Raskin urges Biden to listen to Democrats in letter
Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), a key Democrat on the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, wrote a letter to President Biden earlier this month urging him to consider the fate of the country if he stays in the race.
The letter, dated July 6, was first reported Thursday by The New York Times and obtained by The Hill. Raskin addressed Biden as an admirer, supporter, friend and “fellow politician.”
“But I write to you now, above all, as a fellow citizen who shares your mad love for American democracy and freedom. We are under siege every day by the autocrats and monarchists, from Moscow to Mar-A-Lago, and the decisions we make will be historic for the fate of our country,” Raskin wrote.
In the four-page letter, Raskin said he was not writing to tell Biden what to do, but rather to “remind you of who you are.”
The Maryland Democrat highlighted Biden’s record in office and reminded the president of the speech he gave earlier this year on the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack where he spoke about protecting American democracy and the threat of former President Trump.
“Everything we believe in is on the line in the next four-and-a-half months. We have an overriding obligation to defeat the forces of resurgent monarchy and oppression,” Raskin wrote. “Everything else pales in comparison to this struggle, even your magnificent policy achievements.”
Raskin argued that after Biden’s poor debate performance, millions of voters are making up their minds about his medical condition and political abilities. The decision the president must make is “not only a private medical judgment about how you feel but a public political one about how others feel because, in the end, the people will decide the fate of this election and of our democracy itself,” Raskin wrote.
Raskin’s letter comes at a time of increased scrutiny for Biden. His poor debate showing sparked panic among Democrats, and calls for him to step aside and allow a new candidate to take on Trump have persisted in the weeks since. Biden has insisted he is staying in the race and is the best person to challenge the former president in the election.
The congressman then evoked a metaphor about Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martínez, who remained in the 2003 American League Championship Game 7 despite being tired.
Raskin wrote that despite knowing the statistic that pitchers only have 110 pitches before they tire out, Martínez continued on. Martínez gave up three straight hits and a run but still “vigorously protested that he was fine.” The Yankees tied the game and went on to win.
“There is no shame in taking a well-deserved bow to the overflowing appreciation of the crowd when your arm is tired out, and there is real danger for the team in ignoring the statistics,” Raskin wrote.
“Your situation is tricky because you are both our star pitcher and our Manager. But in democracy, as you have shown us with more than any prior president, you are not a Manager acting all alone; you are the co-Manager along with our great team and our great people,” Raskin continued. “Caucus with the team, Mr. President. Hear them out. You will make the right decision.”
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