Biden at peace if he loses to Trump: "As long as I gave it my all"

[brooklynite]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Emile (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Axios

President Biden indicated in an interview with ABC News Friday that he would be at peace if he lost to former President Trump "as long as I gave it my all."

Why it matters: Biden is under growing pressure to step aside as the Democratic nominee in the wake of his disastrous debate performance last week, especially given the stakes of a potential Trump second term.

...snip...

What they're saying: "If you stay in and Trump is elected and everything you're warning about comes to pass, how will you feel in January?" Stephanopoulos asked Biden.

"I'll feel, as long as I gave it my all, and I did as good a job as I know I can do, that's what this is about," the president responded.


Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/07/06/biden-abc-interview-trump-election-peace

---

Not sure I'd agree.

[SKKY]

1. See, and therein lies the problem. We don't have the luxury of letting Biden...

...give it the old college try. This shit is way, way too serious.

[Silent Type]

13. Good way to look at it. I hate seeing this happen to him.

[SKKY]

65. Me too. He's been an exceptional president. Certainly the best in my lifetime...

...A strong Biden endorsement for a new candidate, presumably Harris, would jump-start their campaign in a big way.

[ucrdem]

50. He won the nomination. It was a process. There is no other candidate.

If he bails, Trump wins. Biden might wish it were otherwise, so might some of us, but the fact is that Biden is this year's candidate and so far, the only candidate that has won a national election against Trump.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

68. Bingo!! This is no time to commit political suicide by dumping Joe for bein tired/sick in a debate!!

[ucrdem]

75. Thank you!

What reality are these guys living in anyway? Griping about the nominated candidate at this point is about as useful as clapping for Tinkerbell. These guys so want a Dem horserace they'll stop at nothing to gin one up.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

78. Tru dat! No such thing as a perfect candidate, but once the votes are counted WE MUST UNITE! What other choice is there?

This seems so obvious... but I guess not to everyone.

[onetexan]

98. You hit the nail on the head. If Biden pulls out we have no chance and this country will go full on fascist.

Do these naysayers not realize what's at stake at this point?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

105. I'm not gonna say we have NO chance if Joe pulls out, but it's def gonna be a LOT HARDER...

... and to hava chance, it better be Kamala who replaces him, or there are gonna be some SERIOUSLY pissed off peeps... includin me!!

[Born Free]

94. Rope-a-dope

Maybe, just maybe, all of this is an unusual tactic . Let the other side think they already have won, get tired ,lazy ,over confident, no reason to get out the vote.

[Jrose]

109. It could be like the Tortoise vs. Hare story...

Biden, the tortoise, keeps moving slowly, hits a pebble or two, but flips back up and goes on steadily, while Djt, the hare, becomes increasingly reckless, displays more public insanity, rolls lazily in his golf cart and....
Guess who wins?!

[pnwmom]

3. I know I don't agree. How can he say that when Trump winning is the end of democracy in the US?

Trump has the SCOTUS in his pocket, and he will probably have a chance to appoint more. And Project 2025 will get rid of whatever other safeguards are remaining.

[ZZenith]

4. WHY EVEN POST THIS TRIPE?!!!

Jesus Fucking Christ.

[PortTack]

6. Exactly...wait till the media gets done with this!!

[kelly1mm]

56. Because the media would not have noticed what President Biden said if it wasn't posted here on DU? nt

[PortTack]

80. Because everything said here and on other SM sites is spun to something that seems very dark!

We don’t and should not be fodder for a RW megaphone!

[kelly1mm]

83. Yeah, I am thinking of that Mad Men elevator scene where one of the underlings of

Don Draper says thinks Don is a sad, sad man and Don replies ' I don't think of you at all' .....

I don't think the right wing media juggernaut thinks of DU at all .....

[LeftInTX]

88. It's already in the media. He said it during his interview today.

[brooklynite]

8. Because President Biden said it?

[ZZenith]

14. Was that all he said in the interview?

Was there anything of substance that he said during the course of the whole thing or do you just delight in amplifying the media’s “Gotcha!” moment?

