.png)
4 months ago
20
Comedian Jon Stewart took to his Daily Show platform on Monday night to slam the Democratic Party for downplaying Biden's abysmal showing in his showdown debate with Donald Trump last month.
The host blasted the party's 'blatant bull***' excuses about jet lag and the president having a cold while calling on Democrats to have a 'conversation' about Biden's future as his health and age comes under increasing scrutiny.
These concerns were exacerbated by the presidential debate on June 27, in which Biden repeatedly stumbled, paused and could not complete sentences.
In response to the rumors surrounding Biden's awful performance, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has blamed jet lag, stemming Biden's appearance at the G7 summit, tiredness from the job and a cold.
'For a campaign based on honesty and decency, the spin about the debate appears to be blatant bulls**t, and the redemption tour hasn't gone that much better,' Stewart began.
'We're told that the threat of Trump is so great and the stakes are so high that even bringing up these absolutely legitimate concerns about the president's ability to do the most vigorous job in the world for the next four years is enabling fascism.'
Liberal comedian Jon Stewart took aim at the Democratic Party in not taking concerns over Biden's age seriously
The host described an 'arthritic status quo' that 'erodes confidence and faith in the system of government borders'
Concerns over Biden's ability to run for a second term as president were exacerbated by the presidential debate on June 27 (pictured), in which Biden (right) repeatedly stumbled, paused and could not complete sentences while facing off against Donald Trump (left)
The long time late night host went on to play range of Democratic Party surrogates making excuses for Biden during network news appearances.
The interview in which Biden said: 'I'm proud to be - as I said, the first vice president - black woman to serve with a black president' as well as other clips including the moment when Biden asked if a deceased congresswoman was in attendance at an event.
Stewart said that the concerns about another Trump administration 'aren't the only threats our democracy faces,' going on to say that another threat is Biden's campaign being unable to deal with the concerns of voters about the president.
The host described an 'arthritic status quo' that 'erodes confidence and faith in the system of government borders.'
Stewart caveated his remarks by saying that he wasn't saying Biden must drop out of the race but urged the Democratic Party to 'open up the conversation.'
'Do you understand the opportunity here? Do you have any idea how thirsty Americans are for any hint of inspiration or leadership, and a release from this choice of a megalomaniac and a suffocating gerontocracy?,' he said.
The New Jersey native suggested a coming together of potential Democratic candidates in Chicago ahead of the party's convention in August.
'All we want is for someone to keep it 100, the percentage, not the age.'
The suggestion included all of the candidates giving their pitch with a winner having a showdown against Biden.
'Feel free to ignore any obvious weaknesses in your team's existential fight for freedom and democracy and then just white-knuckle this thing till November, or take the advice of your own candidate.'
Stewart closed out the segment by remarking there are around 50 or so potential choices who would defeat Donald Trump in November's election.
Just after the debate, Stewart was equally critical of Biden.
Stewart then showed clips of Biden's early debate struggles, in which Biden seemed to confuse saving Medicare with beating it.
'I'm sure it's not something that was repeated throughout the debate that caused Democrats to jump out windows or vomit silently,' he joked.
He hammered Biden again, snarking that: 'Anyone can f*** up... talking.'
The show then played a series of clips of Biden's faces when reacting to Trump which only set off Stewart further.
'Not great! But uh... a lot of people having resting 25th amendment face,' he joked.
Jon Stewart said that the concerns about another Trump administration 'aren't the only threats our democracy faces,' going on to say that another threat is Biden's campaign being unable to deal with the concerns of voters about the president
The White House was put back in damage control mode on Monday when it emerged that Biden's personal physician met with a top neurologist and Parkinson's specialist at the White House.
Biden's personal doctor, Kevin O'Connor, broke protocol Monday, releasing a letter explaining why Dr. Kevin Cannard visited the White House eight times in eight months.
The letter came after a frenzied day of speculation over Biden's ailing health, which has been in question since his disastrous first debate with Donald Trump, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre adding fuel Monday by saying the president has seen a neurologist three times.
Biden insists that only 'the Lord Almighty' can convince him to quit the presidential race. But should he change his mind, Vice President Kamala Harris is by far the best positioned to replace him.
Harris would have a head start over several of the most discussed Democratic alternatives like California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. She's already been on a winning presidential ticket with Biden, has years of goodwill banked with core party constituencies and would likely control a huge campaign fund amassed by the Biden reelection.
Here's a closer look at her prospects in a potential open primary:
The president easily locked up the Democratic nomination and party rules prevent him from simply transferring the delegates he amassed during next month's Democratic National Convention. But a number of delegates have already suggested they'd be loyal to Harris.
Biden picking Harris could limit potential chaos and avoid floor fights that do lasting damage to whoever emerges to take on Republican Donald Trump.
'Harris makes the most sense to carry on the Biden legacy,' said Andrew Feldman, a Democratic strategist who works closely with various state parties and stressed that the question was purely hypothetical since Biden insists he won't bow out.
Feldman added that the Biden administration's agenda 'has been tremendously popular in terms of the issues that they´ve championed' and that the president and Harris have 'been doing that in partnership.'
Antjuan Seawright, a South Carolina-based Democratic strategist, noted that voters four years ago put 78-year-old Biden in the Oval Office knowing Harris was next in line, and that Biden warded off primary challengers this year at age 81 with Democratic voters knowing Harris remained his second-in-command.
'Democrats have voted for Joe Biden with Kamala Harris,' Seawright said.
Biden has been roundly criticized in the wake of his debate performance, but insists that he's remaining in the race
Harris is the first woman to serve as vice president as well as the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent. African Americans are Democrats' largest and most loyal bloc of supporters.
Bypassing a historic No. 2 for anyone else - even a popular alternative from a key swing state - would already be difficult. Being seen as leading the charge against someone who broke gender and racial barriers could forever mark the challenger as disloyal in future Democratic primaries.
Glynda Carr, who leads the Higher Heights political action committee which supports Black female candidates across the country, said that public suggestions that Harris could be bypassed for another top Democrat in Biden's absence shows 'just how much Black women are oftentimes overlooked.'
'You want Black women to organize our houses, our blocks, our churches, our sororities?' Carr asked. 'Then we´ve got to stand by our leadership.'
English (US)