Stephanopoulos interview did not end the pressure on Biden
President Biden’s interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos was billed as a “make or break” moment. It never was that. If Biden had repeated his debate performance, it might have broken the back of his campaign, but no matter how he did, one interview would never be enough to restore public and political class confidence in his ability to win the election and serve four years. If that is even possible, it will take more performances and more time.
If the interview had any impact on the central issue of Biden’s competence to carry on – and ability to win in November — it arguably hurt him more than it helped him. It elicited more media and political criticism than praise. The effort to make Biden look younger through cosmetology (the sudden tan?) and the open-neck polo shirt was too obvious. His voice was still weak. His delivery lacked a certain ease.
And there were those moments. The most significant concern and crisis came over notable gaffes. At one point, Stephanopoulos asked a simple question. Had Biden watched the debate? He pondered, then said, “I don’t think so …no.” Biden was hesitant? He could not clearly recall if he had watched a video of his debate performance. Ask any American on the street today if they had seen the debate – the hottest news subject for a week – they would know without a moment of hesitation if they had or had not.
When asked about the polls that predominantly show him losing to Trump, Biden claimed he was winning in the polls. He went beyond saying the polls are wrong – the boilerplate response for a candidate in his position – but he claimed that he was ahead in the published polls – that he was not hurt by his admittedly poor performance in the debate. Was he unable to recall all the media reports – or was he lying against obvious facts for some reason?
When Stephanopoulos noted that no presidential candidate with Biden’s low favorability rating (36%) had ever won, the President simply disputed the accuracy of the number.
Team Biden was quick to call the ABC interview a success – proof that Biden is not having any cognitive issues. Without doubt, the President performed far better than in the debate, but not enough to assuage concerns – or silence the calls for him to step down.
Such Democrat stalwarts as David Axelrod described the interview as “sad.” He said Biden’s “portrait of where he is in this race doesn’t comport with reality.” He accused Biden of “denial, delusion and defiance.”
The Stephanopoulos interview did not stop more Democrat congressmen from calling for Biden to drop out – and there may be more to come. It does not appear to have quelled the predominantly negative commentary on hitherto friendly media. It has not reversed the majority of Democrat voters who favor replacing Biden with an alternative candidate.
Stephanopoulos’s interview was just one of a series of events designed to restore confidence in Biden’s mental abilities. They are not all pointing in one direction. Following a robust tally following the debate, Biden gave an interview in which he confused HIMSELF with Vice President Harris, saying, “By the way, I’m proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, first Black woman… to serve with a Black president.”
The revelations keep coming. His cheat sheets were leaked from the White House. They now include photos of the way to the stage in the White House with instructions to “walk to podium.” This after 50 years in politics and almost 12 years in the White House?
One of the common questions is: What does Biden need to do to assure the public of his capabilities? The answer is simple. He should take cognitive testing as Dr, Gupta suggests. He refuses – and that says a lot.
What Biden’s defenders – who want him to stay the course – fail to appreciate is that Biden is a mortally wounded candidate. His campaign will come to an end with a withdrawal now or a defeat in November. CNN’s Michael Smerconish says it is no longer an “if” but a “when” he withdraws. That appears to be a growing consensus.
So, there ‘tis.
NPR poll says dead heat. Not bad for an old guy.
Oreo exits Trump meeting says Ukraine war over when Trump elected. Can’t explain more.
Crazy world, crazy.
Dems: don’t expect Biden to turn this around, to become younger. Gotta admit, Dems are one crazy bunch of independents! Leave your brownshirts at the door. But don’t throw them out because four more years of a Felon Rapist King and you will be screaming to wear them again. Time to pull on the oars in one direction and speak your dissension off line and face-to-face.
Frank you are a crazy ass.,demoncrats have a jackass for a party symbol .
You like to use the term ( Felon Rapist King ) as a woman sits in the U K because she is in fear for her life
as the Democrat’s will Clintonize her after being raped by Joe Biden 20 years ago.
Not to mention Clinton or the other sorry Dem leaders who abused women.
And be clear, Stupid fools the democrat’s are that voted for this old weezer are NOT INDEPENDENTS.
They are Democrat’s.
Darren, I note the FRK brand because he is one.
Tara Reade fled to Russia, not UK, because a Republican told her to in 2023. A year later she is stuck there and pissed because Republicans forgot her.
Her allegations are weak, Trump is adjudicated as a digital rapist. If she could nail Joe, wouldn’t Trump fund that case with your money?
Clinton are allegations too or legal or he paid like Trump.
And none of that changes the fact that Trump did it as proven in court and you suppoet that for President.
His list of adjudicated crimes is long, Biden has none.
He is guilty of trying to rig the 2016 election via suppression of free speech. His lawyers pled guilty to attempting to rig the 2020 and will testify against him. The list goes on.
Horist and others overlook this because they like the policies this time Project 2025 from The Heritage Foundation who also has the hit list to clean out civil service to replace with Trumplcants loyal to Trump before the Constitution. Biden never did that. No Democrat President has done that.
I agree, Darren. AND look, Frank Stupid is back controlling everyone here. The more he says, the more we don’t believe his awful mouth.
If one positive, that’s a huge if, is left among the ruin that was American Democracy if Trump is elected, by hook or by the chief crook, would be Horist retiring from writing for public consumption.
Larry could not berate Trump in the way he goes after Biden by the throat. How poetic that would be should Trump ascend in the election. Larry would fall into obscurity. Horost should be thanking Biden, the left, all democrats, progressives, and the Pope. It is his tales of misdeeds, sins, guilt, and perceived dirt alleged to have been perpetrated by all who do not profess conservatism. All these he judged to be wrong doers and he applied the lash of his wit and wisdom on nothing of consequence. To the last one, it was neither here nor there. How would one, any one know of Horist, except someone says something and that something warranted attention. Which Larry finds, attention that is among his discordant sounding PBP choir.
Should Trump get what he has promised his followers the country will be a punching bag for the world nations bringing depression to the right and left in America. Even those who call him king will look with hope to the day of his leaving office.
Nothing in the 2025 resolution answers questions he promised would be solved.
After he’s done his four years can we be sure he will be present no more. Biden in a second term is preferable, but Trump’s tantrum prolonged is unthinkable. His presence would be the media’s boon. He is worth billions in revenue in selling Trump.