[PortTack]

15. Sounds like the later...doesn't it?!

[brooklynite]

17. I post things that are newsworthy.

Saying "I'm okay if I lose" strikes me as significant. Perhaps you disagree?

Go back to the posts on Congressman Golden saying "it's okay if Trump wins" and see what the reactions were.

[ZZenith]

19. Did he say "I'm ok if I lose?"

Is that a direct quote?

[brooklynite]

22. From the transcript.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And if you stay in and Trump is elected and everything you're warning about comes to pass, how will you feel in January?

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I'll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the goodest job as I know I can do, that's what this is about.

https://abc7ny.com/post/full-transcript-abc-news-anchor-george-stephanopoulos-exclusive/15033536/

Do you have a different interpretation?

[ZZenith]

33. So you are misquoting him.

I have no way of measuring my utter lack of surprise.

[brooklynite]

35. I'm interpreting what he said.

What's your understanding?

[ZZenith]

40. That he's going to do everything in his power to prevent that from happening.

[yorkster]

82. "the goodest job as I know" sounds wrong.

I bet he said "as good a job as I know"

Joe may have some speech problems, but he speaks correct English. I don't know of course, but goodest ?

[Moosepoop]

85. Yes -- he said "as good a job as I know"

Even Axios got the quote right, even as ABC's transcript mangles it. They're both worthless -- Axios with the imaginary headline and ABC with the mangled transcript (and biased interview).

Kinda funny watching the same person who started this thread with the correct Axios quote follow up by repeatedly posting ABC's ridiculously silly "goodest" version.

[yorkster]

86. Thank you. I knew that could not be right,

but was too bleary-eyed to research it.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

79. Of course not.

[choie]

25. What would you like him to say?

"I'll kill myself"??

[brooklynite]

26. What candidate doesn't say "I don't intend to lose"?

[yorkster]

28. He has said that. He said at least once in the interview.

Or certainly words to that effect.

[brooklynite]

31. And you say the same thing over and over...

A good politician answers the question he wants to answer, regardless of the question asked.

[yorkster]

42. He sure didn't say he'd be "at peace".

I know that's probably the Axios headline, but man......

[ucrdem]

55. BINGO

Money shot. "At peace" changes everything. If he didn't say it, it should NOT be in the headline, period.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

69. BOOM!! THERE IT IS!!

[regnaD kciN]

54. This is in LBN...

…which is supposed to be recent news stories published elsewhere. According to the rules, the title has to be the headline of the story, and the content has to be directly from the story, verbatim, with a space provided underneath for the poster’s own commentary. The OP followed all of those rules to the letter. Why is that considered objectionable?

[ucrdem]

57. Axios is a blog, not a major new site.

And this headline is pure "interpretative" click-bait.. If Biden didn't say he'd be "at peace," that should NOT be in an LBN headline.

[brooklynite]

59. I have every confidence if I had used another source someone would still complain.

FWIW Axios is a real news site with real reporters.

[ucrdem]

61. Reuters headline: "Biden Digs In." Summary: "Biden: 'I am running and gonna win again'"

No mention what-so-every of being "at peace" if he loses. That made-up remark is pure clickbait my friend. Please consider deleting it and replacing with news from a respectable news site.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/struggling-biden-faces-big-test-with-abc-interview-vows-fight-2024-07-05/

[brooklynite]

64. Please interpret for us what President Biden's answer to the last question was.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And if you stay in and Trump is elected and everything you're warning about comes to pass, how will you feel in January?

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I'll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the goodest job as I know I can do, that's what this is about.

https://abc7ny.com/post/full-transcript-abc-news-anchor-george-stephanopoulos-exclusive/15033536/

[ucrdem]

67. Interpretation belongs in Editorials. Presenting it as news (LBN) is deceptive.

If he didn't say he'd be "at peace," or words to that effect -- which he did not -- they should not be represented as his words in an LBN headline.

