Rep. Dean Phillips was 1st congressional Democrat to question Biden candidacy

well Congressman Dean Phillips was the first major Democrat to actually criticize Joe Biden's age and call for him to leave the race he even led a Longshot campaign against him because he didn't think Biden was fit to serve as the Democratic leader when news broke of the president dropping out of the race for president he said if this has been Vindication Vindication has never been so unfulfilling not everyone agrees a paper in duth Minnesota Philip's home state wrote an oped this week with the headline Democrats Oden Phillips an apology he has since endorsed Harris and her running mate fellow Minnesota Tim Walt who he also knows very well and we will talk about that Congressman Dean Phillips joins me now for more and I guess we should set the record straight we joke about being cousins but we aren't related although you have a very fun family I wouldn't mind being Rel there you go so for the record folks we are not related but it's always fun no collusion no conflict of interest exactly right but we love to tease that we're cousins all right first of all I've got ask you about the oped from National view Democrats o Minnesota's representative Dean Phillips an apology here it is right here what do you think what did you make of this you know I I like the sentiment I mean who wouldn't want an apology but I got to tell you just walking into this room today about a half hour ago that's the only apology I needed I mean it's exactly what I wanted to feel it's the energy the excitement I was just begging for our party to listen listen to people listen to voters who are saying the same thing I was feeling and we did it so I don't need apology what I need is for us to win and feels pretty darn good here today I tell you the energy is quite different from the RNC it's in but the question is can you keep the momentum going and I want to you know I know you endorse kamla Harris but look she didn't get one vote all right and and so the critics are saying she got lucky she got this by default it was all timing it's happening so fast there were no other choices I mean you've heard all the criticism why are you endorsing her and and why do Democrats need to believe that she can handle the office of President I I probably speak for a lot of Americans right now when I started my Endeavor to take on Biden she was actually further down in the polls than he was and I said it at the time I took some heat for it but turn up the clock to now she is exceeding expectations the way she Consolidated support amongst Democrats within 72 hours after the The Paton was handed I think is a sign of great leadership I was still calling for a competition the day that Biden the oh I remember you were but well but but I but that's what I want to say that she has wowed us with the way that she so quickly Consolidated support built the energy and in a way is that because of her and what she stands for and how smart she is and how good she is with policy is it about depth or is it because folks were like they were feeling what you were saying but not saying it that they just were so relieved that Biden stepped aside of course they would rally around whomever stepped in and that's fair but but she is utterly competent uh has really had an extraordinary career uh overcome some obstacles uh prosecutor of course in California uh now Vice President former Senator very few people as well prepared as she to assume the presidency and I still believe in competition kir I mean I I think that goes without saying but in light of the circumstances 3 weeks before the convention or so things have worked out in almost a miraculous way I will always call for a competition I still did but in this case she is the right person for this time and I will tell you her choice of Tim Walls I think that team is going to be a remarkable tag team to rebuild the Democratic brand that just a month ago this was going to be a funeral and now it's like a birth let's talk about walls because fellow Minnesota leader you know him well tell us about him what do we not know about this guy the superpower of Tim Walls is his normalness which I know in this day and age is so rare in politics he's a decent nice comp passionate accomplished guy former teacher uh National Guardsman for 24 years and just an eminently good man who listens and I think it's going to help our party reintroduce itself to a broad swath of this country that has been totally ignored by recent Democratic nominees in my estimation uh you know he knows how to mow a lawn fix a lawnmower and plow his driveway and he talks a language that you know people get and I I'm really excited about that and he will be is good ice fisherman that's what I want to know there's no such thing is a good ice fisherman only lucky ice fisherman and this is a guy who had an ice fishing shack as his campaign sha um he's a he's a wonderful guy and I think it's I think it's exciting that he might be the third Minnesota Democratic vice president of the last six and as Amy kishar senator clar says when babies are born in Minnesota parents often say one day you too might grow up to be a vice president which look that's quite quite the Mantra right now and I hope you can hear me if you can't uh try okay you can what do you want to hear this week from kamla Harris what do you think the undecided voters need to hear what do Democrats need to hear that aren't so sure you know as human beings we remember how we feel more than we remember specifics and I think right now this is a rebirth of the democratic party it's a passing of the torch to a new generation I think want I think people want to leave here feeling something and I think she's bring that tonight by the way I want to reflect on Biden a lot of people have been asking what do I want to hear from him it's not about what he says it's about how we make him feel and that's how I'm measuring tonight with her this is her chance to reintroduce herself to America reintroduce this party to America and yes she's got to attack uh the Border crisis she's got to attack the micro economy of this country where people are really struggling but she's going to listen to people in a way that I'm afraid Joe Biden was not doing a good job of and I think if she does that people want to be heard Tim Walls is great at that I think KLA Harris is great at that that will demonstrate how we do things I'm quite excited about it I wanted to let our audio folks know that's perfect guys keep it up now I can actually hear much better versus having to press my ear can you hear me better too fantastic so I'm curious you're close um with wals you know KLA Harris very well would you be a part of this uh this Administration if asked if indeed they win the White House is is that something you would consider I'm I'm sure when you ask that question is a mo most that question of most politicians they he and they ha and they say oh I'm just happy doing what I'm doing of course I would be thrilled by that invitation anyway I could help this country especially right now if they're looking for someone who respects dcent who respects my Republican colleagues who has some business experience if I can do something to help the country my goodness I would consider it of course but I didn't do this by any stretch of the imagination to accomplish that in fact one would rightfully argue that doing that probably limits my invitation in the future but so be it either way way absolutely and finally as we have just witnessed history in so many ways and such an unconventional uh way of doing things um how do you think this has changed things for the Democratic party um I I mean I know we have we have what three three and a half more days to go but um there is something different that's going on we're seeing young people rally like we've even seen uh a pilot program that's taking place where they've credentialed uh social media influencers yeah what what do you make about where the party is going now how how this change how how Joe Biden stepping aside and and and kamla Harris coming in and the energy we've seen you know going forward um what what are you envisioning now when I first entered Congress in 2019 uh I called for Nancy Pelosi to pass the torch Diane Feinstein thought should have retired Ruth Bader Ginsburg Joe Biden I've been saying this for quite a while uh there is an there's this pent up demand for this party to LEAP to the Future and I wouldn't say it was burdened uh by age or tradition uh or past Generations but the Human Condition does not like change but I've known for my own personal life sometimes it's imposed sometimes it's good fortune sometimes bad but it always presents an opportunity so I think that's what this is really about with that change comes great excitement opportunity now in the old adage in Washington is first they ignore you then they laugh then they attack and then they said hey we knew it all along that's kind of what it feels like right now but my goodness I mean just to feel the energy compared to what this was going to be like is magnificent and I think could create a sea change if we win which I think we will uh if Donald Trump continues to act in the manner that he is seemingly uh going to time and time again uh this is a grand opportunity for Democrats to start using invitation instead of Confrontation to build this big tent provide space and place for desent and welcome people and celebrate differences as frankly they've done with me and I think that's the maybe the metaphor to close on the Republican Party Not only would they have not have tolerated somebody like me taken on Donald Trump they would have excoriated disenfranchised excommunicated for good I'm being welcomed here with high fives and hugs and handshakes I think that says what the Democratic party is all about Congressman Dean Phillips good to see you thanks cousin