It may not be fair Everything President Biden Has DoneBut after his abysmal performance in last week’s debate, he has something to prove.
Americans want and have a right to know that whoever is in the White House is prepared to take responsibility. 3am phone callThat was not the case with Joe Biden when he appeared at the debate.
Post-debate polls are beginning to confirm what pundits, activists and donors have been saying since last Thursday night: Independents, the voters he needs to win in November, now want him to win. Replaced He was leading the Democratic field by a ratio of 2 to 1. But his performance has seen him lose to Donald Trump and poll behind other Democratic candidates.
The election will decide Thousands of voters In battleground states, this is at an alarm level of five. Something must be done to change the trajectory of this election.
One debate might just be a bad debate. And Biden has a lifelong supply of friends and supporters who will back him no matter what. But America’s future is at stake, and voters now have legitimate doubts about his ability to get the job done. Their fears are real, and they can’t be easily ignored. For Democrats, the question isn’t just whether he can get the job done; it’s whether he can get the job done better than anyone else.
That was true in 2020. It may not be true in 2024. He deserves every opportunity to prove himself, but he can’t just accept his team’s assurances that all is well.
But there is one thing he can do to allay those doubts and demonstrate he is up to the job: give it his all, McCain style.
Biden’s good friend, the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), was a master of town hall speeches and speaking directly to the American electorate. During the 2000 presidential campaign, McCain114 Town Hall— in New Hampshire alone.
McCain is known for his open and honest interactions with voters, and his campaign busStraight Talk ExpressHe didn’t hide the ball or his flaws. What you see is what you get.
Admittedly, his off-script answers sometimes got him in trouble. And people I loved him.
Biden should follow McCain’s example: hold three 90-minute town hall meetings each week for three weeks, taking unscripted, spontaneous questions from the public. At the end of that process, America — and Biden himself — will know whether he’s up to the challenge.
Yes, it’s a physically and mentally demanding job, but so is the presidency, and if he doesn’t feel up to interacting with the American electorate, he’s not fit for the job.
There is no shame in stepping aside to protect American democracy from the threat of Donald Trump and his all-powerful presidential agenda. The Supreme Court has ruled that the presidency is above the law. Biden is the U.S. Cincinnatusthe man who saved the Republic not once but twice – first by having the courage to step into the arena, and then by having the wisdom to do so again.
The alternative would be both an embarrassment and a disaster for the America Biden loves.
Biden will certainly go down in the history books. But what they will write about him is unclear. If he refuses to accept the challenge and prove to America and himself that he is still physically and mentally capable of serving in the Oval Office, he may be remembered as the man who put his pride on the line and lost American democracy.
That is not the legacy he deserves. An extraordinary and exemplary life, He is dedicated to serving his country, knowing better than anyone that it’s not about doing what’s best for himself, but what’s best for America.
Mr. President, America is counting on you more than ever. Do not fail this final test.
Chris TrucksHe is a Republican and a lawyer on the Court of Appeals.