As to interpretation of the transcript excerpt you posted: Stephanopoulos asked Biden how he'd feel. Biden answered clearly: as long as he does his best, that's what this is about. That is rather bland and unobjectionable, yes, but NOT "I'd be at peace," which suggests that deep down, he really doesn't give a sh1t what happens, as long as he can live in comfortable retirement. That's interpretative, but that's what "at peace" suggests, and probably WHY Biden didn't choose those words, or other words suggesting them.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

73. Excellent points ucrdem... why assume the worst about our candidate, I can't figure that out.

[bdamomma]

99. I believe

Joe's not backing down, he's in it to win it!!!!!! the media and their horserace

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

70. Without a doubt... Axios is a joke and they just proved it!!

[LeftInTX]

89. Axios is an official White House correspondent. Their journalists have won awards from the White House Correspondents

organization.

[ucrdem]

91. Axios: "Every item will ... inform, analyze and explain."

That's from the Axios "Mission and Manifesto":

https://www.axios.com/about

I am not knocking Axios; they do what they do, and earn a living by it. But what they provide is not news, but interpreted news, i.e. articles that "inform, analyze, AND explain" -- a polite way of saying slanted news.

Still no objections. The problem here is that it's posted in LBN. What was said in the ABC interview is LBN; Axios' misleading analysis belongs in Editorials.

[LeftInTX]

92. LBN has all sorts of threads like this.

[ucrdem]

95. Threads from major news blogs are fine. Threads like this are not.

I think we can consider Axios a "reputable mainstream news website" and acceptable LBN source ONLY when it posts actual news. This particular headline is NOT news -- it's given a provocative slant by adding made-up words to Biden's answer, words intended to falsely produce an unflattering impression and, of course, to generate clicks.

[HandmaidsTaleUntold]

32. It's Already A Major News Story

Pretending it’s not happening will just repeat 2016. The reaction to that statement is coming from a lot of prominent and not so prominent democrats. My personal opinion is we are overanalyzing but that’s answer made us all think about a very dangerous possible future. I’ve never seen so many fellow liberals buying guns as I am now.

[BootinUp]

5. Stop trying to psycho analyze Biden. nt

[PortTack]

9. Thank you...didn't see the interview, so can't comment directly. The media is gonna feed on this for days

We just past this last unneeded media fiasco.

[BootinUp]

12. It was a good interview for Biden BTW. I have seen good reactions. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

74. Agreed!!

[emulatorloo]

20. Interview was good. Joe did an excellent job. On edit: added link

If I can find a link to the video I’ll come back and add it.

President Joe Biden sits down with ABC News for first TV interview since debate
https://www.youtube.com/live/hFyBapzgbSs?si=rG07LcG4wR-P5UfK

[thesquanderer]

48. I don't think it was a good interview.

He was asked whether he had watched the debate... he had to think about it, he didn't immediately know the answer, and then answered, "I don't think I did." He doesn't know whether or not he watched it?

He said a bunch of things along the lines of "no one thought it could be done" when taking about his accomplishments. That sounds distressingly like the meaningless statements we hear from TFG. It would have been much better if he said, for example, that he got infrastructure done, after TFG promised "infrastructure week" over and over again and never got it done. Meaningful specifics.

To the question "Did you know how badly it was going?" - he answered with the following (according to transcript):

Yeah, look. The whole way I prepared, nobody's fault, mine. Nobody's fault but mine. I, uh-- I prepared what I usually would do sittin' down as I did come back with foreign leaders or National Security Council for explicit detail. And I realized--bout partway through that, you know, all-- I get quoted the New York Times had me down, at ten points before the debate, nine now, or whatever the hell it is. The fact of the matter is, what I looked at is that he also lied 28 times. I couldn't-- I mean, the way the debate ran, not-- my fault, no one else's fault, no one else's fault.

He started out okay, but then derailed into talking about poll numbers, and in the end, the answer was, IMO, a jumbled mess.

It wasn't the disaster the debate was in its worst moments, but that's an awfully low bar.

I doubt anyone who has any hesitations about his abilities was reassured by this interview.

[emulatorloo]

51. I disagree but that's fine. Thanks for your review.

[emulatorloo]

7. Axios already smearing VP Harris, so not surprised. Also see "Not knowing what else to do, Dems shit on their own"

Insinuating VP Harris in a liar and part of a “coverup.”

She is going to have to sit down & answer tough questions.

