Addressing the glaring elephant in the room – the age of President Biden – isn’t always comfortable, but let’s face it, it’s a legitimate concern for many.
It’s a topic recently deflected by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who insinuated Biden’s age to be of little significance.
Pelosi, who herself is now 83, laughably described Biden as “quite young,” even going as far as to call him a “kid.”
To bolster her point, she referred to prominent figures such as legendary screenwriter Norman Lear, who is approaching his 101st birthday, and architect Frank Gehry, well into his 90s, both of whom remain professionally active.
Certainly, there are exceptions of extraordinary individuals defying age norms.
However, it’s hard to deny that the presidency of the United States, arguably one of the most stressful jobs in the world, might present different challenges.
Plus, we all know that Biden hasn’t been looking so good lately.
Is it truly fair to shrug off concerns about Biden’s age as if they were no more than partisan bias, especially when the wellbeing of the nation is at stake?
Take a look for yourself:
Nancy Pelosi on Biden's age: "He's younger than I am, so he's a kid to me" pic.twitter.com/dlgGuqVf1m
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 19, 2023
“80?! He’s a kid!” Nancy Pelosi allays concerns about President Biden’s age. (Video: MSNBC) pic.twitter.com/TSgg7z29i0
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) July 19, 2023
Nancy Pelosi is “proud” of Joe Biden.
She thinks he’s doing “a great job.”
He is, if his job is fucking things up.
Biden is 80 years old.
And it’s not a GOOD 80.
He can’t complete sentences.
He can’t complete thoughts.
He can’t read a teleprompter.
He flubs his notes.…
— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) July 20, 2023
If the concern is widespread among the populace, then it is surely more than just an elephant in the room.
It’s a question that deserves sincere thought and respectful conversation, instead of dismissive comparisons and casual remarks.
Biden sits in the Oval Office.
The American people deserve to know the mental health and acuity of their president.
But Nancy Pelosi apparently thinks this is a joking matter.
According to Business Insider:
“Age is a relative thing,” Pelosi said.
Pointing to the longevity of some other major figures, Pelosi added that Biden is quite young.
“I was in LA for some Democratic stuff recently, I met with [legendary screenwriter] Norman Lear, who is 100 going on 101, who was telling me about some new shows he’s involved in,” she said. “I was meeting with Frank Gehry, a 90-something architect, showing me new buildings he’s building throughout the world. They were like, 80? He’s a kid.”
Biden is younger than her too, Pelosi, who is now 83, pointed out.
“He’s a kid to me as well.”
Public opinion polls suggest a remarkable divide between Democratic voters and the party’s leadership when it comes to the matter of President Biden’s age.
While recent polling data shows that 49% of Democrats believe Biden is too old to be president, the party’s establishment seems keen on arguing the opposite.
In fact, 71% of all voters question the feasibility of a second term for Biden, who would be 86 by the end of it.
So that leaves many voters wondering, “Can we trust Kamala Harris as president?”
Bombshell POLITICO Report Reveals How Biden's Staff Hides His Agehttps://t.co/LU6Pydxf8M
— Sheri™ (@FFT1776) July 20, 2023
Biden downplays age talk — but subtle accommodations are being made https://t.co/fyctw67njR
— POLITICO (@politico) July 19, 2023
"I think the president should embrace his age, experience, the knowledge he brings to the job…Age is a relative thing." —@speakerpelosi pushes back against criticisms of Biden's age. pic.twitter.com/1UgbcJWtdN
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) July 19, 2023
However, the real question is, why is the Democratic establishment apparently at odds with a significant number of their party’s voters on this issue?
Is it a case of politics outweighing the public’s concern? Or perhaps it’s an indication of a deeper rift within the party?
Only time will reveal the implications of this discrepancy.
The Washington Examiner explains why this is an issue:
Biden, who is 80 years old, would be 86 years old by the end of his second term. Recent polling shows that 49% of Democrats believe Biden is too old to be president. Overall, 71% of voters believe he is too old to serve another term as president.
Democratic leaders, and Biden himself, have tried to argue that his age is a benefit. Pelosi said during an event last week that Biden has “been around for a while.”
“That experience counts for a lot of knowledge and judgment about how to get things done,” the former speaker said.
Age is a factor on the Republican side, as well. Former President Donald Trump, who is 77 years old and a GOP presidential candidate, would be 83 years old by the end of a term, should he win the presidency in 2024. Pelosi pointed out on Wednesday that, given that the front-runners for both parties are relatively the same age, it should not be a factor in the election.
The reality is that voters have a right to know about the health of their president.
When Joe Biden goes out there and loses thought mid sentence – or worse, false asleep while meeting with world leaders – voters get scared.
That’s not good for the country.
We need a president who is fit for the job and ready to serve.
Do believe that’s Joe Biden?
And God-forbid, do you believe that’s Kamala Harris?
Let us know in the comments below.