Joe Biden has not exactly excelled in his role as President of the United States over the past couple of months. Most recently came Biden’s “no comment” from Delaware, where he appeared to brush off questions about the death toll of the tragic wildfires in Maui. Once he finally made it to Hawaii, he compared the devastation to a bizarre and self-centered story about an insignificant kitchen fire, later departing after spending a mere six hours assessing the damage.
Aside from the Hawaii blunder, the American people have been treated to a usual dose of Biden gaffes, most recently and notably his claim that there are “nine wonders” of the world. Around the same time, Biden elected to partake in a sit-down interview, something he is usually reluctant to do as seen by the fact that he has sat down for far less formal press interviews or conferences compared to his predecessors. Instead, he opts for informal Q&A sessions where he chooses who to call on, meaning he cannot be appropriately questioned on matters affecting the American people. Not the best decision when you’re polling lower than post-indictment Donald Trump.
Despite all of the bad optics described above, I do not think Biden is solely to blame for these failures. The DNC has propped up Biden; candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has asserted that he feels that the DNC is supporting the incumbent despite claiming to be impartial in the race for Democratic nominee. This has frustrated many Americans, including actor James Van Der Beek, who criticized the DNC’s choice not to sponsor a Democratic primary debate with Biden. Considering the lack of debates, I am not sure that Biden will be the Democrats’ nominee in the coming election. Democratic voters and some politicians are slowly but surely deserting Biden, yet the DNC doesn’t appear to be following suit. Let me remind you of what they are endorsing.
First, Biden’s policies and stances have not resonated with the American people. His excessive government spending, branded as “Bidenomics,” has contributed to sky-high inflation and a greater national debt. While the Biden administration does have a border policy, they have done nothing except turn cities into migrant havens. Finally, how dare the media opine on the President’s empathy when he still hasn’t visited the train derailment disaster in East Palestine, Ohio.
Next, Biden has demonstrated time and time again that he is not nearly as physically fit as he and his press secretary claim. He has fallen off his bike and been unsuccessful in climbing the stairs of Air Force One. Biden has spent 40% of his presidency on vacation, according to the RNC; Tufts students take fewer vacation days. Given the physical demands of being the leader of the free world, I am not confident that Biden, now 80 years old, can perform adequately for the American people.
Finally, the elephant in the room: his mental acuity. While his age has become a major concern in terms of future planning, as he would finish his second term at 86 years old, his current lack of mental acuity is ever more apparent, especially compared to the Biden of twenty years ago. Voters shouldn’t forget the infamous “where’s Jackie” moment: President Biden appeared to look around for Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., in a press conference seemingly forgetting that she had passed away weeks before. What is most concerning is his inability to articulate thoughtful comments, his fabrication of events that appear to be untrue and his unwillingness to place himself in a position to be questioned. His lack of emotional intelligence when responding to the tragedy in Hawaii was profound. Many 80-year-olds are capable of running the country. That said, 80 years wears differently on different people.
I firmly believe that the DNC can’t afford to allow Biden to run for reelection next year. He has too many personal liabilities and has not lived up to expectations professionally. The optics of his presidency are worsening by the day, resulting in his hemorrhaging support. A recent CNN/SSRS poll found that 61% of Americans disapprove of Biden. In the same poll, 67% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents want somebody other than Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee in 2024. Nikki Haley leads Biden by 6% nationally following her stellar performance at the first Republican debate. Only 28% of Americans feel that Biden inspires confidence.
Biden has tremendous physical limitations that will prevent him from running, ultimately opening the door for people like California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris. But, in my opinion, the worst thing the DNC has done is allow Biden to live in a world of denial when faced with criticism. Polls don’t lie, especially when poll after poll demonstrates the same conclusion. It is unacceptable for a sitting president to be allergic to criticism from his own party and from voters, as Biden has demonstrated by his reluctance to face the press. It’s time we get a president who will embody what the office actually means. The DNC has the power to adjust its strategy based on what the American people have to say. Will the people and the polls sway the DNC?
