Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher responded to President Joe Biden’s destitute debate performance in exactly the way you’d expect given his criticism of the Democratic Party. In a recent opinion piece, he joined the chorus of leftists calling for Biden to step down and let another candidate lead the party in this year’s election.
In the PieceMaher said people told him to “stop making jokes about Biden being old” because it would aid former President Donald Trump, but he refused to pretend that all is well in Bidenland.
Joe Biden himself would say, “Here’s the deal”: What happened at the debate last week was not a tragedy but a blessing in disguise. I called on Mr. Biden to resign almost a year ago, warning that he would forever be known as “Ruth Bader Biden” if he didn’t. Since then, every time I’ve raised the idea publicly or privately, people have dismissed it out of hand: Get in, they said, the Democrats will never replace him, that’s off the table.
Well, now it’s on the table, where it should have been all along. And far from being a disaster for the Democratic Party, it’s exactly what works best in 21st century American culture. Americans like recent things.
The comedian suggested that Democrats should hold a public convention to elect the recent candidate, arguing that the excitement it would generate would actually aid the party emerge from its Biden-related doldrums.
Instead of rehashing the debate from hell – the worst episode of The Golden Bachelor ever – they would suddenly have a competition, something Americans love. Who gets the rose in Chicago in August? Gavin or Gretchen? Suddenly Stacey Abrams could say she’s in! And so could Tim Ryan and Josh Shapiro! And Amy Klobuchar and Ruben Gallego! And Mayor Pete and Raphael Warnock! And Wes Moore, and who knows, maybe Andrew Yang will say he’s a Democrat again! And that guy from Kentucky, I hear he’s great!
This may sound like I’m exaggerating a bit here, but I’m dead grave when I say this would be good for the Democrats and give them a better chance of winning.
Of course, Maher had a favorite among Democrats to represent the party against Trump: California Governor Gavin Newsom. He argued that he would be the best candidate to take on the Orange Man What Is Bad™ in November.
My choice would be Gavin Newsom. When I saw him go against Trump in the pre-debate interviews and against Biden after the debate, I realized: this guy is good at this. Yes, he has too much “California baggage” – some of which I don’t like myself – but the contrast between his approach to Trump and Biden’s approach couldn’t be clearer. He is energetic, never at a loss for words or statistics, never stumbles, never intimidated. He is indomitable, and that is critical in the fight against Trump. People are much more attracted to what looks like strength than to concrete policy measures. And he looks great on TV.
The comedian concluded his commentary by suggesting that “a group of the most respected senior statesmen from Biden’s own party must make a pilgrimage to the White House” to persuade him to resign and allow another candidate to compete for the presidency, just as a group of Republicans did with President Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal.
Given the circumstances, Maher’s arguments are understandable. In fact, it is possible that the Democrats will replace Biden against his will – but that is unlikely. At this point, the die is cast and the Democrats will have to make do with their candidate.
