Democratic debate gives standing ovation to ousted impeachment witness Col. Vindman

(Image credit: Twitter/@ABCNews)

published 8 February 2020

Former Vice President Joe Biden got a standing ovation at the New Hampshire debate on Friday, but it wasn't for himself. Biden asked the audience at Saint Anselm College to get on their feet to show support for impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the National Security Council's top Ukraine expert who was expelled on Friday by President Trump in apparent payback for participating in the House's investigation.

"[Trump] should be pinning a medal on Vindman and not on Rush Limbaugh," Biden said. "I think what we should be doing now, I think we should all stand and give Col. Vindman a show of how much we supported him. Stand up and clap for Vindman. Get up there!"

As the room rose to cheer, Biden said: "That's who we are. We are not what Trump is."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.