Julian Castro Pays Hefty Price For Trying To Insult Joe Biden's Age

CNN

A heated exchange during the third Democratic debate drew some criticism towards Julian Castro after some people took one of his comments as a personal attack aimed at Joe Biden’s age.

The two were arguing on healthcare, and the exchange got quite fiery at some point. Castro remarked on the fact that Biden had used the term “buy-in” during one of his arguments.

Many took his comment as a jab at the fact that Biden was not capable of remembering as well as he used to anymore, and by extension, an attack on his age. Fact-checkers did reveal that Biden was correct all along.

Castro has defended his claims, stating that he was never trying to insult his opponent on a personal level, and instead wanted to remind him of an argument he had used himself.

He said: “This is a debate. And when we’re talking about health care policy, we’re talking about a policy that impacts every single person in this country. It didn’t matter that it was Joe Biden. If it had been another candidate that tried to deny what they just said two minutes ago, I would have asked them the same thing.”

Castro added: “I spent every second on last night’s debate stage fighting for you, and now I’m viciously attacked for it. I had a critical choice to make on the debate stage. I could either play it safe and give Vice President Biden a free pass like everyone else. Or I could speak up, challenge the conversation, and demand answers for you and your family — I’m not in this race to play it safe.”

That did not seem to please the masses though, as many have continued to berate Castro over his statements, calling them unnecessary and unprofessional.

Others have been more supportive of the politician, noting that this could be an attempt to smear his name and draw attention away from his actual arguments.

And for what it is worth, that seems to be precisely what is happening right now, as more people are focused on the alleged personal attack, rather than anything else Castro had to say about the situation.

Castro is paying a hefty price for the attack on Biden, and he lost one of his congressional endorsements.

In a surprising move, Texas Rep. Vicente González announced that he is switching his support to Barack Obama’s former vice president.

He stated: “I know firsthand his passion for expanding opportunity for the Latino community, people of color, and historically disenfranchised communities, as well as his unparalleled dedication to building a bench of dynamic Democratic candidates in Texas and nationally.”

Biden is the frontrunner in the Democratic primary for president.