Jerry Nadler Throws Joe Biden Under Bus In Desperate Move To Save Seat In Congress
Embattled Dem Rep Jerry Nadler is in the political fight of his life. If he loses Nadler will have to go out and get a real job and give up all his cherished perks. So it is not surprising that when asked what to do about President Joe Biden in two years Nadler took the opportunity to throw Joe under the bus and refused to publicly back his re-election.
Manhattan Dem Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler have been in office since 1992 but after redistricting, they are facing off in a primary. Suraj Patel is the other challenger and he hammered the two longtime Reps over the long tenure in DC.
“With seniority comes clout and the ability to get things done,” Nadler said at one point. “That’s the way Congress works.”
Patel fired back: “Seniority and tenure does not inure effectiveness. Seniority didn’t stop the record storefront vacancies on Columbus Avenue or Second Avenue.”
Co-moderator Errol Louis asked the three candidates a direct question about the future of the Dem Party about halfway through the debate:
Louis asked, “Should President Biden run again in 2024?”
Patel, who worked for Barack Obama, said without hesitation, “Yes.”
Maloney didn’t miss a beat: “I don’t believe he’s running for re-election.”
Nadler said: “Too early to say, it doesn’t serve the purpose of the Democratic Party to deal with that until after the midterms.”
From The Gothamist:
For decades, Maloney and Nadler represented different parts of Manhattan, with Maloney’s political base on the Upper East Side and Nadler’s on the Upper West Side.
Then came redistricting – the once-a-decade process for redrawing congressional district lines.
When asked whether @JoeBiden should run again in 2024, @CarolynBMaloney said she doesn’t "believe he’s running for re-election." #nydebates pic.twitter.com/Rd2sVPl7fX
— Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) August 3, 2022
After courts threw out a set of Democratic-drawn maps earlier this year, an independent expert selected by a state judge drew Maloney and Nadler into the same district, leaving the state’s longest-tenured congressman (Nadler) running against the person tied for second longest tenure (Maloney).
Maloney made clear: She doesn’t want to be running against Nadler.
“We have been friends and allies for years,” she said.
“Unfortunately, we were drawn into the same district. I would have much preferred to have the old district that I had.”
But she also attempted to differentiate herself from her colleague of nearly 30 years, suggesting that their voting records are similar but that she’s been more effective at getting things done in the district – pointing to the Second Avenue subway as an example.
“We’re pretty close,” Maloney said.
“After you get past our voting record, and then it’s what have you done. And I think when you compare our records of accomplishment, my record speaks for itself.”
Nadler, who also took credit for securing funding for the Second Avenue subway, pointed to three specific votes that he said differentiate him from Maloney.