Dems fight over health care, race, immigration
DETROIT — The ideological divisions gripping the Democratic Party came into the spotlight Wednesday as presidential candidates waged an acrimonious battle over health care, immigration and race that tested the strength of early front- runner Joe Biden’s candidacy.
The former vice president was repeatedly forced to defend his decadesold political record against pointed attacks from his younger, diverse rivals, who charged that Mr. Biden’s eight- year relationship with then- President Barack Obama was not reason enough to earn the Democratic nomination.
The attacks on Mr. Biden in the second presidential debate were most vivid coming from California Sen. Kamala Harris, who declared that his willingness to work with segregationists in the U. S. Senate during the 1970s could have had dramatic consequences on the surge of minority candidates in political office.
“Had those segregationists had their way, I would not be a member of the United States Senate, [ fellow black presidential candidate] Cory
Booker would not be a member of the United States Senate, and Barack Obama would not have been in a position to nominate” Mr. Biden to become vice president, she said.
When pressed, Mr. Biden repeatedly leaned on his relationship with Mr. Obama.
“We’re talking about things that occurred a long, long time ago,” Mr. Biden said. “... Barack Obama knew who I was.”
The dynamic showcased the challenges ahead for Mr. Biden and his party as Democrats seek to rebuild the young and multiracial coalition that helped Mr. Obama win two presidential elections. Those differences were debated on a broad menu of issues including health care, immigration and women’s reproductive rights.
But it was the discussion of race that marked an escalating rift shaping the Democratic primary.
Mr. Booker, who at times adopted the position of peacemaker, also took Mr. Biden to task over criminal justice issues and his role in passing a crime bill while a Delaware senator in the 1990s. When Mr. Biden fought back by criticizing Mr. Booker’s tenure as mayor of Newark, N. J., before becoming a New Jersey senator, Mr. Booker shot back: “You’re dipping into the Kool- Aid and you don’t even know the flavor.”
In Detroit, a city where Dems desperately need strong minority turnout to beat President Donald Trump next year, Mr. Biden, 76, repeatedly clashed with the two black candidates in the race, as well as the only candidate of Mexican heritage, all of whom are over two decades his junior. Mr. Biden emphasized his work as vice president to help the auto industry and the city repair its bankrupt finances.
For Democrats, the internal fight, while common to almost every primary cycle, is one many would rather avoid, favoring instead a focus on defeating Mr. Trump. Several candidates said they thought Mr. Trump should be impeached and others called him a racist.
Meanwhile, Mr. Biden charged that Ms. Harris’ health care plan would cost taxpayers $ 3 trillion even after two terms in office and would force middle- class taxes to go up, not down. He said that would put Democrats at a disadvantage against Mr. Trump.
“You can’t beat President Trump with double talk on this plan,” he said.
Ms. Harris slapped back that Mr. Biden was inaccurate.
“The cost of doing nothing is far too expensive,” Ms. Harris said. She added: “Your plan does not cover everyone in America.”
There were also tense exchanges on immigration that pitted Mr. Biden against former Obama housing secretary Julián Castro, the only Latino candidate in the race.
Mr. Biden suggested that some of his rivals favor immigration laws that are far too forgiving. Mr. Castro, for example, would decriminalize illegal border crossings.
“People should have to get in line. That’s the problem,” Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Castro shot back: “It looks like one of us has learned the lessons of the past and one has not.”