If she becomes the nominee, we’re gonna see a lot more of this.

Link to tweet

This was pointed out in a long thread by David Roberts, a former Vox Reporter. l’ll add a couple DU LINKS to his thread.

Link to tweet

-------------

links to unrolled version of David Roberts thread:

THREAD (long): "... the idea that that the process of jettisoning Biden & choosing someone else will go well..."
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19108581

REPLACE BIDEN - "Not knowing what else to do, Dems shit on their own": unrolled thread from former VOX reporter
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219108224

[brooklynite]

11. So your concern is that Axios reported something President Biden said?

[emulatorloo]

16. No. My concern is Axios & your other favorite outlets are going to try to destroy any Democratic candidate for President

Including VP Harris. Do you plan to amplify articles like that as well?

An excerpt from David Roberts thread, which is a good explanation of the wrongness of toxic mess w find ourselves in right now:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1809311013839466846.html

For centrists, journalists, pundits, *even Dem electeds*, the way you prove you are a Reasonable, Serious Person in DC is by shitting on Dems. For the left, the way you prove you are a true radical is by shitting on Dems. For the right ... well, obviously.

Everyone's professional incentives are to shit on Dems. Dwelling on Trump & his fascist movement -- however justified by the objective facts -- just doesn't bring that juice, doesn't get the clicks & the high-fives, doesn't feel brave & iconoclastic. It's just ... no fun.

So, say Biden stepped aside in favor of Harris tomorrow. How long until the vapid gossips we call political reporters find something wrong with her, some alleged flaw they just have to write 192 stories about? How long until the hopped-up mediocrities we call pundits ...

...find some "counter-intuitive" reason that the new Dem ticket is flawed after all? How long until the irredentist left gets over the temporary thrill of its new Harris memes & remembers that she's a cop & turns on her? How long before the ambient racism & misogyny in the US...

... lead center-leftists to conclude that, sure, they'd support a black woman, just not *this* black woman? In other words: how long before everyone reverts to their comfortable, familiar identity & narratives?

About 30 f'ing seconds, is my guess.

Dems uniting, feeling good, telling a clear story, receiving credit for their accomplishments--all of that is *impossible* in the current environment. It won't be allowed. Dems can punch themselves in the face all they want, abandon whoever they want, apologize all they want...

Much more at link...

From former Vox reporter, Dave Roberts

[brooklynite]

18. One secret to avoiding bad news stories is to NOT MAKE NEWS.

The simple and standard response would have been a strong "I don't intend to lose".

[emulatorloo]

23. Too much pundit brain, Chris. After you've read that Robert's excerpt I sent you, get out in that beautiful city you

live in and get some fresh air. Maybe some gelato too.

[PortTack]

24. But that isn't what was said...so why pick that out of the entire interview?

No reply needed.

[HandmaidsTaleUntold]

39. I'll Reply

Because it got a lot of people’s attention and pushed them off. There is no alternative but to win. Not this time. None. And we don’t determine the newsworthiness. It already went viral because of democrats impressions not right wingers. They are for the first time ever keeping their mouths shut. Even trump. They are hoping we implode. We won’t. It was just one answer. Not worth exaggerating the importance. But it is us that will live or die with the results of this election. I feel very sorry for the younger generations. We are leaving them a shit world regarding climate change and now they have to worry about living in an actual dictatorship.

[PortTack]

77. My point ....why pick that line out of a successful interview and act as if it was worse than the debate

Everytime someone does this the RW SM goes nuts!

You completely misread my post.

[Think. Again.]

93. I have to disagree with this one statement...

You write:

" It already went viral because of democrats impressions not right wingers."

I strongly believe it is very much the work of rightwingers to hand-pick any bits and pieces that can be made to look "concerning" and throw those bits out into the cybersphere to cause disruption.

This entire thread is a perfect example of how a phrase that Biden DIDN'T EVEN SAY can be used to cause chaos, raise doubts, and spark division.

[PortTack]

21. Agree!! The media is gonna twist it..so yes I really wish it wasn't magnified. Can nothing ever just be

Left to be part of a whole rather than pick out the pieces that are ”newsworthy?”

