Staff Reports
Joe Biden might want to check his compass because his latest attempts to deflect criticism about his competence are pointing him off a cliff. Just hours after the President lashed out at supposed "elites" plotting against him, his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, found herself dodging rapid-fire questions about his mental fitness from a suddenly inquisitive press corps.
In a press conference marred by uncomfortable pauses and plenty of "I can't speak to that" moments, Jean-Pierre stumbled through a storm of inquiries about Biden's cognitive state, conveniently falling back on security concerns when she didn't have answers. Over the weekend, news broke that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a specialist in Parkinson's disease, had been making frequent house calls to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Predictably, reporters wanted to know if these visits were for the Big Guy himself.
Press turns on White House at fiery press briefing over Biden health https://t.co/Ftn1eFGNap
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 9, 2024
When it got hot under the collar for Jean-Pierre, things got testier than a NASCAR pit crew under pressure. CBS's Ed O'Keefe practically begged her to give a straight answer if these rendezvous were to treat the President. Instead of clarity, Jean-Pierre served up a lukewarm platter of "Biden had three neurological exams," without so much as a peep about Cannard's White House escapades, citing those ever-so-convenient personal security concerns.
As if things weren't already shaky, Jean-Pierre went full Sergeant Schultz, declaring Biden has never been treated or medicated for Parkinson's. If everything is shipshape in the Biden White House, One must wonder why those types of biting questions got such a cagey response. Jean-Pierre even had the gall to accuse reporters of personal attacks, clearly flustered by the intense scrutiny from the very journalists who, until recently, seemed content to play lapdog over watchdog.
The backdrop for this debacle? Biden's flailing communication strategy and a cringe-worthy debate performance against Trump had voters wincing. And boy, did that show it during the briefing. National Security spokesperson John Kirby tried to put a Band-Aid on the situation, insisting the President is sharp as a tack. But Kirby's discomfort was as apparent as Biden's struggle with stairs.
Then there was the piece de resistance: Biden's impromptu call to MSNBC's Morning Joe, where he couldn't resist putting Trump back on the target list. Instead of calming Democratic nerves and declaring his unwavering leadership, Biden practically dared his detractors to run against him, showing all the statesmanship of a schoolyard showdown.
Ultimately, the repeated déjà vu with Biden dodging age and health questions isn't surprising. But it should at least amuse anyone who remembers the days when the media had higher standards—or at least sharper fangs. As Biden's team reels from the pressure cooker he's put them in, Americans can only brace for more circus acts on the road to 2024.
