HBO host Bill Maher called on President Joe Biden to drop out of the election after his debate gaffe and endorsed California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is running against Donald Trump.
The “Real Time with Bill Maher” host likened the choice between Trump and Biden to an episode of “Happy Days” in which The Fonz jumps over a shark while waterskiing in his trademark leather jacket — the pop culture inspiration for the phrase “jumping the shark” — a time when a person runs out of fresh material and turns to outlandish ideas.
“If the presidential election were a TV show, it would be a series past its prime and in desperate need of new characters,” Maher wrote. New York Times guest essay It was published on Monday.
The op-ed came after Biden, 81, struggled to answer questions from the CNN moderator during last Thursday’s debate and appeared to freeze at times.
The dismal result has many Democratic Party leaders scratching their heads, with the left-leaning Times publishing an editorial calling on Biden to drop out of the race.
“There is no reason for the party to endanger the nation’s stability and security by forcing voters to choose between Trump’s shortcomings and Biden’s,” The Times editorial board said.
“The gamble is too big to simply expect Americans to ignore or downplay Biden’s age and frailty as they see it with their own eyes.”
“You can’t ignore the obvious. No one can ignore it” when it comes to Biden’s age, Maher said.
He argued that Biden’s stumble was a “blessing” rather than a “tragedy,” giving him an opportunity to withdraw from the election and give the Democratic Party a chance to inject some fresh talent.
Maher called on Democrats to hold an open convention, a move he said could generate excitement among Democratic voters and improve the party’s chances of winning the presidential election.
“Democrats, even with all of George Soros’ money, could not buy the enthusiasm, engagement and interest that would come from having an open convention,” Maher said, referring to the liberal billionaire George Soros, who frequently backs progressive lawmakers.
What to know about the impact of President Biden’s debate performance:
Maher said Newsom was Biden’s pick to replace him because he is a stark contrast to the incumbent Biden.
“He’s powerful, he doesn’t get bogged down in words or statistics, he doesn’t falter, he doesn’t flinch. He’s not someone to be bullied, and that’s key in taking on Trump,” the political cartoonist said.
If Newsom were to run, Vice President Kamala Harris would either have to be removed from the running or be forced to change her residency so that California’s 54 electors could vote for both presidential and vice presidential candidates, Maher said.
Harris’ ratings are just as low as Biden’s.
she 52% unpopular ratingAccording to a Politico poll conducted in June.
Maher said Biden’s decision not to leave office would be “an extremely selfish act.”
He pointed to Barack Obama’s 2007 presidential election as an example of success, when his “newcomer” image catapulted him to the White House.
