Biden's age is the story because

[edhopper]

the Media is making it the story.
Polls on Biden's age, reporters asking people about Biden's age...and on and on.

Where are the polls about infrastructure, about curbing inflation, jobs, fighting COVID, supporting Ukraine, how we are seen in the World now...

It's sometimes just as important on what question is asked.

[jimfields33]

1. I know they've polled Ukraine and probably others.

It’s the newest poll. When the next poll is released, that will be the new focus.

[edhopper]

2. They poll other things at times

but that never becomes the Big Story like his age does.

[jimfields33]

3. I'm not sure why. I know they at least mentioned the Ukraine polling.

But I agree they don’t have entire segments talking and dissecting it.

[edhopper]

4. Because they want his age

to be THE story.

[jimfields33]

7. Strange. Should be a footnote.

[Lovie777]

10. I know..................

shithole is old, slower and a criminal.

[CTyankee]

32. Well, it's all they got...right?

[Duncanpup]

5. Yep Biden is old who cares

He’s a great president and a good man.

[LakeArenal]

39. There's people on DU that harp on it as well.

[Thrill]

6. No it's because he's friggin 80

Get real folks

[Blues Heron]

14. with age comes wisdom

but you wouldnt know that from the msm spin on it like its a liability.

[Thrill]

17. It is a liability. But you keep going with the blind optimism

[Blues Heron]

19. cool story bro

[DickKessler]

76. OK, I'll grant that it's a liability and also that there's nothing to be done about it.

[Scrivener7]

18. This. Disregarding the fact rather than addressing it head-on is a mistake.

[bigtree]

42. maybe Biden should hold a press conference and acknowledge his age?

...what a joke.

Everyone knows how old he is. Most can see that he's infinitely more fit, mentally and physically, than Trump.

Harping on it is what I'd expect from the republican opposition, not Democrats, but here we are.

There is no contest on age between the two. Biden wipes the floor with Trump in every way. It's past time for anyone concerned with his reelection to emphasize THAT - not repeating these sniveling whispers about his age, but promoting his actual fitness.

[Scrivener7]

80. Sure. Because that's what I said. Never.

[edisdead]

85. What would you like to be addressed?

Constantly bringing it up does nothing to address it.

Holy hell in fact it SHOULD be a testament to how awesome he is for being able to do what he is doing instead of a negative.

[Scrivener7]

104. In my perfect world, Democrats should be flooding the talk shows and the Sunday shows,

knowing the interviewers will ask about Joe's age.

And in my perfect world, we will have gotten some professional PR people to craft a consistent party line answer, like republiQans do when they saturate the airwaves with a uniform response on an issue.

When republiQans do that, their response gains credence no matter how ridiculous it is, just by virtue of the repetition. The interviewers very quickly begin to parrot that answer as fact just because they keep hearing it, just like they're parroting the "Democrats are concerned about Joe's age" talking point now.

In my perfect world, the professional PR crafted response would include a statement like "the two candidates are virtually the same age chronologically, though the defendant's obesity and diet and sedentary lifestyle makes him biologically the much older of the two."
It would point out Joe's perfect health and genetic longevity, and it would do it with humor. Then it would pivot right into a stock listing of the kitchen table benefits Joe's "vigor" has allowed him to achieve.

I hate to use the comparison, but I'd like to see something like when Reagan said, "I refuse to allow my opponent's youth and inexperience become a factor" which made everyone laugh. After he made that perfect response, his age became a non-issue in the campaign.

Something like that, repeated often, would make Biden's age a non-issue. Saying, "Shut up about this, it's a non-issue" as so many here are doing, will not.

[JohnSJ]

29. and VP Harris would become President if Biden didn't complete his term. You want real? That's real

[LakeArenal]

41. Thanks for sharing one of your 40 whole posts to tell us that.

Very insightful.

So what’s your alternative.

[DickKessler]

70. OK, I'm listening. What do you want him to do then?

[edisdead]

84. Yep he is 80

So fucking what?

Is he or is he not getting the job done?

Is your reply helping or hurting enthusiasm for our candidate?

Get real indeed.

