Rep. Ro Khanna Rohit (Ro) KhannaOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package The movement to reform animal agriculture has reached a tipping point MORE (D-Calif.) chastised Julián Castro on Friday following the former Housing and Urban Development secretary's attacks on Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE at Thursday's Democratic presidential primary debate.

Speaking on CNN, Khanna, one of the leading supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE's (I-Vt.) presidential campaign, said that it was possible to make the case that Biden should not lead the Democratic Party or the nation going forward without showing disrespect for the former vice president's "lifetime of public service."

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"I don't think he has the vision to take us to the future, but as a person he has an admirable story," Khanna said Friday.

"I think we have to respect his service, and so I didn't appreciate the way Castro attacked him. But I think the argument needs to be about the future, and he is not the change agent for the future in leading the party. You can say that while still respecting his lifetime of public service."

"Are you forgetting what you said two minutes ago?" Castro asked Biden on the issue of auto-enrollment in health care plans. "I can't believe that you said, two minutes ago, that they had to buy in and now you're forgetting that. We need a health care system where you're automatically enrolled."

Castro, however, appears to be the one who misspoke, as Biden did not specifically say that consumers would have to buy-in to his plan.

Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeJimmy Carter says his son smoked pot with Willie Nelson on White House roof O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' 2020 Democrats do convention Zoom call MORE (D-Texas) and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE (D) both rebuked Castro over the remarks, comparing them to the style employed by President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE.

Castro later defended his comments in the post-debate spin room as well as in a fundraising email to supporters Friday.

“I had a critical choice to make on the debate stage last night,” he wrote in an email to supporters. “I could either play it safe and give Vice President Biden a free pass like everyone else. Or I could speak up, challenge the conversation, and demand answers for you and your family.”