Cory Booker is very concerned about 'meandering' Joe Biden's debate performance
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro is facing criticism for going after former Vice President Joe Biden's memory during Thursday's Democratic debate, but not from Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.).
Castro during the third debate questioned Biden's recollection of what he previously said about his health care proposal, mockingly asking him if he already forgot "what you said two minutes ago." Some 2020 Democrats have slammed Castro for this, with former Rep. Beto O'Rourke calling this the kind of "personal attack" we don't "need right now."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"There's a lot of people who are concerned about Joe Biden's ability to carry the ball all the way across the end line without fumbling," Booker said.
Booker certainly seems to think Biden can't do so, saying there were "a lot of moments" during the debate when the candidates looked at each other while Biden spoke, as he "tends to go on sometimes" and make strange comments like his record player reference.
"There are definitely moments when you listen to Joe Biden and you just wonder," Booker said.
Asked if he's suggesting Biden is too old to be president, Booker said he's not, essentially because these concerns aren't new. "I've listened to Joe Biden over the years and often felt like there were times when he is going on or meandering in his speech," Booker said.
Booker further defended this critique Friday, telling CNN it's "very important" to express these concerns about Biden because "we love our country." Brendan Morrow
-
Buddhist monks’ US walk for peaceUnder the Radar Crowds have turned out on the roads from California to Washington and ‘millions are finding hope in their journey’
-
American universities are losing ground to their foreign counterpartsThe Explainer While Harvard is still near the top, other colleges have slipped
-
How to navigate dating apps to find ‘the one’The Week Recommends Put an end to endless swiping and make real romantic connections
-
Judge rejects California’s ICE mask ban, OKs ID lawSpeed Read Federal law enforcement agents can wear masks but must display clear identification
-
Lawmakers say Epstein files implicate 6 more menSpeed Read The Trump department apparently blacked out the names of several people who should have been identified
-
Japan’s Takaichi cements power with snap election winSpeed Read President Donald Trump congratulated the conservative prime minister
-
The ‘mad king’: has Trump finally lost it?Talking Point Rambling speeches, wind turbine obsession, and an ‘unhinged’ letter to Norway’s prime minister have caused concern whether the rest of his term is ‘sustainable’
-
Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
-
Trump, Senate Democrats reach DHS funding dealSpeed Read The deal will fund most of the government through September and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
-
Fed holds rates steady, bucking Trump pressureSpeed Read The Federal Reserve voted to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged
-
Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlashSpeed Read ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ said a federal judge after the agency violated at least 96 court orders