Support Democrats. It’s not just a rule here. It is desperately needed.

[treestar]

96. Is he in better shape than you?

Age is just a number, especially there. People who are 65 might be doddering. It's all genes and how you've lived your life.

[betsuni]

8. Anything to make it about one person, personality, as if it's a movie about a character

like a king-emperor and not about political party policies. Presidents can be replaced any time.

[planetc]

44. Bingo!

It's a story they're telling us, and a story has to have a hero, or at least an anti-hero, and that's one reason we have an endless political campaign in America. There's no time to find out how the hero actually did the job, because he has to be in a political battle all the time. The media think they're writing the first chapter of history; they're writing novels about imaginary people.

[Iggo]

9. If he was doing a bad job, that would be the story.

But he’s not.

So they go with what they’ve got.

Yay, Horserace!

[tritsofme]

11. Biden is the oldest president ever, it's part of his story.

I find this idea that we’re supposed to pretend otherwise, or pretend that voters don’t care, to be quite strange. It’s just one dynamic of the campaign.

[edhopper]

30. But the Media is treating it as

the main part, at times the ONLY part.

[LakeArenal]

43. Oh again thanks for sharing your insight with your 180 total posts over years.

[tritsofme]

57. lol, learn how to read there newbie!

180 posts in the last 90 days, 16k total, since 2003.

I’ll give a give a newcomer like you the benefit of the doubt, that DU4 confused you. 😂😂

[LakeArenal]

58. Quite an accomplishment for 20 years.

[tritsofme]

60. wtf is this nonsense? Sorry I don't spend enough time here to meet your standards, newbie 😂😂

What a strange strange person! These new posters, geesh!

[LakeArenal]

62. Right back atcha. Oldie.

[tritsofme]

63. Kids these days! 😂

[LakeArenal]

64. Informative posts these days!!!

[tritsofme]

65. After your nonsense post that started this exchange? lol

Thanks for helping me up my post count though! Apparently I have work to do, lest I be judged by newbies!

[LakeArenal]

66. I have all day for your comments.

Biden is old I get it.

[tritsofme]

67. Then I'm not sure we have any disagreement on substance?

Making your weird and false comment on my time here all the more unnecessary.

[LakeArenal]

68. I think you've made your point.

Both to me and informing us all again that Biden is old. May be you might focus on your alternatives to Biden rather than my error of your 20 years of contribution.

Again. I have all day.

[tritsofme]

69. I'm not sure where you imagine I have called for an alternative to Biden?

His age is just another factor his campaign team has and will deal with.

[LakeArenal]

73. A factor to you? Or you just want to remind us he's old.

Because we all know he’s old; that Republicans want to make it an issue.

It’s nothing new.

[Bongo Prophet]

81. So this is how both of you "newbies" get such high post counts; useless argument sub-threads! Thanks for the tip, I guess.

No wonder I don't chime in more often.
I find that level of discourse too time-consuming.
Maybe I'll age into it, lol.

Snark and run, matees. Keeps ya young!

[usonian]

12. You're as old as you think.

[brooklynite]

13. I know intelligent, educated Democrats who are worried.

"Blame the media" is an easy excuse for public opinions that we don't share.

[Thrill]

15. Yup

These are the very same people who were up here saying BS, whenever we brought up concerns about Hilary.

[treestar]

78. If it is a concern

then fight back with TFG's age and being in worse shape and Biden still being vital and having gotten things done. No point in hand wringing over and over.

[Scrivener7]

83. Well, exactly. We need to fight back on it. And fighting back on it doesn't amount to

hand wringing. But where in the discourse, outside of Democratic sites, are you seeing any "fighting back?"

There should be a constant refrain on every Sunday morning talk show, on every interview by a Democrat, that points out that the defendant is "virtually the same age" and has a wildly unhealthy lifestyle. We should do it like republiQans do it, repeating the same worded message over and over until the idiot interviewers believe it is truth just because it has been repeated so often, and then the interviewers begin to parrot the words we have handed to them. This is what republiQans do, and it is a tactic we should learn from them. The wording that is repeated over and over should be crafted by professional PR people, just like it is when republiQans do it.

