An adviser for Joe Biden defended him in a Wednesday interview on MSNBC, after the former vice president faced backlash for invoking two segregationist senators he worked with as an example of the Senate’s bygone civility.
Biden used Sens. James O. Eastland of Mississippi and Herman Talmadge of Georgia, both of whom had a history of racism, as an example during a Tuesday fundraiser of how there was a time when senators were able to overcome political differences to work together.
“As he says in the story, that he didn’t agree with them, and he absolutely did not agree, but they were able to disagree and that there was civility involved. He didn’t praise them, he didn’t praise their positions, he certainly didn’t endorse their positions,” Anita Dunn, a Biden adviser, stated. “It’s a story he’s told many times. And the point of the story is that you have to be able to work with people, even if they hold positions repugnant to you, in order to make some progress.”
MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt replied, “Is there an understanding that in this day and age, that this is very hurtful and is the campaign telling him that he shouldn’t tell stories like this? Clearly, this has really struck a nerve.”
Dunn answered, “You know, Kasie, people on the stump are using examples all the time. And people in the Senate work all the time with members of the other party whose positions are repugnant to all of us as Democrats. You know, Cory Booker, who has worked with Jeff Sessions on many things. Elizabeth Warren talks about how she’s worked with Chuck Grassley, who led the fight for Brett Kavanaugh and who wouldn’t even meet with Merrick Garland. And Elizabeth Warren tells the story about how she has worked with Chuck Grassley for over-the-counter hearing aids to save money for people.”
Biden faced scrutiny from multiple 2020 presidential candidates for his comments about Eastland and Talmadge.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s responded to Biden’s comments, saying it’s “past time for apologies or evolution from @JoeBiden,” while New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker called on him to apologize.
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