Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden defended former President Barack Obama from attacks within his own party, saying Thursday that they did the best they could during their eight years.
“I don’t think there’s anything he has to apologize for,” Mr. Biden said in Detroit, a day after he and nine other presidential candidates clashed in a debate dominated by the former president’s legacy.
Mr. Biden was prodded by opponents to defend the record pace of deportations set under Mr. Obama, and his attempt to strike a major trade deal with Pacific Rim countries.
In each case, Mr. Biden demurred. He said he would not match Mr. Obama’s deportations, and said he would not restore the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal, saying it needs major changes from what the previous administration negotiated. President Trump already canceled U.S. involvement in that deal.
Despite those complaints, Mr. Biden defended Mr. Obama and wondered about criticism from other Democrats aimed at the former president.
“I hope the next debate we can talk about how we can fix the things Trump has broken, not how Obama made all these mistakes. He didn’t,” Mr. Biden said.
He suggested Mr. Obama got distracted by the economic situation he faced when he took office and wasn’t able to focus on immigration until later. When they did get a chance to move beyond economic stimulus, Mr. Biden said, they were successful with programs such as the DACA deportation amnesty for illegal immigrant “Dreamers.”
He also bristled at comparisons between Mr. Obama’s deportation record — which topped 400,000 in 2012 — and Mr. Trump, who last year oversaw 256,000 deportations.
Mr. Biden suggested people needed to look beyond deportations.
“The idea it’s somehow comparable to what this guy’s doing is bizarre,” he said.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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