During Tuesday’s raucous rumble of a debate, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden traded barbs and insults like America hasn’t seen in ages. Both candidates landed rhetorical punches on each other as the night went on. 

However, during the fiery fracas, Trump managed to get Biden to make a remark that could possibly alienate the support of Democrats from the far-left faction of the party. Under the onslaught of Trump’s jabs, Biden publicly rejected the progressive’s favorite piece of proposed legislation: The Green New Deal. 

“The Green New Deal is not my plan,” Biden exclaimed. When pressed by moderator and seeming ally Chris Wallace on the subject, Biden reiterated: “No, I don’t support the Green New Deal.” 

Trump, smelling blood, jumped in, “Oh, you don’t? Well, that’s a big statement,” he interjected. He continued, pointing out some of the more ridiculous elements of the plan. “that means you just lost the radical left. It’s gone,” he scoffed. 

Nevertheless, Biden doubled down on his comment. “I support the Biden plan that I put forward, which is different than what he calls the ‘radical Green New Deal,’” he confirmed. 

Despite Biden’s protestations, some have rightly pointed out that he characterizes the Green New Deal as a “crucial framework” for stopping climate change on his website. It also puts forth the former vice president’s environmental plan called “Biden Plan for a Clean Energy Revolution and Environmental Justice.” 

According to his campaign site:

“Biden believes the Green New Deal is a crucial framework for meeting the climate challenges we face. It powerfully captures two basic truths, which are at the core of his plan: (1) the United States urgently needs to embrace greater ambition on an epic scale to meet the scope of this challenge, and (2) our environment and our economy are completely and totally connected.”

Will Biden’s rejection of the Green New Deal cost him support with the progressive camp? Well, it seems that they might still be on board with the Democratic candidate for the time being. 

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) released a statement in which he reaffirmed his commitment to helping Biden get elected. “I support the Green New Deal and I’m voting for Vice President Joe Biden,” he maintained. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also chimed in on Twitter in response to a post made by former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. “This isn’t news, Kellyanne,” she tweeted. “Our differences are exactly why I joined Biden’s Climate Unity Task Force – so we could set aside our differences & figure out an aggressive climate plan to address the planetary crisis at our feet.”

Of course, it is worth noting that these are only two leftists who have given reassurances that they are still ridin’ with Biden. But at this point, it does not seem likely that far-left voters will defect to Trump. At worst, they will stay home. But it is even more likely that their hatred for Trump will be enough of a motivation to inspire them to turn out at the polls with clothespins to put on their noses as they pull the lever for Biden. 

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

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