The liberal media used to dismiss concerns about President Biden’s fitness for office as just bad-faith attacks from people on the right. Here’s a more serious article. New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker Saturday night, it turns out that people inside the administration are also concerned and it’s affecting how the President does the job. Despite the fact that the CBS, ABC and NBC broadcast networks have acknowledged this, MSNBC and CNN have only once noted the paper.
In his article titled “At 79, Biden Is Testing the Boundaries of Age and the Presidency,” Baker begins by noting Biden’s upcoming trip to the Middle East which “was initially tacked onto another journey last month to Europe, which would have made for an arduous 10-day overseas trek until it became clear to Mr. Biden’s team that such extended travel might be unnecessarily taxing for a 79-year-old president, or ‘crazy,’ as one official put it.”
And while he does share the quiet, anonymous warnings from those not “sanctioned by the White House” to speak on matters of the President’s health, Baker also leans on those allowed to give the talking points. “Everyone ages differently, of course, and some experts put Mr. Biden in a category of ‘super-agers’ who remain unusually fit as they advance in years,” he wrote.
Baker made numerous contributions since Saturday’s publication of the article. Three TV appearances (Alex Witt, Morning JoePlease see the following: Kate Tur ReportsAll three were available on MSNBC They only have 1 Questions about the article. This distinction is awarded to Alex Witt, the host on Sunday afternoon (3 minutes):
Peter wrote this in today’s The New York Times, here’s the quote, “at 79, Biden is testing the boundaries of age and the presidency.” And you say that the original plan was “for an arduous ten-day overseas track until it became clear to Mr. Biden’s team that such extended travel might be unnecessary taxing for a 79-year-old president, were ‘crazy’ as one official put it.” Tell me what led to the schedule change.
Although her follow-up was about how frustrated the White House is that people don’t know how with-it Biden truly is. “Because in your article you talk about how they say he’s got tremendous leadership, he’s very sharp with the questions whatever they’re going back and forth, he leaves things. He works out half of the day with his trainer.. It’s just not happening. How frustrating is that for the White House staff?” Elle lamentierte.
And she concluded the topic by commending Biden’s endurance. “And you do point out that at 79, there aren’t a lot of people out there riding their bikes anyways the distances that he does,”She was elated.
Despite the story being deemed worthy enough to get air time on MSNBC on Sunday, there wasn’t a peep about it on any NBC newscast that day not even Meet the Press. And neither ABC’s This Week nor CBS’s Face the NationIt was also covered by other news media. Their flagship evening and morning newscasts did not pick up on the story either Sunday or Monday.
The next mention wouldn’t come until Monday afternoon with CNN Inside PoliticsJohn King brought the topic up to his panel of mostly liberals and noted that David Gergen, his CNN colleague, had been quoted. Gergen is a former presidential candidate. (lasting 1 minute, 17 seconds).
“In that article, David Gergen is quoted, ‘I feel it is inappropriate to seek that office after you’re or in your 80s.’ And David talks about turning 80 himself and he says he’s not as sharp as he used to be,” he read, going to CNN’s Nia-Malika Henderson for comment.
Her apparent defense of Biden included a rhetorical shrug and arguing “He won’t get any younger. He isn’t the same person he was 10 years ago. I believe there are others who have seen him in these past years. No one is.” And she went on to suggest not being former President Trump was his key to re-election.
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MSNBC’s Alex Witt
July 10, 2022
Eastern, 12:11:43ALEX WITT The New York Times, here’s the quote, “at 79, Biden is testing the boundaries of age and the presidency.” And you say that the original plan was “for an arduous ten-day overseas track until it became clear to Mr. Biden’s team that such extended travel might be unnecessary taxing for a 79-year-old president, were ‘crazy’ as one official put it.”
Let me know what caused the change in schedule.
PETER BAAKER: They can explain a lot of reasons for breaking up the trip. There’s some political reasons, diplomatic reasons why you – why, you know, muddled the message from the NATO summit by then going to the Middle East. That’s certainly one, there’s certainly concern that he might be overseas for too long at a time when there are so many things happening at home like the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
There was also the issue of overtaxing President. While this might not be the case for younger presidents, it is certain for the 79-year old president. It seems impossible to keep him there, after a stressful meeting in Germany, Madrid and a trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia. The team decided that it was best to move the trip forward for next week.
It’s an indication of the need to be cautious. The staff must ensure that the elderly president, as energetic and eager as they may be to get on the road, is being taken care of by them.
WITT: They are very frustrated, yes. Your article talks about the fact that he is a great leader and can answer any questions they have. He works out half as often as the trainer. This is not how you get to the gym. It’s so frustrating for White House staff!
BAKER : I find it frustrating. They recognize the larger problem politically that the President may be sharp intellectually, but if he drives these meetings like they claim, some physicality is hard to overcome.
Sometimes he shuffles because of mobility problems that his doctors have diagnosed. His speeches can sometimes be unorganized or confused. This is something you cannot do as much with the White House. There’s nothing you can do through a staff shakeup or communications strategy to change that.
This gives him the appearance of getting old. According to the polls, a majority of Americans feel that he is far too old. In the Harvard Harris most recent poll, 64% of Americans think he has reached his old age. It could happen to anyone his age.
WITT: Absolutely.
BAKER: This frustrates the White House as they believe that he is getting some things done for which he does not get credit.
WITT That’s where the problem lies.
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CNN’s Inside Politics
April 11, 2022
Eastern 12:23.15(…)
JOHN KING: And so, you’re having a fight within the family, and then you have the question that Peter Baker of The New York Times wrote over the weekend: “At 79 Biden is testing the boundaries of age and the presidency.” In that article, David Gergen is quoted, “I feel it is inappropriate to seek that office after you’re or in your 80s.” And David talks about turning 80 himself and he says he’s not as sharp as he used to be.
This conversation is not helpful for the Democrats in a midterm election year; it’s not helpful for any president, anyway.
NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON: No, it’s not. And listen, Americans typically look at the office of the presidency as embodying strength, stamina, and in some ways, I think this factor, with this president— you can’t change it. Right? He is not going to get any younger. There are many people who, looking at him these past years, have seen that he’s not the same person he was 10 years ago. Nobody is. Maybe he’s not up for the times. But, it is certain that he won’t be able change.
Is he able to change the legislative agenda? Sure. This is what I will tell you, however. A lot of Democrats who I talked to, rank and file, average voters who will essentially say, “yeah, maybe he’s a little old, maybe he hasn’t been as effective as possible, but at least he is not Trump.” Right? It was his mandate to get in. That may also be his mandate to get reelected.
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