Biden Team Responds To Op-Ed
The political landscape is heating up with some unexpected drama between the Biden-Harris campaign and Hollywood actor George Clooney. This clash began after Clooney penned a New York Times op-ed on Wednesday, suggesting that President Joe Biden should step down as the Democratic Party’s nominee for the upcoming election. The Biden-Harris campaign swiftly responded, defending the President’s stamina and commitment.
Clooney’s piece, titled “George Clooney: I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee,” expressed his admiration for Biden but raised concerns about the President’s mental and physical health.
“I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he’s won many of the battles he’s faced,” Clooney wrote. “But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal‘ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020.”
The Biden-Harris campaign didn’t hold back in their response. They highlighted that during a recent fundraiser hosted by Clooney in Los Angeles on June 15, Biden stayed for over three hours, while Clooney only stayed long enough to take a photo before leaving. This was a pointed rebuttal aimed at showcasing Biden’s stamina and commitment.
Check out the look on Jake Tapper’s face after he’s told that the Biden campaign is suggesting that Joe Biden has more stamina than George Clooney because Clooney left a fundraiser before Biden did. pic.twitter.com/0WlUooT2xl
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) July 10, 2024
“In response to those comments from George Clooney, Jake, a campaign official who attended that Los Angeles fundraiser tells me that George Clooney left three hours before the president. So clearly, the gloves are off, Jake,” MSNBC’s Tausche reported.
This spat puts heavy emphasis on the growing concerns among some Democrats about Biden’s ability to lead the party into the next election. Clooney’s op-ed reflects a sentiment shared by others who are urging Biden to make way for a new candidate. The debate about Biden’s fitness for office isn’t new, but having such a high-profile figure like Clooney publicly express doubts adds a significant dimension to the discussion.
Biden’s campaign is clearly intent on demonstrating the President’s vigor and ability to meet the demands of the job. They view the fact that Biden outlasted Clooney at the fundraiser as evidence of his stamina, a direct counter to the narrative that his age and health are liabilities.
Clooney’s call for a new nominee comes on the heels of Biden’s lackluster performance in his first debate against former President Donald Trump. With another debate scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. PST, all eyes will be on Biden to see if he can deliver a more compelling performance and quell the concerns raised by Clooney and others.