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Ezra Klein: another Democrat calls for Biden to step down

Biden is losing support from his own side. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP

February 18, 2024 - 1:00pm

New York Times columnist Ezra Klein has called on Joe Biden to step down as Democratic candidate for president in 2024. 

In an audio essay entitled “Democrats have a better option than Biden”, Klein provides a tortured account of how he arrived at his decision. “My heart breaks for Joe Biden,” he opens, before declaring that “as painful as this is, [the president] should find his way to stepping down as a hero.”

In the 4,000 word piece, the New York Times columnist argues that there is a “ton of talent” in the party, listing names such as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and even House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Claiming that Biden has been a “good president”, Klein added that he was willing to sacrifice a second term in order to prevent the “nightmare” of Trump winning in November. 

The writer also questioned the blind loyalty exhibited by many Democratic operatives who would come out after the election with “campaign tell-all books” that were “full of emails and WhatsApp messages” between Biden staffers and Democratic leaders, showing that “he’s not going to win this”. But “they didn’t say any of it publicly, they didn’t do anything, because it was too dangerous for their careers, or too uncomfortable given their loyalty to Biden,” writes Klein.

The Vox co-founder is the latest Democrat to call for the resignation of Biden, who in recent weeks has come under heavy fire from his own side over his mental acuity. Triggered by the recent Hur report, which stated that Biden could not remember when his son Beau died or the years he served as vice president, more and more Democrats are coming out of the woodwork to criticise the president.

Most notably, Jon Stewart’s return to the Daily Show discussed and mocked Biden’s age extensively, dubbing the election “Indecision 2024”. He joins the likes of former Bill Clinton strategist James Carville and former Barack Obama advisor David Axelrod, who warned last year that Biden’s age was an electoral weakness. “Fair or not, you can’t unring the bell,” said Axelrod earlier this month. The Hur report “goes to the core of what is plaguing Biden politically now, which is a widespread fear that he’s not up to it.”


is UnHerd’s Newsroom editor.

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Richard Russell
Richard Russell
7 months ago

I can tell you that, as a member of the cohort in question, the more the MSM tries to use the term “age” to mean dementia, the less ALL seniors like these tortured, sanctimonious, pleadings.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being 80 years old–but trying to lead the World with patently obvious severe and terminal dementia is a disaster.

Champagne Socialist
Champagne Socialist
7 months ago

Are you a doctor, gramps?
No? Maybe go back to mumbling in the corner about how Trump is new messiah and the good old days when you could be openly racist.

Julian Farrows
Julian Farrows
7 months ago

Try a careful re-reading of his post and you might discover that there is not one single mention of Trump. You display such a clear example of Trump Derangement Syndrome in that you’ve lost all ability to read or think objectively and therefore no longer able to stop yourself typing incoherent insults on the internet.
I can almost picture you: all red-faced and swivel-eyed, clacking away at the keyboard, yelling mindless epithets at some saliva-specked computer screen, face contorted into an expression similar to that of a medieval-era gargoyle.
Maybe spend less time on the internet and get a job or something? Perhaps even join a volunteer group or participate in some kind of outdoor activity where you can breathe in sufficient fresh air. I can’t imagine that this online persona you hide behind while you attack others is doing any wonders for your mental health.

Champagne Socialist
Champagne Socialist
7 months ago
Reply to  Julian Farrows

I think that’s your own reflection in your monitor, Jules!
You’re just mad because I call you out on your obvious lies. Too bad, lil’ buddy, that’s not going to stop!

Michael Coleman
Michael Coleman
7 months ago

“Triggered by the recent Hur report, which stated that Biden could not remember when his son Beau died or the years he served as vice president, ”
It sounds trivial when put that way. A more forthright version:
“Triggered by the recent Hur report, which stated that Biden had willfully broken US classified document handling laws which are currently being used to prosecute his likely opponent in the Presidential election. However, the report recommended against prosecution due to Biden’s age and poor memory.”

Champagne Socialist
Champagne Socialist
7 months ago

Hur is a far right hack – if he’d had the goods on Biden he’d have indicted in a heartbeat. He didn’t so he came up with this garbage.
Contrast with the methodical building of watertight cases against Trump.

