CNN "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" - Transcript: "Interview with Rep. Cedric Richmond"

Interview

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COOPER: Speaking about last night's debate, Biden told donors at a fundraiser today, quote: I think I could have done before. I will do better. God willing.

Joining me to discuss, national campaign co-chair for the Biden campaign, Congressman Cedric Richmond.

Congressman, so, Vice President Biden says the age card is fair game. Do you agree?

REP. CEDRIC RICHMOND (D-LA): Look, I think the vice president stands by his record. He is who he is, and you can't do anything about age. So, if the American people think age is a real issue -- and remember, everything is relative. The guy that he will be running against is nearly the same age.

But if the American people think that that is an issue, I think he is willing to address it. So, I think it is fair. I don't think how it was played was fair, especially since the facts were wrong surrounding the exchange. COOPER: Do you -- are you concerned that this is an issue that's just

going to keep coming up because it's the kind of thing that once, you know, people start to think about it or focus on it, any time then somebody stumbles, any time somebody gets a word wrong or drones on, as I often do, it brings the question back up again. It's sort of becoming something that people watch for.

RICHMOND: Look, I do it all the time also. I do it far more than I want to do it. But I think that it's a slippery slope. I mean, I know seniors -- my mother for instance, will not say if she misplaces her keys because she doesn't want people to think for some reason she is losing it.

I think we have to be very sensitive about that. And so, if the facts bear it out, then it's something that we can address. But, look, Vice President Biden is very, very strong. He is very energetic, and I think he is running a good campaign.

But to send it out there in the manner that it was done, one, I think it was inaccurate in the way that it was portrayed. But, two, I think it was basically rude, no manners, and disrespectful.

COOPER: It is interesting that this even coming up at all, given the fact it's not just the vice president in his 70s. You talk about Trump, but also his two closest rivals, Senator Sanders and Senator Warren are as well.

Why do you think it is that Biden is the one being attacked for his age and not others?

RICHMOND: Because he is winning. And whenever you're in first place, you have to be prepared for attacks from everyone who is not in first place. Last night, that was nine other people.

And I think that that's why the vice president said at his fundraiser that he will do better. He knows he is going to get attacked. I think that the good thing about the Democratic party is that we leave with our morals and our values.

And so, anything that's issue-related -- and for the American people, let me say this, Anderson, people are so busy trying to keep a roof over their head, food on their tables, clothes on their children's backs and provide for their families.

The last thing they are thinking about are cheap shots in the debate. They are trying to figure out how to beat Donald Trump, how to get this country united again, how to restore the soul of the country, how to love and care for one another like it was intended to do, how to be this idea of America. That's what people are thinking about. They are not thinking about who can come up with the best one-liner, one- liner during the debate so they can fundraise off of it.

COOPER: They are.

RICHMOND: They can get from 2 percent to 3 percent. COOPER: But people are very concerned about who can actually stand toe-to-toe with Donald Trump on a debate stage and take what he, you know, throws out and give back more. I mean, someone who can actually beat Donald Trump on a debate stage and in a race.

RICHMOND: They are concerned about that. But all the polls show that we are the only Democratic candidate that's beaten Donald Trump by double digits. So, it's not a thin margin of victory for Vice President Joe Biden over Donald Trump. He has a large margin of victory right now.

But let's remember also that he had to debate former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and he had to debate former Governor Sarah Palin when the stakes were the highest. And he performed very well. They won both elections.

So, sometimes you have to let experience show. And, by the way, since when is experience and wisdom a bad thing?

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You know, it reminds me of the Farmers commercial. I know a thing or two because I have seen a thing or two. So, I think he can stand on the fact that he has been there and he knows what he is doing.

COOPER: All right. Congressman Cedric Richmond, thank you very much.

RICHMOND: Thank you for having me.

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