Facing criticism for his decades-old opposition to federal school busing programs, Joe Biden told a group of donors he is being attacked by other 2020 Democrats for simply trying to work on legislation with his ideological opponents.
“I know I’m criticized heavily by my qualified contenders who are running [when I say] ‘folks, we’ve got to bring the country together,” the former vice president said Friday evening in Belvedere, Calif.
He contended that while some will say, “‘well, that’s old Joe, they’re the old days,'” Biden added, “if that’s the old days, we’re dead … that’s not hyperbole.”
The fundraiser, Biden’s second of the day, was held at the home of Leni and Marriner Eccles. Dick Blum, the husband of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, co-sponsored the event.
During Thursday’s Democratic debate, Biden faced a brutal line of attack from California Sen. Kamala Harris over his record on race-related issues, including his previous remarks boasting about the work he accomplished with segregationist senators. In that speech at a New York fundraiser this month, Biden said, “At least there was some civility. We got things done,” and talked about Sens. James O. Eastland of Mississippi and Herman Talmadge of Georgia.
“I will direct this at Vice President Biden,” Harris said. “I do not believe you are a racist and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground.” “But,” she added, “I also believe and it’s personal and it was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country.”
Harris then attacked Biden over his opposition to school busing, which he once deriding as something that “doesn’t work” and “would ultimately harm black communities.
“It was not only that … there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bused to school every day,” Harris continued. “That little girl was me. So, I will tell you that on this subject, it cannot be an intellectual debate among Democrats. We have to take it seriously. We have to act swiftly.”
In response, Biden, 76, said he did not oppose court-ordered busing but was against busing ordered by the Department of Education.
Support for Biden dropped 10 points (41.5% to 31.5%), according to one poll, after what was widely viewed as a rough debate performance for him. Harris saw the largest gain in support in the poll, jumping nearly 9 points from 7.9% to 16.6%.
