Three prominent liberal pundits—longtime Democratic campaign operative James Carville, The Young Turks founder and host Cenk Uygur, and Washington Post columnist David Ignatius—have called for Biden to be replaced by a more competent candidate over the last few weeks.
David Ignatius published a piece in the Washington Post on Sept. 12 simply titled, “President Biden should not run again in 2024.” He started off softly with kind words about Biden, but then laid into him. “But I don’t think Biden and Vice President Harris should run for reelection. It’s painful to say that, given my admiration for much of what they have accomplished. But if he and Harris campaign together in 2024, I think Biden risks undoing his greatest achievement—which was stopping Trump.”
He went on to cite polls showing Americans’ concerns about Biden’s age, discussed Harris’ unpopularity, and acknowledged Hunter Biden’s corruption, saying Joe “should have stopped his son Hunter from joining the board of a Ukrainian gas company and representing companies in China.” He ended by calling for Biden to step back and reconsider running, warning “Time is running out.”
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Last week, Cenk Uygur went on David Pakman’s YouTube show to vehemently defend his opinion that Biden should face a primary election.
“C’mon guys, think about it, he’s losing to the moron Donald Trump right now! It’s inconceivable. David, it cannot be the most important election of our lifetimes. And we’re choosing to go into it with a very hobbled candidate because we’d like to be polite to him because he’d like a better legacy as a two-term president.”
Cenk Uygur CONFRONTS ME: Biden CAN'T WIN!!! #davidpakman pic.twitter.com/BYCdBFyLfL
— David Pakman Show (@davidpakmanshow) September 29, 2023
Seeming to confuse a few polls together, Cenk cited a poll that 72 percent of Americans don’t think Biden will make it through his second term (according to a CBS poll, 66 percent of Americans believe that; additionally, a CNBC poll found 70 percent of Americans don’t want Biden to run again). He also argued there were hundreds of other Democrats in the country—repeatedly naming governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Andy Beshear of Kentucky, as well as Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan—that could win over Biden.
Cenk fought back as Pakman tried to get him to concede on multiple points. Cenk denied it is too late to replace Biden, arguing that any Democrat would boost the Party’s favorability by 10 to 15 points. He argued there is no such thing as incumbency advantage and said holding primary elections would be a great opportunity for the Democratic Party to reach the public. He said the only way Biden would defeat Democratic opponents is if the “mainstream media brainwashes every one of the Democratic voters into compliance.” Finally, Cenk claimed the DNC only supports Biden for sheer “authoritarian” reasons.
Also last week, James Carville on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast said if the election were held this November Biden would have low betting odds. “Let’s assume the election was November the third of this year,” Carville said after Maher claimed Trump could easily win. “The candidates are Joe Biden, the Democrat, Donald Trump, the Republican, Joe Manchin and Larry Hogan are No Labels, and Cornel West. Trump would be a betting favorite. If I told you I would give you even money, you would not take that bet. So somebody better wake the f–k up.” When reviewing the clip, Cenk said no, Trump would not just be a betting favorite but a landslide.
James Carville "Let's assume the election was November 3rd. Trump would be a betting favorite. Somebody better wake the fuck up"
Bill Maher calls Joe "Ruth Bader Biden" pic.twitter.com/H6UznJJRLu
— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) September 25, 2023
Maher agreed. “Do I think [Biden] can do the job? Absolutely. Government as you well know better than anybody is done in small rooms like the Oval Office where people are talking quietly and decisions are made. I think he still can do that fine. He cannot run for president. He’ll look bad in the debates, it’s just too, it’s too much.”
Watch/Listen to the full convo here: https://t.co/GTOCTnfbhN
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⚡️New episode every Sunday @billmaher @JamesCarville #ClubRandomPodcast pic.twitter.com/6pzjWUr3Ds— Club Random with Bill Maher (@ClubRandom_) September 26, 2023
Carville said something similar the week before on CNN when discussing polls on Biden like the ones cited above. “For me to come on television and say I don’t find this alarming or troubling at all would be stupid. I wouldn’t do that.”
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) called for Biden to step down in August and allow someone else to run against the GOP. “I would like to see Joe Biden, a wonderful and remarkable man, pass the torch—cement this extraordinary legacy,” Phillips said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “And by the way, this is not how everybody thinks, but I do believe the majority wants to move on,” he added. Meanwhile, the mainstream media is still publishing op-eds with titles like, “What’s behind the nonsensical campaign to replace Biden-Harris in 2024: No candidate is perfect, but dumping an incumbent is generally a terrible idea.” But the tide may begin to turn if enough liberal thought leaders step forward and demand a primary.
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