THAT would make Biden's age a non-issue. Saying, "Shut up about this, it's a non-issue" as so many here are doing, will not.

[treestar]

92. I wonder why those individuals who get

the ability to be interviewed on TV don't do these things. It is as if they want to go high all the time. I do wonder if they know the media will make a new issue about how the Democrat who said such things was being mean to poor Trump - the new headline might not be about worrying about TFG's age but "Should (Adam Schiff, Eric S) have said that Trump is obviously overweight? Is weight shaming OK?" or the like.

"Is it ageism to say Trump is too old?" It would likely end up like that. With their partners nodding and going "And they say this about Trump when Biden is 2 years older."

The media favors whoever is likely to lose in order to get the polls "tight" - they never want an election where the polls are not "tightening."

[Scrivener7]

103. I think they would if we had something like a "coordinated response team" feeding them effective

talking points. We can all see republiQans have been using that tactic very successfully for decades now.

And btw, if they end up saying "Is it ageism to say Trump is too old?" that would mean we won the talking point resoundingly.

[edisdead]

86. And there it is.

I knew I smelled a turd.

[Nixie]

105. Exactly. Same people celebrating someone's 82nd birthday as

the best birthday ever.

Popularity is all that matters, except when the age number is attached to someone they want to get rid of. Then age is bad, so bad.

[betsuni]

90. Who is "Hilary" and what concerns?

[MineralMan]

107. That's the misspelling used by many Goopers.

[Blues Heron]

16. they will vote for him when the time comes

Or else they arent as intelligent or educated as they think they are.

[brooklynite]

22. Of course they will

It's not that they don't support him. Its that they worry other voters won't.

[Blues Heron]

24. do they want someone else?

[brooklynite]

26. Generically, yes.

[bigtree]

34. but what a delusion

...pining for someone other than the incumbent president.

Supposing, I guess that upending the current, successsful presidency for an upstart candidate would be a smart move for Democrats? In what universe?

[DickKessler]

74. Exactly. And aside from everything else, who could successfully challenge Biden in a primary?

It’s wishful thinking at best.

[Ace Rothstein]

51. That's where I'm at.

Only Biden is a proven winner. I'm also not sure who might step in that I'd have confidence that they might actually win.

[DickKessler]

75. Exactly. Biden already beat Trump. He's the incumbent. Seems like a no-brainer.

[edisdead]

87. Of course???? Of course???

Not of course!

Given 2016 I would say your “of course” is about as solid as melted snow.

[bigtree]

23. ain't that the truth.

...

[bigtree]

21. what are they worried about, specifically?

...I just love these anecdotal accounts of concern from the NY hoipolloi.

[leftstreet]

28. They're dealing with aging parents of their own

The reliable Democratic voting base is very hands-on with aging issues right now - across many economic classes. These polls aren't surprising to me

[bigtree]

33. nice try

...but I doubt most of these whispers are coming from older voters, folks who not only vote more regularly than others, but have a real understanding of how elections play out with the incumbent president dominating and eventually consolidating support from the fantasy candidate seekers in the end against the republican nominee.

We're in the wishful thinking stage, and still no serious Democratic challengers for anyone to hang their antipathies to Biden's age on.

[leftstreet]

40. People in the real world don't donate to politicians

lol

I don't know if they have a "real understanding of how elections play out," but they do have an understanding of aging issues.

[bigtree]

52. bullshit. If they're actually obsessing on his age vs. Trump's age and fitness they're delusional

...and shouldn't be coddled with this nonsense.

[leftstreet]

55. okay n/t

[edhopper]

31. So you agree

it is the main story about Biden as the Media portrays. That the polls about his age are the ones the Media needs to focus on. Good to know.

[LakeArenal]

46. Bingo!!!

[treestar]

77. Why not blame the media?

What are they spending time on?

What are they trying to emphasize?

Why no discussion of TFG's age and being in worse shape?

[everyonematters]

20. why would the media be so successful in convincing so many people that Biden is too old.,

and not as successful in convincing them on things like corruption? My thinking skills tell me that people are coming to the conclusion on their own.

