from Biden’s divisive statement, Dems upset
Vice President Kamala Harris made it clear on Wednesday that she does not agree with President Joe Biden’s comments that appeared to insult Donald Trump’s supporters, sparking controversy just a week before Election Day.
Kamala Harris strongly expressed her disagreement with criticizing individuals for their choice of voting, as reported by reporters. Inquired about her communication with the president regarding his remarks, Kamala Harris mentioned that Biden called her on Tuesday night but did not bring up the president’s comments.
Harris Statement
“Listen, I think, first of all, he clarified his comments, but let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for. You heard my speech last night and continuously throughout my career. I believe that the work that I do is about representing all the people whether they support me or not,” Kamala Harris made a statement at Joint Base Andrews on the tarmac.
The vice president also repeated what she has said on the trail, including that she will “represent all Americans” if elected.
The president accidentally involved himself in the final phase of the campaign on Tuesday night while trying to denounce Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden. Biden brought up Puerto Rico, also known as a “floating island of garbage” by a comedian at Trump’s gathering on Sunday evening.
Biden on a Call
“And just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico ‘a floating island of garbage.’ Well, let me tell you something … I don’t know the Puerto Rican that I know… or Puerto Rico where I’m – in my home state of Delaware – they’re good, decent, honorable people,” Biden mentioned in a virtual speech on a Voto Latino call to support Kamala Harris in getting out the vote.
“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” Biden paused briefly before resuming his speech. “His, his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and it’s un-American.”
Biden tried to justify his remarks from Tuesday night.
Biden on X
“Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it,” Biden posted on X later that evening. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
The White House spokesperson told CNN that President Biden had actually said “supporter’s” instead of “supporters” when asked to clarify his comments. “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s – his – his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”
Andrew Bates Said
“The President described the offensive language used at the Madison Square Garden rally as trash.” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said.
Kamala Harris’ team was quick to publicly defend or explain those comments. However, behind closed doors, many Democrats were discreetly expressing irritation and worry about the president’s comments, both within and surrounding the campaign.
Sources stated that senior campaign officials were receiving messages of frustration from supporters, with some proposing that the president should consider staying out of the public eye completely in the last six days before Election Day.
“The Biden gaffe yesterday is just so infuriating,” one former administration official said. “Nobody wants him out there.”
Biden’s comments have clearly turned into an unwanted diversion. Trump and his supporters promptly used this to claim that Kamala Harris and her campaign, therefore, were showing contempt for Americans who support the ex-president.
The Democrats are emphatically stating that Biden is not the chosen presidential candidate, while Harris has clearly expressed her respect for all voters, no matter their political affiliations. They have also criticized what they perceive as a hypocritical stance, considering Trump’s extensive record of racist, sexist, and disrespectful comments.
“We won’t lose a single voter because of it,” one campaign adviser said Biden’s comments were not important.
According to CNN, Kamala Harris campaign staff were becoming increasingly cautious about Biden’s tendency to make mistakes, especially when the campaign is trying to avoid any unnecessary political dangers. Biden’s remarks on Tuesday night, which were seen as negative by some, only served to reinforce the worries of many Democrats.
Earlier on Wednesday, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, who is Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential running mate, stated in an interview with CBS News that Biden’s remarks were a reaction to the “frustration with Donald Trump’s divisive language,” and dismissed the notion that they contradicted a key message of the Harris campaign to bring the country together.
Walz Stated
“I think there’s– the frustration we’ve seen since January 6, the frustration with Donald Trump’s rhetoric of division, it does fire passions, and I think … President Biden was very clear that he’s speaking about the rhetoric we heard at that. So, it doesn’t undermine it,” Walz said.
During an interview with ABC News, Walz emphasized that voters should pay attention to Kamala Harris’ comments in Washington, DC, on Tuesday as she is the primary candidate on the Democratic ticket, not Biden.
“The president’s clarified his remarks, but let’s be very clear. The vice president and I have made it absolutely clear that we want everyone as a part of this. Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric is what needs to end. He called this a garbage country, and continues on from ‘the enemy within,’” he said. “What you heard Vice President Harris say, and what I say is, there’s a place for all of us here, and I think that’s the one– she’s running for president, she’s making the message, and she delivered that speech on the Ellipse that showed what we can be as a country.”
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