President Biden’s framing of the issues since the debate is more frightening than the debate itself and shows why he must withdraw. He first asked not his 2020 question, who is best to beat Trump, but rather whether he can beat Trump. Yes, he could win if he gets every break. But he argues that democracy is at stake and recent Supreme Court decisions show we need the best candidate against Trump.
Biden’s comments, that he was tired at the debate five days after a trip and that he works late too often, show his unfitness with volatile conflicts around the globe 24/7. He lacks self-awareness making those arguments. He asks to be judged on his last three years, but his main vision for the next four is that he will “tell the truth.” His hiding outside of teleprompter events is not the “truth” and leaves little to judge. Blaming “elites” for criticism of him betrays his history as a uniter.
The New York Times quoted Biden saying that he was the “first Black woman to serve a Black president.” This once would have been funny and passed quickly, but we now have a drumbeat where media and opponents will mock every slip for the next six months or four years and cause all to question his abilities. Biden was uniquely suited to beat Trump, pass landmark legislation and form an international coalition against Putin, and deserves better. So does his party, and so does our country.
Arnie Macdonald
Freeport
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