Thursday night’s presidential debate was a stark revelation. What we saw on national television was not just a bad night for President Joe Biden; it was a glaring confirmation of the concerns many have believed about his ability to lead. Biden, a sitting president, struggled to string together coherent sentences, his voice weak and raspy. He even managed to confuse Covid and Medicare within the same sentence.
It was a performance that left not just Democrats but voters across the nation questioning his competence.
In this most important event of the 2024 presidential election, facing former President Donald Trump—a convicted felon and the figure behind the January 6, 2021 insurrection—Biden’s apparent incoherence was painfully evident. This wasn’t a mere stumble; it was a collapse that exposed the vulnerabilities of a man who once defeated one of the most controversial presidents in recent history.
Against Trump, Biden appeared fragile and unable to clearly articulate his policies, a performance widely viewed as a disaster by Democrats and the media alike.
Immediately following the debate, Democratic pundits and media figures began to seriously question Biden’s suitability for another term. Calls for him to step aside and allow another Democratic candidate to take the helm grew more persistent. Prominent newspapers, including the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, have voiced concerns over Biden’s competency, suggesting he should withdraw from the race. The debate has intensified discussions within the Democratic Party about potentially nominating a different candidate at the upcoming convention.
Post-debate polls indicate a divided party: 55% believe he should remain the nominee, while 45% think he should step aside. Among the broader electorate, a stunning 72% now believe Biden should not run again, up from 63% in February.
The debate confirmed what many had feared. The media is beginning to uncover rumblings of a significant coverup within Biden’s campaign regarding his health. Observers within his closest circles, including the First Lady, must have been aware of his struggles. Clips of Biden wobbling, needing assistance on stage, and other signs of declining health have been circulating for at least a couple of years.
Despite these concerns, Biden and his inner circle remain in denial about his ability to continue not just as a presidential candidate, but as the sitting president. They’ve sent surrogates out to expound their confidence in the president and that a bad debate shouldn’t negate the president’s legacy or define his abilities.
They must think the American people are pretty gullible. Simply put, it’s balderdash.
The media and Democratic leaders must answer some critical questions: When did they first notice Biden’s decline, and why has it been underreported? Why wait until now to address the issue when it became obvious to the world on a national debate stage?
This situation transcends a flailing political campaign; it is a crisis of leadership. The American public deserves transparency about who is making day-to-day decisions for the executive branch if the president is not fully capable. This is not just about Biden’s legacy; it’s about the integrity of the presidency and the nation’s future.
No amount of political spin can erase what was on display during Thursday night’s debate. The truth was clear for all to see, and it cannot be messaged away. We all know what we saw, and it’s time for both the media and the Democratic Party to confront this reality head-on.
Cindy Allen 