[HandmaidsTaleUntold]

37. Not True

The owners don’t want Biden I agree on that. Taxes. But average people have been questioning this for a year. You know...the people that actually vote. Sticking our head in the sand isn’t a strategy. That gave it the old college try riled many democrats who see the consequences of this election result as existential and possibly catastrophic. 2016 was similar. Weaknesses weren’t addressed out of pride or allegiance or whatever and we were left wondering wtf happened. Blame was thrown around but it should never have even been close. I believe Joe like anyone on the defensive could answer with not the best response but we shouldn’t look to deeply into it and overanalyze it. But make no mistake there is no option but to win. Zero. None. Or it’s Handmaids Tale and Civil War for all of us.

[emulatorloo]

41. Confused here. Are you saying pundits will not attack and smear VP Harris? We saw them smear Obama and Hillary.

Calls for Obama to drop out in 2o12 after a bad debate, calls for Hillary to drop out after she collapsed with pneumonia.

Maybe I don't understand what you’re saying?

[HandmaidsTaleUntold]

43. This Thread Not About Dropping Out

It’s just about realizing the gravity of the current situation.

[emulatorloo]

46. Ok. That's still a very good post by David Roberts I posted. Makes a lot of good points about the situation we find

ourselves in.

[HandmaidsTaleUntold]

52. I Just Wanna Win

At all costs. Or it’s 1930s Germany for us.

[bamagal62]

10. I am so tired of all

This BS. I’m both furious and terrified all at the same time. It’s infuriating. We have one clear choice if we want to save our democracy. One choice. That’s it. One day in November is going to decide how we live our lives going forward. One choice.

[ramapo]

49. It is exhausting to be in this situation...basically out of our control

Yes we an all do our minuscule parts and they do all add up but....if the media and some Democrats continue to poison the well while letting Trump float above it all then it might not turn out how we want. I feel a little bit of AA is called for in accepting what we can control and what we can't.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

76. Yup, its either support our duly elected nominee or face the consequences w/ the Orange Hitler dick-tator. I'm with Joe!

[Blue Owl]

27. tRump CANNOT and WILL NOT win if we all do what we did in 2000.

[kelly1mm]

58. Bush 'won' in 2000, with a little assist from the USSC.NT

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

107. 1,000%

[Freethinker65]

29. Media agrees with Biden that Trump will destroy the country and will blame Biden staying in the race if Trump wins?

That is what it sounds like.

Instead of doing their jobs and fact checking Trump and instead on reporting on and examining his character flaws, abhorrent behaviors, vindictiveness, and self serving proclivities, the media has decided to give Trump a pass and blame Biden and his age if Trump wins.

[yorkster]

63. And it feels like they're poisoning the well.

Attack Joe relentlessly then blame any
possible loss on him.
Or Joe steps down and the blame game turns on Kamala..

Between the press and the Dems who have
spoken out against Biden, what an effing mess.

I like what Basil Smikle said when Ali Velshi was filling in tonight. To paraphrase, Joe should continue to campaign, have rallies, use a teleprompter and push on.

[Silent Type]

66. The media was all over trump in trials, Jan 6, fraud and rape case, etc. Right now it's Biden

in their sights. But they haven’t given trump a pass over long-haul.

Even if it’s all the media’s fault, we still have to take our best shot at stopping trump.

[kansasobama]

30. Irony is Trump is not being interrogated by the press

If they had, I would say ok, let us talk.

[thesquanderer]

34. ABC offered him equal time, he declined.

Biden didn't have the luxury of declining to do this, IMO.

[TheFarseer]

36. As long as I give it my all?

Not the right attitude. This not the class C State Football finals. Do you truly believe you can win or not? We deserve an honest answer.

[Frasier Balzov]

45. How much of Biden's "all" remains to serve in the office?

Anybody who wants to vote for him is justified in considering this.

[TheFarseer]

100. As someone else put it

I would obviously vote for an urn with Joe Biden’s ashes over Trump but I believe he owes it to the country to back out now if he feels he’s not up to this. Only he can make that determination. As soon as it’s a done deal and there’s no changing the nominee, then everyone who loves Democracy needs to vote for Joe or his administration if you’re more cynical.

