For three years, Jill Biden was the perfect First Lady. She was a loving wife and mother. She devoted her time to soft issues. And she stayed in the background on the day-to-day business of the President.
The only criticism of her was modest. It was the use of “Dr. Jill” as her name. Folks routinely referred to as “doctor” are generally of the medical variety – not the academic types. Jill Biden has a PhD in Education. Bantering about an academic title is considered a bit egotistical. But … as I said, it is a modest criticism.
Things have changed. Not only did her husband’s performance on the debate stage drastically change Joe’s image, but it transformed Jill from the ideal First Lady to a bit of a dragon lady … or a Lady MacBeth. And as with Joe, a lot of the criticism came from Democrats and the hitherto fawning news media.
Part of the altered image of the First Lady was due to her greater participation in the campaign – often speaking on campaign issues more than her husband. That put her in the middle of the controversial campaign subjects. She became more of a spokesperson for the President than just a spouse.
In the eyes of critics – mainly those wanting Joe to withdraw – Jill is considered to have the greatest influence on her husband. She is seen – rightly or wrongly – as the principal person behind the decision to remain in the race. Critics accused her of putting her powerful exalted position ahead of the good of the nation … the good of the Democrat Party … and even the good of her husband.
Retrospectively, Jill was in the group that is being criticized for covering up Joe’s condition for the past year or more. Their assurances of Joe’s well-being – even a super senior — were lies that the debate and subsequent reporting exposed.
Jill’s appearance next to Joe was a double-edged sword. While she was assuming a more public role in the campaign – and assuring voters that her husband was in tip-top shape — she appeared to be serving more as a caretaker, physically ushering him off stage after a speech, holding on to him as he descended stairs and helping him as he struggled to put on his coat. Her actions belied her claims of Joe’s vitality and acuity.
Others criticize Jill for not encouraging her husband to retire. What kind of wife, they ask, would allow an obviously ailing husband to bear the burdens of the office? Is she putting her desire to be First Lady ahead of the well-being of her husband?
In an appearance following the debate, Jill warmed up the crowd and then spoke to her husband like a child. She looked directly at him and said, “You did very good. You answered all the questions.”
Jill is also getting some backlash for her obvious desire to have Vice President Harris take over the job if Joe has to withdraw. Elements of the Democrat leadership – and other possible successors — are not pleased to see Jill’s well-manicured thumb on the scale of succession.
With Joe showing serious mental decline, questions have been raised as to who is minding the store. It would be a mistake to exclude the First Lady from the obvious suspects. She has gone beyond being seen as a loving supporter of the President to a political operative who is driving the train when it comes to old Joe.
The recasting of the First Lady’s public image was seen in the reaction to her appearance on the cover of Vogue magazine. In normal times, the press would be reporting very favorable puff pieces. Not this time. Jill’s appearance in thousand-dollar garments in a magazine that caters to the wealthy social elite was considered a “bad look.” It certainly was not in keeping with the “lunch bucket Joe” from Scranton image.
Jill Biden is getting slammed from all sides. Certainly, some of the criticism is petty – but a lot is earned. She has wandered out of the warm First Lady bubble and into the cold reality of contemporary politics – and there is no way back in. To move on to Hamlet, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks,”
So, there ‘tis.