President Joe Biden prepares to speak at a campaign rally on Friday, June 28, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Step aside from presidential race, NYT Editorial Board urges Biden.
The New York Times editorial board, on Friday, urged President Biden to step aside from presidential race, that is, to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for the upcoming election.
According to New York Times, the board stated that stepping aside would be the “greatest public service” he could offer. Nevertheless, they added that if he remains the nominee, he would still receive their endorsement.
The op-ed criticized President Biden’s performance during the recent debate with former President Donald Trump, describing him as appearing on stage as “the shadow of a great public servant.” The editorial noted, “He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term.
He struggled to respond to Mr. Trump’s provocations. He struggled to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his lies, his failures, and his chilling plans. More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence.” Such comments are striking coming from The New York Times, a publication typically known for its left-leaning stance.
This editorial was published less than 24 hours after a debate widely regarded as disastrous for Biden.
During the debate, he appeared to have difficulty completing his thoughts, showed little energy, and often gave rambling and incoherent responses.
The performance led to immediate and significant backlash, with a growing number of Biden supporters calling for him to step aside as the nominee. These calls increased noticeably on Friday afternoon and into the evening.
Despite these criticisms, the editorial board acknowledged President Biden’s achievements and leadership while in office. However, they argued that his continued candidacy poses a “reckless gamble” that endangers the country’s stability and security. The op-ed stated, “To make a call for a new Democratic nominee this late in a campaign is a decision not taken lightly, but it reflects the scale and seriousness of Mr. Trump’s challenge to the values and institutions of this country and the inadequacy of Mr. Biden to confront him.”
The editorial highlighted ongoing concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities, dismissing the notion that these issues could be attributed to just one bad night or a temporary ailment. The board pointed out that questions about his mental sharpness have been accumulating over months and years.
They emphasized that other public appearances, which are tightly managed by Biden’s team, cannot overshadow his debate performance.
The editorial also criticized the Biden campaign for pushing for the debate and setting its rules, stating, “He understood that he needed to address longstanding public concerns about his mental acuity and that he needed to do so as soon as possible.
The New York Times called on Democrats to confront the reality of Biden’s situation candidly, arguing that doing so is crucial for the nation’s protection against Trump. The editorial board wrote, “The clearest path for Democrats to defeat a candidate defined by his lies is to deal truthfully with the American public: acknowledge that Mr. Biden can’t continue his race, and create a process to select someone more capable to stand in his place to defeat Mr. Trump in November.”
Meanwhile, in your own opinion, what do you feel about the subject matter, “Step aside from presidential race, NYT Editorial Board urges Biden”?
