Lawmakers from the Democratic Party are facing increasing criticism for failing to address what many perceive as a decline in President Biden’s capabilities during the last two years of his presidency.
Some party members are concerned that discussions regarding the missteps of the 2024 election will intensify as they seek a new direction moving forward.
During a recent NBC interview, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) faced questions about whether he and other senior Democrats misled the public regarding Biden’s mental fitness.
Schumer, who had previously dismissed concerns about the president’s decline as “right-wing propaganda,” responded firmly, stating, “Look, we didn’t,” and went on to defend Biden’s achievements and integrity.
In his remarks, Schumer highlighted the importance of the legislation passed under Biden, including the Inflation Reduction Act, which incorporated various energy and climate initiatives.
He emphasized the appointment of 235 judges to the federal bench as a historic accomplishment, asserting Biden’s patriotism and commendable character.
As Biden’s health issues became evident, especially following his lackluster performance in the first presidential debate against Donald Trump, several Democratic senators cautioned that calls for accountability would likely increase.
One senator predicted a wave of blame directed at their colleagues for not questioning Biden’s health earlier, expressing frustration at the lack of transparency regarding Biden’s condition.
Many lawmakers felt left in the dark about Biden’s stamina and health. “The fairest statement about it is that we never saw him. Really. I don’t know how long ago it was the last time Biden came to the caucus,” the senator noted, indicating that Biden’s decline had been noticeable over time.
Despite the uncertainty regarding Democratic leaders’ awareness of Biden’s condition, the senator suggested that Republicans successfully painted Democrats as “corrupt” for not sounding the alarm sooner about the president’s fitness for re-election.
Democrats who interacted with Biden at the White House or during events, such as the 80th anniversary of D-Day, consistently vouched for his mental sharpness before the debate against Trump.
Schumer stated in mid-February, “I talk to President Biden, you know, regularly… His mental acuity is great. It’s fine.” Similarly, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) noted that Biden appeared sharp and focused during the Normandy commemoration but later expressed surprise at his poor debate performance.
While former Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) also praised Biden’s clarity during their campaign interactions, Blumenthal was shocked at how poorly Biden performed during the debate just weeks after the D-Day event. The Connecticut senator remarked that Biden had been “sharp, insightful, eloquent and completely on his game” when meeting with NATO allies.
One Democratic senator acknowledged that many colleagues had concerns about Biden’s energy and mental fitness long before the debate, but they hesitated to undermine someone they viewed as their likely presidential nominee. “You don’t undermine your nominee,” the senator explained, detailing the reluctance to publicly question Biden’s candidacy.
The senator mentioned that the State of the Union address could have been a moment for Democrats to raise concerns, but Biden’s effective performance quelled criticism. “We weren’t hearing stories from his inner circle who sees, every day, so much,” the source noted, adding that this lack of insight contributed to the shock following the debate.
Democratic leaders are now under scrutiny regarding the actions of Biden’s inner circle, as there are calls for accountability concerning how they managed concerns about his ability to effectively campaign and serve a second term. Following the debate, only a few senators believed Biden should continue as the nominee.
Reports indicate that only three Democratic senators felt he should remain after a caucus meeting with Biden campaign officials. As months passed, doubts emerged among Democratic senators regarding whether Biden’s campaign team communicated the extent of opposition on Capitol Hill to his candidacy.
The urgency of these concerns was later conveyed to Biden directly during a one-on-one meeting between Schumer and the president, where Schumer suggested it might be best for Biden to withdraw from the race. Schumer’s spokesperson confirmed that he relayed the views of his caucus.
In the months leading up to the debate, some Democratic lawmakers had voiced apprehensions about Biden’s age and fitness for office becoming liabilities. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) stressed in February that Biden needed to confront the age issue, emphasizing the need for him to exhibit energy and a forward-looking vision rather than focusing solely on Trump.
Another senator, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed concern that many Americans perceived Biden as unfit for the presidency. With only two weeks remaining until Trump’s inauguration, many Democratic lawmakers are reluctant to discuss the mistakes made in the recent election cycle.
Instead, they prefer to focus on addressing the challenges posed by the incoming Republican administration and their majorities in Congress. “I would prefer that we look forward to what is going to be coming at us with this administration,” said Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