[Sympthsical]

25. When Trump couldn't manage a ramp, people discussed it all week

Let's not act like we're not also the problem. When it's useful to us, we'll discuss stupid things all the live long day.

But when it gets turned around, suddenly it's, "Why isn't anyone discussing the Important Stuff?"

Because we've taught them we'll engage on the stupid stuff.

Frankenstein all up there complainin about his monster.

[LakeArenal]

49. Trump had no important "stuff" to focus on.

Biden’s “stuff” is actual leadership.

[Sympthsical]

53. Yes, the entire world stopped for four years

We certainly are an insular folk, ain't we.

[Ace Rothstein]

56. Were you in a coma while Trump was in office?

This place was in a tizzy daily over what he was doing. I'd put money on it being the busiest DU has ever been.

[LakeArenal]

61. You call that " stuff" of trump's leadership?

If we were in a “tizzy” over the four years it wasn’t due to trump’s accomplishments as president. More like his destruction of our country.

You like very minimizing terminology.

[treestar]

93. that was just us, not the MSM maybe?

Did they make much of it?

If a major Democrat who has access to the MSM said anything about it - it seems they never do - what would the MSM do with that? I'm thinking the would start criticizing the Democrat for saying such things about poor President Trump.

[Sympthsical]

100. This is serious revision

It was only a couple years ago. C'mon now. There's gotta be like a ten year statute on when we can start making things up about the recent past.

No one feels the slight greater than the slighted. People will notice the negative received and not perceive well the negative outgoing. That's human nature. But there has to be some grounding involved. "People barely mentioned Trump's stuff" isn't going to wash even in an alternative universe.

The media behave according to how we teach them to behave. They show and discuss the things they know will get people to watch.

I know people never want to take responsibility for it, but it is what it is. If people want different, stop watching. I don't watch the shit. But you can bet I know everything that goes on because the people who do watch then run around like walking billboards for the channels.

Lay the finger of blame where it is - the consumers. You won't stay in business selling a product if no one buys it.

[treestar]

102. I never watch it and get that

but then worry about the dumb voters out there who do - there is enough of it to have an effect. The media people love to think they are having an effect.

TFG is a boon for them when it comes to ratings. That's what we are fighting.

I used to have faith in the voters - but then TFG got elected. You meet people who watch the MSM and parrot it and realize the MSM does have a lot of sway.

Better education and independent thinking are this country's big problem. Why are there so many who just say Biden is unpopular and too old because the Goebbels media has repeated it over and over and that's all they know?

[2naSalit]

27. Because there is NOTHING ELSE...

For them to hit him with. There are no scandals, even though they try hard to create them.

[betsuni]

37. Yes! I always think: that's it? He's old? That's all you've got?

[2naSalit]

59. Yeah...

That is really all they've got.

[Ocelot II]

48. But he also pets dogs and eats ice cream!

What next, a tan suit? The horror... the horror...

[2naSalit]

99. It will surely...

Bring the world to an end... at some point yet to be temporarily determined.

[treestar]

94. +1

And why they have to resort to Hunter, who is not running for anything.

[peggysue2]

112. I think this is the Ding, Ding, Ding answer

What else do they have to say about Biden? What other criticism can they pounce on without lying their heads off? Trump's faults are legion. In order to 'balance' the scale or take 'objectivity" to the extreme, the current journalistic enterprise must find Biden's Achilles' Heel. His age (though only 3 years older than Trump) is the Bomb at the moment.

As for Trump's age? In comparison to all his other fault-lines, crimes and unfitness, his age is a total nothing burger. It doesn't move the needle or get voters' attention.

So, yes. Biden is old which is a strength (experience and political savvy) and a weakness (perceived frailty). But as Joe Biden has said numerous times:

Don't compare me to the Almighty. Compare me to the competition.

[2naSalit]

113. It's the media...

First and foremost, who are to blame. They foment half of the bullshit when the outrage isn't high enough. It is a ploy to keep people confused, in hopes that we'll forget who owns the media. No matter how much we like certain journalists who work for them, they are still billion $ corporations who are working against us in the long run.

