Hillary Clinton has acknowledged that the age of President Joe Biden, a member of the Democratic Party, is a matter of legitimate concern. These remarks from the former Democratic presidential candidate arise amidst the White House’s ongoing efforts to manage the increasing anxiety surrounding Biden’s chances of re-election.
“I talked to people in the White House all the time, and you know, they know it’s an issue, but as I like to say, ‘look, it’s a legitimate issue,’” Clinton told MSNBC’s Alex Wagner.
The recent release of a special counsel report has caused great concern and anger among Democrats. The report described Biden as an “elderly man with a poor memory,” which has raised alarm bells within the party. Special Counsel Robert Hur specifically pointed out Biden’s mental condition as a factor in the decision not to press charges for mishandling classified information. Additionally, the report concluded that Biden was unable to remember his son’s death for a significant period of time.
It appears that Democrats are finally acknowledging the obvious issue at hand and can no longer ignore it. Even Clinton has joined in, urging Biden to increase his public appearances and engagement.
“I’m for Joe Biden for reelection on the merits because I think he’s done a really good job as president,” Clinton said.
“So, I think he should continue to get out and campaign.
“He’s been campaigning pretty vigorously across the country.”
Additionally, she expressed her belief that Biden should not hesitate to impart his valuable insights to the nation.
“I think Biden also should lean into the fact that he’s experienced and that experience is not just in the political arena,” she said.
“It’s like, the stuff of, you know, human experience, character, wisdom.”
Biden has frequently employed humor in an attempt to alleviate concerns about his age, but the press conference last week was far from amusing.
The president hastily called for the presser, where he vehemently defended his mental capabilities. However, he frequently shouted at reporters and made several mistakes, including confusing the presidents of Egypt and Mexico at one point.
Some of Biden’s supporters have drawn comparisons between Hur’s report and James Comey’s handling of Clinton’s email scandal. During the scandal, Comey announced that he would not pursue charges against Clinton for her “extremely careless” use of a private email server. Clinton has long held Comey responsible for her significant loss to President Donald Trump in the 2016 election.
On Monday, the White House staunchly defended Biden’s mental acuity and stated that he would not undergo a cognitive test. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described Biden as energetic and attentive.
“When we have meetings with him and his staff he is constantly pushing us, trying to get more information, and so that has been my experience with this president,” she said.
