Biden rejects independent medical evaluation in ABC interview as he fights to stay in race

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By COLLEEN LONG and SEUNG MIN KIM
Updated 8:46 PM CDT, July 5, 2024

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Joe Biden, fighting to save his endangered reelection effort, used a highly anticipated TV interview Friday to repeatedly reject taking an independent medical evaluation that would show voters he is up for serving another term in office while blaming his disastrous debate performance on a “bad episode” and saying there were “no indications of any serious condition.”

“Look, I have a cognitive test every single day,” Biden told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, referring to the tasks he faces daily in a rigorous job. “Every day, I have that test. Everything I do. You know, not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world.”

The 81-year-old Biden made it through the 22-minute interview without any major blunders that would inflict further damage to his imperiled candidacy, but it appeared unlikely to fully tamp down concerns about his age and fitness for another four years and his ability to defeat Donald Trump in November.

It left Biden in a standoff against a not-insignificant faction of his party with four months to go until Election Day, and with just weeks until the Democratic National Convention. The drawn-out spectacle could benefit Biden’s efforts to remain in the race by limiting the party’s options to replace him. But it also could be a distraction from vital efforts to frame the 2024 race as a referendum on Trump.


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-campaign-wisconsin-abc-news-e4657f86f5e82b10a5fefb526bc49b08

[Ninga]

1. I'm doing my very best and imploring to

Mother Earth that this looses its legs and fades.

[live love laugh]

2. It's not going away. They're desperate and this is an all-out attack.

[thesquanderer]

12. It's not going away because he kind of imploded on national TV.

Last edited Sat Jul 6, 2024, 12:45 PM - Edit history (1)

I understand why he didn't want to agree to the tests... he'd be obligated to release results, and nobody can know for sure what those results would be.

But he has put himself in a position where the public has concerns, and I think he should be finding every way possible to address them. If I were him, I'd take those tests. Assuming they come out fine, he could say, "I thought more about what GS said, and decided that even though I felt it was unnecessary, people might be reassured if I took those tests, so here are the results." And if they don't come out fine... never say another word about them. BUT... if they don't come out fine, consider that in determining whether it's indeed best to stay in the race.

[kiri]

15. Biden should have challenged Trump!

This is another mistake. He should have said, "OK, Donald. You, too. We'll agree on the same medical team."

Trump could not stand for this.

Biden now sends the message that he is afraid. Plays into Maga rhetoric.

[IbogaProject]

3. Fights??

He is the incumbent and now presumptive nominee. I think these media whores are busy fighting for the greedy wealthy crowd. Most everyone's minds are made up. The only gains or losses will come from sporadic voters.

[PSPS]

4. This is journalism? It reads like an opinion piece.

"fighting to save his endangered reelection effort"
"his disastrous debate performance"
"The 81-year-old Biden"
"made it through"
"without any major blunders"
"inflict further damage to his imperiled candidacy"
"concerns about his age and fitness"
"Biden in a standoff"
"The drawn-out spectacle"
"the party’s options to replace him"
"frame the 2024 race as a referendum on Trump"

What is really infuriating about this is that all of these are a direct result of the media just hungry for clicks. The only thing stopping the election being "framed as a referendum on Trump" is the media's refusal to do so. Instead of trump's "revenge 2025" plan, his non-stop lies and his felony convictions, they just keep hammering Biden with these opinion pieces.

[Traurigkeit]

9. Journalism DIED back in 1971 in broadcast news, newspapers, magazines.

[Hekate]

5. Go Joe. Do NOT get trapped in their games. The Media will NEVER be satisfied.

[ucrdem]

8. Exactamundo.

They'll do the same for every wart, dental cavity, skin blotch and hangnail until they find something the entire world can express "deep concerns" about for another sleepy summer week.

[sakabatou]

6. Why the hell haven't they been asking this for Trumpie?

There's definitely something wrong with him.

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. I agree. A thorough physical and mental evaluation

Biden will do his AFTER Trump does.

And we still haven't seen Trump's tax returns.

[IbogaProject]

10. Joe Biden should double down

He should go after the entire wealth hording cohort. He should compare and contrast that wealthy pundant class and how they live to what normal Americans face day to day. And he should ask a pundit what they have to say about the Epstein files.

[DiamondShark]

11. That title says it all, MSM will not stop until Biden drops out.

[The Mouth]

14. The "MSM" are corporations

They may employ liberals in various positions, particularly some journalists, but never forget they exist for only one reason: to take in as much money as possible and pay out as little in taxes as possible.

[kacekwl]

13. Who do they want to do it

Dr. Ronnie Johnson errr Jackson ?