[Fiendish Thingy]

38. Not sure I'd agree either

Kind of a flippant answer, at least on paper.

Better answer:

“I can’t conceive of losing to Trump because it would mean the end of our democracy. I’m going to give it my all, and I’m calling on all democracy loving Americans- Democrats, Republicans, Independents- to give it there all too. Go to my website and find out how you can help keep Trump from destroying our democracy with his terrifying Project 2025”.

[ramapo]

44. Maybe he should've said "I won't accept losing...I can only lose if it's been rigged"

Works for Trump. Nobody bats an eye.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

71. LOL... good one!!

[DarthDem]

47. He didn't say this

As you know.

[Turbineguy]

53. From the emails I get from Democratic PACs

It will be my responsibility that trump wins. Mine and mine alone. It seems nobody else is voting.

[Turbineguy]

60. There's a reason repubs want Biden out.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

81. No doubt!!

[Beakybird]

62. If Trump wins, it's game over for America. We can't let this happen.

The public perception of Biden's as too old is a real problem. It's not going to go away - despite his wisdom and capacity to lead.
Harris wouldn't have this problem. There are other great Dems who could wipe the floor with Trump in a debate. But I think that Harris is the logical choice.
It's unbelievable that someone as craven, cruel, and mendacious as Trump is ahead in the polls. But I think that Trump has real weaknesses that the American public can see. I wish this age issue would magically disappear. Short of that, Harris would be such a strong candidate.

[ucrdem]

72. Kamala will get her chance as soon as Trump appoints a veep.

Yes she can be very effective, particularly in the role of aggressive debater. If the veeps get a debate, that will be a show you don't want to miss. As a presidential candidate I am not sure she'd have better luck than Hillary.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

84. I have complete faith in Kamala that she will wipe the floor with ANY potential rethug for VP... count on it!!

[Polybius]

97. Do you think she "wiped the floor" with Pence in 2020?

Just curious, because he was an unusually good debater, and none of this year's alleged VP hopefuls rival his debating skills.

[JohnSJ]

87. Let me, if with the encouragement of the illustrious press Biden steps down, and his replacement loses to

trump, I wonder if our illustrious press will be at peace, because they sure are giving their all to try and make President Biden step down.

In fact I wonder if our illustrious press is at peace for beating the war drums and pushing the WMD lie that killed a million people in Iraq?

[yorkster]

101. Right and Joe never said he'd be "at peace"

if he lost. Worst kind of clickbait - a lie right in the headline. To be clear, the lie is from Axios, not the OP.

[bottomofthehill]

90. Have we learned nothing from RBG

Staying too long can have dangerous results.

[The Grand Illuminist]

96. Let me just say this....

If Biden loses, it won't be his fault. I will even go as far as not being Trump's fault either. This lies, squarely and totally, on the people who put Trump in office. The voters who would do this of sound mind and conviction. And the consequences of their actions in voting Trump to the White House will be eternally tremendous.

[kansasobama]

102. That is the truth

It is us voters. Not meaning DUers but our nation. If Trump wins, we as a country, has lost character.

[Doodley]

103. It is the Democratic candidate's job to beat Trump, and to do that through clear messaging. There can be no clear

messaging now Joe's candidacy has become the story. He isn't his able to get messaging through.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

106. I would say it's the media's fault #1... without a doubt!!

[Farmer-Rick]

104. Axios totally lied about what Biden said

He never said he would be at peace. He never said he would give up fighting for democracy.

He was merely talking about his level of effort to win. He wasn't saying he would pat Trump on the back and kiss his ass like Axios reporters would. He wouldn't bow down to the king like Axios is implying.

Biden just said he would give it his all so he could feel good about his effort.

Biden was taken out of context and people here are pulling their hair out over it.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

108. I feel the same when undertaking certain tasks. I wanna know, in case I lose, that I didnt leave anything on the table.

[Emile]

110. After an alert and discussion with the hosts locking.

That the interview occurred is the news. Interpreting what President Biden said is analysis and or opinion. "No analysis or opinion pieces in latest Breaking News"