Despite Joe Biden’s announcement earlier this week that he is running for a second term as President, the liberal media hasn’t devoted the unquestioning loyalty to the geriatric President that you would expect. Most recent evidence of this came during Sunday’s This Week on ABC when co-moderator Martha Raddatz repeatedly questioned Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) about concerns over Biden’s age and polling from Democrats who would rather him not run again.
“You’re facing some pretty difficult poll numbers. That NBC poll she references 51 percent of Democrats—Democrats don’t think Joe Biden should run again,” Raddatz said to Coons.
Instead of addressing the age issue, he listed some of Biden’s accomplishments in office such as “the 12 million jobs created in the first two years that Biden’s been president. The lowest unemployment in 50 years. The 850,000 new manufacturing jobs.”
Raddatz was unphased by that spin and immediately redirected the conversation back on topic. “I know polls are not the thing you really want to talk about. But in that same poll, 48 percent of those polled said they didn’t want him to run again. No elephant in the room here because of age.”
Coons responded by noting Biden was quick on his feet at the previous night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner and the State of the Union address a few months back. “I think Joe Biden is agile, is capable, his record of leadership both at home and abroad makes him imminently qualified,” Coons proclaimed.
“A lot of that’s on teleprompter and people have seen him stumble,” Raddatz retorted. “These are people they talk to. 48 percent said it’s age because they’ve watched him. The president says watch me and some of those people have watched him and still have doubts.”
“I’d say compare him to the alternative,” Coons shot back. “I’m more often the person that goes um you know, the new senator from ah Missouri than he does. Joe Biden is fit, capable, and ready to serve another term.”
The transcript is below. Click “expand” to read:
ABC’s This Week
4/30/2023
9:05:32 a.m. EasternMARTHA RADDATZ: I know it is a very big week. But let’s get down to it. You just heard Mary there. You’re facing some pretty difficult poll numbers. That NBC poll she references 51 percent of Democrats—Democrats don’t think Joe Biden should run again.
SEN CHRIS COONS: Well, Martha, the numbers we’re going to be talking about are the 12 million jobs created in the first two years that Biden’s been president. The lowest unemployment in 50 years. The 850,000 new manufacturing jobs. And I’ll remind you, our President often says don’t compare me to the all mighty, compare me to the alternative. When folks get polled on a head-to-head if Donald Trump should be the Republican nominee again, he wins and he wins decisively. Because two years later, President Biden is stronger. He has an incredible record to run on. And the former President is weaker. He’s been indicted. He’s spent years just relitigating 2020. I look forward to talking about the numbers based on what we’ve gotten done with President Biden in the White House on infrastructure, manufacturing, prescription drugs. It’s a great record to run on.
RADDATZ: And he’s been talking about that record since he became President. He talks about it again and again. There are obviously some things he didn’t get passed, an assault weapons ban and things like that. But I want to go back to the polls. I know polls are not the thing you really want to talk about. But in that same poll, 48 percent of those polled said they didn’t want him to run again. No elephant in the room here because of age.
COONS: Yes, and you were with me at the White House correspondents’ dinner last night. Many—there were thousands of folks in the room. And Martha, he was fast on his feet. He was agile, he had great delivery. You saw the State of the Union address, nearly an hour and a half, he was faster on his feet than most members of Congress. I think Joe Biden is agile, is capable, his record of leadership both at home and abroad makes him imminently qualified and we should be focusing some on the wisdom and experience he brings to the job in addition to the accomplishments he’s had these—
RADDATZ: I know you cited at the State of the Union, he had good comedic timing last night I will give him that. A lot of that’s on teleprompter and people have seen him stumble. These are people they talk to. 48 percent said it’s age because they’ve watched him. The president says watch me and some of those people have watched him and still have doubts. So what would you say to them about those stumbles, about rambling sometimes?
COONS: Martha, I’d say compare him to the alternative. Recognize the value of experience and seasoning, recognize that his values align better with where we want America to go, and in my meetings and conversations with him in public and private, I’m more often the person that goes um you know, the new senator from ah Missouri than he does. Joe Biden is fit, capable, and ready to serve another term.