Liberal columnist Michelle Goldberg from the New York Times shared her thoughts on the recent news about former President Joe Biden concealing his mental decline. She suggested that many Democrats fell into a mindset of “group thinking” and that there was a reluctance to speak out against him.
In her column, she implied that there might have been some cover-ups, particularly among Biden’s close advisors. She referenced books by Jake Tapper from CNN and Alex Thompson from Axios, which discussed how the Biden team managed to downplay his condition. “I think too many Democrats misled the public about Biden’s growing frailty,” she commented. She pointed out that the party’s current challenges stem from inertia, extreme caution, and a tendency to avoid risk, calling them the “original sins” that need addressing.
The book “The Original Crime” revealed that discussions took place regarding the potential need for Biden to use a wheelchair if he secured a second term, and mentioned an incident where he failed to recognize actor George Clooney at a fundraiser. Goldberg had raised concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities during the months leading up to the election, noting that many senior Democratic leaders choose to dismiss those worries.
“For a lot of people, especially those on the Republican side, Democrats still maintain that Biden essentially deceived voters,” she remarked. Additionally, Goldberg observed that the normalization of older age in politics might contribute to Democrats’ hesitation in confronting Biden’s mental state, suggesting that it isn’t the entire explanation but rather part of a broader trend of conformist thinking.
Goldberg criticized House Democrats for lacking the respect and boldness needed to have discussions about Biden’s health, and she emphasized that this silence remains an issue.
“Voters have repeatedly expressed concerns about the president’s age and ability to seek reelection,” she added. “If everyday people can recognize this issue, then why can’t those on the inside?”
