Washington Post writes hypothetical withdrawal speech for Biden
By
Cami Mondeaux
July 4, 2024 3:55 pm
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The Washington Post editorial board published a story fantasizing a day in which President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race and called for a convention to find his replacement — even giving the Democratic incumbent the words to say in a concession speech.
The piece, titled “What if Biden spoke these words?”, writes a speech for Biden to drop out of the 2024 race as the president faces questions from several within his own party to withdraw from consideration. Those calls come in response to the president’s debate performance against Donald Trump as Biden repeatedly lost his train of thought and failed to challenge the former president in the way Democrats had hoped.
“A large part of me still wants to stay in the fight,” the theoretical speech posed. “But, at this moment, the nation needs something I cannot provide: a leader with the energy to run a vigorous campaign and then to work for America, at all hours, for the next four years.”
The speech walked through Biden’s decadeslong service in U.S. politics, acknowledging that his “season of service is nearing its close.” The speech cited George Washington’s decision to step down from office “though the Constitution at the time did not require it,” noting the first president understood when his time of service came to a close.
In the speech, the outlet suggested Biden would call for a new process to find his replacement, which would include debates for candidates to make their case ahead of the party’s nominating convention in August. In the theoretical speech, Vice President Kamala Harris has offered herself as a willing participant, reflecting many in the party who have looked to the current No. 2 as a logical replacement should Biden withdraw from the race.
“Between now and November, I will do all I can to support the next Democratic nominee — and to encourage Americans to rediscover the optimism and energetic spirit that built this nation,” the artificial speech said.
The editorial comes after Biden’s worse-than-expected performance in the first presidential debate last week, prompting some Democrats to openly admit they expect to lose the White House in November.
more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3070596/washington-post-writes-hypothetical-withdrawal-speech-for-biden/