I have taken to barely paying attention to polls, for one thing, they are a waste of time, especially at this point so early in the cycle. The polls we are seeing now are designed to form opinion rather than document it.

Suspect everything that seems too good to be so. And pay attention to events.

What else can you do?

[doc03]

35. Biden's age is the story because, that is the number one

concern of the voters. It is a fact he is the oldest president in history, it can't be ignored. Would it be better if the media
did like Faux and focused on Hunter Biden?

[edhopper]

36. You have that backwards

it is the number one concern of the voters because the Media is obsessed with it.

[doc03]

50. I guess I am the exception, I have been concerned about his age before the

the media made it a story and every Democrat outside of DU that I know has been too. Sometimes on DU
it is not possible to state the truth without being attacked for it. I don't blindly follow the party line. To say
you are concerned about Biden's age doesn't mean you wouldn't vote for him.

[edisdead]

89. What are you concerned about?

We have succession plans in place should something happen to him.

What is the issue?

I think the real tell here is that you don’t want Kamala to be president.

[Ace Rothstein]

54. Nah, it isn't just the media.

I'm in my mid-40's and most of my friends are Democrats. His age is a huge concern to most of them. I can't say why out of fear of a hide.

[edisdead]

91. Again why?

Do you not support Kamala if she were to step in?

We have succession plans should they be needed.

[doc03]

106. Same reason as Ace Rothstein I guess. According to DU rules I can't answer that. nt

[Ace Rothstein]

110. I personally have no issue with Harris but I think she'll get crushed in a General Election.

[bigtree]

38. interesting, though, how this issue is dominate and others are insignificant

...age isn't going to keep voters from choosing Biden over a visibly more aged, and three years younger Trump.

This is a canard, because it's such an insignificant issue to voters' actual choices in this election. Age isn't actually going to dominate their choice between the two. It's not more significant to voters than concerns over felony indictments, for instance, or abortion rights.

[treestar]

97. then why don't they learn more about their concern

can't they see he rides bikes and is slender? There are reports on PJB's health out there - even what medications he takes.

Yet TFG can be seen to be way overweight, vain and not willing to be truthful about obvious things like his height, has proven to be stupid and say stupid things out in the open (at whatever age) - his health is kept secret and only said to be perfect by clear quack doctors who are just saying what TFG wants.

seems this concern could be easily abated.

[Ocelot II]

45. They haven't got anything else.

He's old, he pets dogs and he likes ice cream. He might even wear a tan suit someday. What he hasn't done is get indicted for 91 felonies.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

47. This 'infirm' guy took the Republicans' lunch in the negotiation over the debt ceiling.

Link to tweet

[yardwork]

71. I agree. And, it's all they've got.

Obama's administration was so drama-free, the media was reduced to complaining about the day he wore a tan suit (which he rocked, by the way) and speculation about whether he was really a man of the people since he once asked for Dijon mustard on a hot dog.

[DickKessler]

72. Yeah, and the implication (explicitly stated by the Right) is that he's senile/infirm.

As if the guy who the Republicans are almost certainly going to nominate (again) is an exemplar of clear-minded competence and emotional/intellectual stability.

It’s simple: We can have President Biden again, or we can have the chaotic corrupt fascist disaster who preceded him. Do people really want a repeat of the latter? Heaven help us all if they do.

[treestar]

98. they will do all they can to make sure

the polls "tighten." Whatever they think will increase the ratings. TFG lost the last election and is an obvious loser in the next one - so they have to help him.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

82. If TFG is the GOP nominee, President Biden's age will not be a big issue

The Biden campaign will be glad to compare the physical condition of President Biden to TFG

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[treestar]

95. Good ones

Yes, make it about fitness!

[gulliver]

101. Maybe Biden should just start acting stupid and nuts like Trump

Then the media would have other junk news to occupy themselves with.

Seriously, though, I think Biden's doing a great job keeping his powder dry during the Republican primaries.

[iemanja]

108. Like his age wouldn't occur to voters without the media

[edhopper]

109. Occur

Is not the main story about him. Occur is not unrelenting discussion.

[helpisontheway]

111. It is ridiculous because the front runner in the R party is not a young man. Nt