Biden's disaster Zoom meeting with Democrats: Joe, 81, shows up an hour late, compares himself to FDR, mentions a 'granddad who can't walk' and fires back at lawmaker's demand he drop out

President Joe Biden's latest effort to soothe panicked House Democrats Friday fell level aft he showed up precocious to a zoom meeting, skeptics couldn't inquire questions, and 1 zoom attendee promptly came retired against him.

The calamity came arsenic Biden met pinch members of a progressive BOLD PAC associated pinch nan Congressional Hispanic Caucus, arsenic he leads connected cardinal constituencies moreover arsenic dozens of members of his ain statement telephone for him to go.

The zoom convention came hours aft Biden's property convention wherever he calmed immoderate Democrats by fielding questions astatine magnitude pinch his early connected nan line, but besides botched Kamala Harris' sanction by calling her 'Vice President Trump.'

Biden was an hr precocious to an arena that was 'tightly controlled,' NOTUS reported successful a blow-by-blow of nan bizarre session, pursuing reports that Biden's furniture meetings are besides highly scripted. (Biden erstwhile again called from a prepared database of reporters astatine his property conference.

Levin, a California Democrat who is nan grandson of Mexican immigrants, utilized his move to telephone for Biden to measurement back.

According to a transcript, Biden responded to nan disapproval and called it legitimate. 

'That’s — that was awesome erstwhile you were emotion good, Biden, are you OK now? That’s what’s underlying,' he said, according to nan report.

“That’s what group are worried about. ‘I’ve sewage a grandfather who’s 85 years old, and he can’t walk.’ It’s a morganatic interest for people, but that’s why I deliberation it’s important I gotta get retired and show group everything from really good I move to really overmuch I cognize and that I’m still successful bully charge.” 

Biden didn't triumph complete Levin. Within minutes of nan call, nan lawmaker put retired a statement saying it was clip for Biden to 'pass nan torch.' It was nan 19th specified telephone from Congress Biden has faced since his statement disaster.

Biden said he was letting group 'touch me, flick me, inquire maine questions' arsenic a measurement to supply reassurance.  

'No president successful 3 years has done what we person successful 3 years different than Franklin Roosevelt, because of your help. That's not hyperbole, that's a fact. No president,' Biden said, CBS reported. That comes aft he compared himself to Lyndon Johnson pinch a planned travel to Texas adjacent week.

Biden, 81, tried to reside nan property rumor during his property conference, and did it again astatine a edifice and barroom successful Michigan, a important authorities connected his narrowing way to victory.

'I cognize i'm only 41,' he joked, getting laughs from a crowd astir nan property rumor that is apical successful nan mind of canvass respondents. Biden, who was elected to nan Senate successful 1972 and turned 30 soon earlier he took office, recounted immoderate of his past.

'For nan longest clip I was excessively young ... And now I'm excessively old.  Hopefully pinch a small spot of property comes a small spot of wisdom,' he said. 

'This authorities is competitory and cipher amended constitute it off,' Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan told reporters en way to nan arena successful her district.

His run is besides rolling retired a caller defense of his stumbles. '

'Joe Biden has been making gaffes for 40 years. He made a mates of past night. He will astir apt proceed to do so,' said run spokesperson Michael Tyler.

'There’s gaffes, yea that’s happened passim his full career,' said Liz Shuler, president of nan AFL-CIO.

Biden had an overseas sign-off to his edifice visit, wherever he carried a cordless microphone and walked among supporters, who applauded galore of his lines.

'I committedness you I'm okay,' he said.