>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
In defense of the President, White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates blasted the New York Post and other conservative outlets for their coverage of the incident. Bates accused these outlets of spreading falsehoods and disrespecting their readers. He tweeted, “Fresh off being fact-checked by at least six mainstream outlets for lying about @POTUS with cheap fakes, Rupert Murdoch’s sad little super PAC, the New York Post, is back to disrespecting its readers & itself once again. Their ethical standards could deal with a little unfreezing.”
Bates continued to defend Biden, stating that the criticisms are unfounded and are merely attempts to undermine the President’s leadership. “By pretending the President taking in an applauding crowd for a few seconds is somehow wrong, all they’re really admitting is – once again – they can’t take on the leadership that’s fueling the strongest economic growth in the world & bringing violent crime to a 50-year low.”
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also weighed in, condemning the trend of “edited videos” designed to make Biden appear frail or confused. She labeled these videos as “cheap fakes” and criticized the bad faith efforts behind them. “I think you all have called this the cheap fakes video, and that’s exactly what they are. They are cheap, fake videos. They are done in bad faith. And some of your news organizations have been very clear, have stressed that the right-wing critiques of the President have a credibility problem because the fact checkers have repeatedly caught them pushing misinformation, disinformation. And so we see this, and this is something coming from your part of the world, calling them cheap fakes and misinformation,” Jean-Pierre said.
Despite these defenses, a growing number of voices, including Clooney’s, are calling for Biden to step aside from the 2024 presidential race. Clooney’s op-ed emphasizes his respect and admiration for Biden but insists on the need for a new nominee. “I love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee,” Clooney declared.
In his detailed op-ed, Clooney reflects on his long-standing support for Democratic candidates and his involvement in significant fundraisers. He underscores his belief in the democratic process and the gravity of the current moment. However, Clooney’s concern is evident as he notes Biden’s visible decline. “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 fundraiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate,” Clooney wrote.
Clooney argues that it is crucial to acknowledge Biden’s age and its implications for his ability to lead effectively. He points out that many Democrats privately share his concerns, despite what they might say publicly. “We’re all so terrified by the prospect of a second Trump term that we’ve opted to ignore every warning sign. The George Stephanopoulos interview only reinforced what we saw the week before. As Democrats, we collectively hold our breath or turn down the volume whenever we see the president, who we respect, walk off Air Force One or walk back to a mic to answer an unscripted question,” he added.
Brutal “Pocket Weapon” Stops Hearts (discounted for next 78)
Clooney concludes by asserting that the Democratic Party needs to face reality and consider a new candidate to ensure victory in the upcoming election. “We are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we won’t win the House, and we’re going to lose the Senate. This isn’t only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and congress member and governor that I’ve spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly,” Clooney emphasized.
As the debate over Biden’s re-election bid intensifies, Clooney’s bold stance adds a new dimension to the conversation, highlighting the internal struggles within the Democratic Party and the challenges it faces moving forward.
