Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Wednesday blasted the Republican response to President Trump’s firings of a string of inspectors general in recent weeks, suggesting that in another era there would have been louder bipartisan criticism for ousting watchdogs.
His remarks, part of a virtual round table aimed at a Wisconsin audience, came several days after the president ousted Steve A. Linick, who led the office of the inspector general at the State Department — the latest inspector general Mr. Trump has removed.
The White House has said Mr. Trump fired Mr. Linick at the urging of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Democrats have opened an investigation. Mr. Biden spoke in forceful terms about his disappointment in some of his former Republican colleagues.
“That used to be a hobbyhorse for Republican senators,” said Mr. Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and previously a longtime Delaware senator. “Republican senators joined Democrats, they were strongly, strongly, strongly supportive of these independent inspector generals.”
That applied to Republicans “starting with” Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, Mr. Biden said.
“Where are they?” he continued. “Why aren’t they speaking up about this? It really bothers me. It bothers me a lot.”
Michael Zona, a spokesman for Mr. Grassley, responded in a tweet Wednesday with a swipe at Mr. Biden’s mental acuity — a favorite messaging tactic of Mr. Trump’s that is picking up among his Republican allies — writing that Mr. Biden “may have forgotten and missed a lot of what goes on around him, but @ChuckGrassley has demanded answers and been among the most outspoken members of Congress.”
He provided links to several recent instances in which Mr. Grassley defended the importance of inspectors general and pressed for more information.
Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, has sharply criticized Mr. Trump’s firing of inspectors general. Other Senate Republicans have expressed concerns with the Trump administration’s move, and some have accepted it.
Mr. Biden’s remarks were part of a virtual Wisconsin-focused campaign event, his latest effort to connect with voters in battleground states even as he campaigns virtually from his home near Wilmington, Del.
Throughout the round table, Mr. Biden talked about the challenges facing rural America, slammed Mr. Trump’s handling of the coronavirus crisis and struck several populist notes as he described how he would lead the nation’s economic recovery. He also said he was looking at “new ideas to help bring small business out from under the shadow of this high-interest debt and these debt collection agencies.”
Latest Updates: Coronavirus Outbreak in the U.S.
- Disease modelers find that tens of thousands of U.S. deaths could have been prevented with earlier lockdowns.
- All 50 states have begun to reopen, but vast discrepancies remain.
- Scientists express cautious optimism about developing a vaccine quickly.
Mr. Biden promised once again that he would appoint his own inspector general “on Day 1” to make sure stimulus funds are “spent fairly and transparently.” And, he said, “not one more penny should go to a Fortune 500 company, period. Period. Not a single penny.”
He also held a virtual rally aimed at Milwaukee later Wednesday.
The Democratic National Convention is slated to be held in the city in August, but in an interview with WISN 12 News, an ABC affiliate, Mr. Biden acknowledged the uncertainty about what shape the convention will take months after the pandemic hit the United States.
Asked whether it was “realistic” that he will accept the nomination in person, he replied that it depended on “what the scientists tell us, what the experts tell us at the time. I think it is possible. But it remains to be seen.”
Mr. Biden emphasized that he would campaign in Milwaukee.
“I hope that there is a convention in Milwaukee,” he said. “It may not be as robust a convention, with the number of people. There may be a social distancing thing, it may be smaller. I don’t know. But I can’t ordain what that’s going to be, but I plan on campaigning in Milwaukee.”
The Coronavirus Outbreak
Frequently Asked Questions and Advice
Updated May 20, 2020
How many people have lost their jobs due to coronavirus in the U.S.?
Over 36 million people have filed for unemployment since March. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.
Is ‘Covid toe’ a symptom of the disease?
There is an uptick in people reporting symptoms of chilblains, which are painful red or purple lesions that typically appear in the winter on fingers or toes. The lesions are emerging as yet another symptom of infection with the new coronavirus. Chilblains are caused by inflammation in small blood vessels in reaction to cold or damp conditions, but they are usually common in the coldest winter months. Federal health officials do not include toe lesions in the list of coronavirus symptoms, but some dermatologists are pushing for a change, saying so-called Covid toe should be sufficient grounds for testing.
Can I go to the park?
Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.
How do I take my temperature?
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
Should I wear a mask?
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
What should I do if I feel sick?
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
How do I get tested?
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
Should I pull my money from the markets?
That’s not a good idea. Even if you’re retired, having a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds so that your money keeps up with inflation, or even grows, makes sense. But retirees may want to think about having enough cash set aside for a year’s worth of living expenses and big payments needed over the next five years.
How can I help?
Charity Navigator, which evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, has a running list of nonprofits working in communities affected by the outbreak. You can give blood through the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen has stepped in to distribute meals in major cities.
Mr. Biden also gave a virtual commencement speech for Columbia University Law School, addressing graduates including his own granddaughter. In the short speech, Mr. Biden said that it was up to leaders to create a more equitable world after the virus, continuing his efforts in recent weeks to promote a message of more ambitious change, abandoning the return-to-normalcy message that was a feature of his campaign during the Democratic primary.
“From this pandemic you can remake the world as it should be,” Mr. Biden said. “To see Covid-19 as the force majeure that compels us to rewrite the social contract that’s been scrambled by nature’s fury and human failures.”
Mr. Biden did not mention Mr. Trump by name. However, in another section of the speech, the former vice president said the graduates must be leaders in protecting the “very foundations of democracy,” which he said were under attack.
“Trust in self-governance, because right now it’s under attack,” Mr. Biden said. “The very people tasked with enforcing the rule of law are abusing their powers, protecting their friends, weakening the very principles that make our country work.”
Mr. Biden repeatedly mentioned his granddaughter Naomi, who was part of Columbia’s graduating class. He lamented not being able to attend an in-person ceremony and told the audience that she was named after his infant daughter who died in a car accident weeks after Mr. Biden was first elected to the U.S. Senate at age 29.
“When I think about Naomi graduating today, I think about the bonds that are passed through generations,” he said. “I think about the gift of time we have on this Earth. Where we carry our burdens and our dreams not alone, but together.”
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
