Joe Biden offered his strongest defense yet of former President Barack Obama after Democratic rivals criticized his former boss’ policies during a two-night debate in Detroit.
“I was surprised at all of the attacks on President Obama’s record at the #DemDebate. The Obama-Biden Administration passed Obamacare, lead the world on combating climate change, and saved our economy from the brink of disaster,” Biden tweeted Thursday evening.
“He was a great president. We don’t say that enough,” the 2020 front-runner added.
I was surprised at all of the attacks on President Obama’s record at the #DemDebate. The Obama-Biden Administration passed Obamacare, lead the world on combating climate change, and saved our economy from the brink of disaster.
He was a great president. We don’t say that enough.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 2, 2019
The issue of healthcare loomed large over the CNN debates Tuesday and Wednesday. While Biden has released a plan that would expand Obamacare and keep private health insurers in the game, other candidates are calling for a single-payer plan to insure all Americans.
“We have tried the solution of Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Tuesday. “And what have the private insurance companies done? They’ve sucked billions of dollars out of our healthcare system.”
Also attacked were Obama’s record on immigration and, by extension, Biden’s policy ideas on the issue. Fellow candidates Julián Castro and Bill de Blasio, as well as the protesters who heckled him from the audience, confronted Biden on Wednesday about the 3 million deportations that took place under the Obama administration. Castro accused him of having not “learned the lessons of the past” regarding the urgent need to fix the immigration system.
Speaking to reporters Thursday afternoon, Biden said it was “bizarre” to see so many attacks against Obama.
“I’m looking forward to them,” Biden said. “I must tell you, I was a little surprised how much the incoming was about Barack, about the president. I mean I’m proud of having served with him, I’m proud of the job he did. I don’t think there’s anything he has to apologize for. And I think, you know, it kind of surprised me the degree of the criticism. But look, it’s — as I’ve told you before, and God love you, you’ve had to cover me a long time now, but this is a marathon, and I feel good.”
The attacks on Obama’s record prompted Eric Holder, who served as his attorney general, to tell the Democratic candidates to “be wary.” He added, “Build on it. Expand it. But there is little to be gained – for you or the party – by attacking a very successful and still popular Democratic President.”
In a pair of tweets, fired off at about midnight after the second debate, President Trump chastised the Democratic presidential candidates and claimed that the economic prosperity during his administration will be lost if one of the Democrats is elected president in 2020.