Michael Coleman
Michael Coleman
7 months ago

We’ve all seen the box of classified docs in the garage behind the corvette. Don’t believe your lying eyes! Deep fake. LOL

Jim Veenbaas
Jim Veenbaas
7 months ago

Biden a hero? Ugh. Looking at Klein’s list of alternatives, I can see why the Dems want to keep him.

Champagne Socialist
Champagne Socialist
7 months ago
Reply to  Jim Veenbaas

Every single one of them will dish out another landslide defeat to your god-king, Trump.
AOC for president – I like it!

Peter B
Peter B
7 months ago

I take it you’re not American. There’s no way AOC could ever win a national election in the US. Some of the other candidates might do so. AOC – not a hope.

Champagne Socialist
Champagne Socialist
7 months ago
Reply to  Peter B

You elected Trump – there is literally nobody that is out of the question.

Peter B
Peter B
7 months ago

No. I’m British. I’ve briefly lived in the US though and have some feel for the place. An ultra-liberal like AOC doesn’t have enough national appeal to win – she would alienate even more people than Hillary Clinton. That’s just a fact.

James Love
James Love
7 months ago

The decline of Biden even over the last 6 months has been notable. 9 months from now it will be even more obvious.

Champagne Socialist
Champagne Socialist
7 months ago

Why don’t we talk about Trump’s mental decline? Because he’s always been a moron who doesn’t have the faintest idea of what he is talking about. But you people worship him like a god. How humiliating for you!

Peter B
Peter B
7 months ago

Hold on a moment.
First you say Trump’s in mental decline.
Then you claim he’s always been a moron.
So which is it ? It can’t be both.
While we’re on this, what’s your opinion of the US electorate that chose to elect Trump president in 2016. Are they morons too ?
I suggest that there’s a lot more method in the Trump madness than you acknowledge.

Julian Farrows
Julian Farrows
7 months ago
Reply to  Peter B

He is a prisoner of his own brain. He makes up a cartoonish caricature of people he hates and then stomps here to let off some steam. It makes him feel good, I suppose, like a very fat person who can’t stop eating junk food.

Champagne Socialist
Champagne Socialist
7 months ago
Reply to  Peter B

You may wish to work on your reading comprehension, Pedro!
And yes, the low information voters who elected Trump are morons. I assume that includes you based on your inability to understand what I said.

Julian Farrows
Julian Farrows
7 months ago

I doubt anyone can really understand what you say, not just me. Maybe some breathing exercises will help.

Champagne Socialist
Champagne Socialist
7 months ago
Reply to  Julian Farrows

You are probably right, certainly when it comes to mouth- breathing Trump worshippers who dwell around here. I doubt if breathing exercises will help you at all. Try reading a book occasionally…

Steven Carr
Steven Carr
7 months ago

I thought Joe Biden just had a stutter, like Andropov just had a cold.
The stutter must be getting worse….

Champagne Socialist
Champagne Socialist
7 months ago

Look at this senile old man!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN38KmxJTZg

Benjamin Greco
Benjamin Greco
7 months ago

There already is an alternative, RFK, who is getting stronger every day. Biden is going to regret playing hard ball and locking him out of the Democratic primaries when he finishes third in the general election. Unfortunately, RFK will finish second.
Klein and all the other nervous nellies among the progressive wing of the party are, as always, completely out of touch with the American people. Ocasio-Cortez is he kidding! The Left will never take responsibility for the decline of the Democratic party. The Left’s recent embrace of Hamas and open borders drove the final nail in the Democrats coffin, not Biden’s age and mental acuity. The American people hate Democrats because of what they stand for not because Biden can’t stand straight.

Carlos Danger
Carlos Danger
7 months ago
Reply to  Benjamin Greco

Bobby Kennedy looks to be going nowhere. He will siphon off some votes, but he will not win any electors. Just not enough support. The more people see of him, the more his support shrinks. When you have supporters like Steve Kirsch (who claims the Covid-19 vaccines killed millions), you know you are in trouble.

Right-Wing Hippie
Right-Wing Hippie
7 months ago

In the 4,000 word piece, the New York Times columnist argues that there is a “ton of talent” in the party, listing names such as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and even House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
When he said a “ton of talent” I thought he was going to mention Stacey Abrams.