Biden Opponent Dean Phillips Calls His Own Party “Completely Delusional” For MAGA Hatred
From Tampa Free Press
Article By Liam Edgar, Original Publish Date: January 25, 2024
If Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips has found it difficult to get on the primary ballot against President Joe Biden so far, his bigger worry after recent interviews may be remaining in his party.
Phillips, of Minnesota, offered almost gushing praise for former President Donald Trump supporters, whom he met during a recent visit to New Hampshire.
On CNN, Phillips recalled seeing the mass gathering of the Trump faithful dutifully waiting in the freezing temperatures. Phillips happened to be holding his own event nearby.
“I’ve got to tell you guys, I went to a Donald Trump rally a couple of nights ago. Never been to one. I had an event across the street. I saw the line of people waiting in the cold for hours. And I thought, what the heck? You know, I’m going to be a leader who actually invites people, doesn’t condemn them,” he recalled.
“Met probably 50 Trump people waiting in line. Every single one of them (was) thoughtful, hospitable, friendly — all of them so frustrated that they feel nobody’s listening to them but Donald Trump. A diverse crowd, people who had never been to a Trump event before.”
“My party is completely delusional right now,” Phillips added.
Phillips continued the story during an interview with Fox News on Wednesday.
When host Steve Doocy asked him about meeting those Trump voters, Phillps replied that it was his “responsibility” to reach out to them.
“I’m sick of this political culture that rewards only dividers,” Phillips continued.
The congressman noted that he flipped a seat Republicans had held for 60 years. That did not happen, he added, because he only appealed to Democrats. He also listened to independents and moderate Republicans.
“Any leader of the free world should show up at the other side’s rally and say hello and greet people,” said Phillips. “They were the most hospitable, thoughtful, kind people I’ve interacted with in a long time.”
“I just think political duopoly is preventing what most Americans want,” he said.
Phillips also warned his side that Biden’s candidacy is an “impending disaster” given the combination of Trump’s growing popularity and Biden’s increasing unpopularity.
Phillips’ comments echo remarks made by J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon last week.
Dimon, normally a reliable liberal voice, told CNBC that if you “just take a step back and be honest,” one would admit that Trump was “kind of right” about NATO, immigration, and China. Trump also grew the economy “quite well,” Dimon admitted, and he noted, “Tax reform worked.”
“The Democrats have done a good job with the deplorables, hugging their Bibles and their beer and their guns. I mean, really? Can we stop that stuff and actually grow up and treat other people respectfully and listen to them a little bit?” Dimon added. “I think this negative talk about MAGA is going to hurt Biden’s election campaign.”
In New Hampshire on Tuesday, Phillips racked up 20% of the vote against Biden.
He crowed about that, pointing out at a post-election rally he has gone from zero to 20% in less than three months.
But his struggle will be getting on the ballot in other states.
Democratic officials in at least three states — Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee — have already declared Biden will be the only candidate on the ballot.
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