2024-07-08 23:45:46
More than a week has passed since the presidential debate, during which Joe Biden tried to prove to voters that he is not too old for the presidency. He made two radio appearances and gave a major television interview, yet failed to dispel concerns about his health and mental state. On the contrary. In a secret meeting on Sunday, Democratic leaders discussed how to convince the president to withdraw from the election.
Biden’s support among the most important House Democrats is beginning to crumble, writes The New York Times. On Sunday, six representatives met in an online meeting and discussed among themselves that Biden should withdraw from the election. These were the heads of key committees in the lower house of Congress, several sources who wished to remain anonymous confirmed to the newspaper.
But the Democrats basically agreed on the need for someone other than Biden to run for the party in the November presidential election. Otherwise, they fear that they will not only lose the White House, but also that the Republicans will gain majorities in both houses of Congress.
Among those who specifically said Biden should drop out were Jerrold Nadler of New York, who heads the Judiciary Committee, Adam Smith of Washington, the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, Mark Takano of California, of the Veterans Affairs Committee and Joseph Morelle of New York serving on the House Administration Committee.
With few exceptions, senior Democrats have so far avoided criticizing Biden. They hoped that the 81-year-old president, after his very poor and confused performance in the debate, would either quickly rectify the situation and regain the confidence of the voters, or that he would resign. But neither has happened since the Thursday before last, when the presidential duel between Biden and Republican candidate Donald Trump took place.
When the almighty tells me to
However, the president said in a letter to Democratic lawmakers on Monday that he will not end the campaign and will continue to run for re-election. He also emphasized that it is time to put an end to internal party debates and shut up.
In interviews, Biden refuses to elaborate on his performance in the debate, does not want to undergo a neurological examination or a cognitive ability test, and claims that he had a bad day last Thursday and was not feeling well. His family, including wife Jill and son Hunter, also continue to support him in staying with the campaign.
According to the president, only a higher power would force him to resign now. “If God almighty tells me to, I might do it,” he said in an interview with ABC News.
Even in the televised interview, Biden did not appear confident. Although he did not seem as confused as in the televised debate, he got confused several times in his sentences, or suddenly broke off in the middle of his statement.
Many American media paid particular attention to Biden’s confused answer to the question of how he would feel if Trump took the presidential oath after the election. “I’m going to feel like if I’ve given it my all and done as good a job as I know I can do and that’s it.”
How to get to the lectern
The president now finds himself under enormous pressure from the media, partisans, and the American public. His every move and public statement is now scrutinized in detail. For example, the Axios server pointed out that Biden receives precise instructions, including photos, of what the podium will look like, where he is to speak, and where his path to the lectern will lead.
SCOOP: For his events, President Biden’s staffers prepare a short document with large print and photos that include his precise path to a podium, according to an event template the White House sends to staffers. https://t.co/Zw5252NmHH
— Axios (@axios) July 7, 2024
The documents have once again raised a wave of doubt about the president’s condition, although people working in the White House emphasize that this is a common practice and that, for security reasons, every step of the head of the White House must be clear in advance. According to Vice President Kamala Harris, she receives the same documents.
Doubts among party members about his ability to lead the country for the next four years, however, only increase as they say Biden refuses to take responsibility. Last week, immediately after the debate, many Democrats publicly defended him, but at that time most of them were not in Washington, because Congress was on vacation for a week, among other things, due to the celebration of American Independence Day.
“It will get fully underway on Monday, when Congress returns. People are worried about their own elections, but they are also worried about the whole country and democracy,” an unnamed Democrat confirmed to Axios. Sunday’s online meeting may thus be just a harbinger of what awaits Biden this week.
He must be held accountable
“Anyone not named Biden, or not paid by the president, understands how bad the situation is,” the server quoted another Democrat who is in daily contact with elected lawmakers.
The president will no longer be able to pretend that his partisans are behind him and he will have to fully and publicly refute at least some of their concerns, according to the American media. Senator Chris Murphy is currently standing up for Biden, but in an interview with CNN, he admitted that voters are asking important questions.
“I personally like Joe Biden, and I don’t know if the interview on Friday night with ABC News adequately answered those questions. This week is going to be absolutely critical. I think the president needs to do more,” he added. According to him, the head of the White House must meet with the voters personally, show them that he has the strength and is able to defeat Trump. According to the senator, he is running out of time to prove it.
Senior Democrats who agreed Sunday that Biden should step down want to give the president room to make the push come directly from him before explicitly calling on him to do so. But their impatience is growing, and if Biden does not withdraw his candidacy himself, it can be expected that more and more public calls for his departure will gradually come.
Video: “I Finally Beat Medicare.” Biden demonstrated an intellectual collapse before Trump (7/1/2024)
“I finally defeated Medicare.” Biden staged a mental breakdown before Trump. | Video: Reuters