The June presidential debate, a pivotal moment in Joe Biden's re-election campaign, was marked by a lack of preparation that left his top aides "disappointed" and clinging to the hope that he could rise to the occasion once the cameras started rolling.
In a recent book by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, it was revealed that former White House chief of staff Ron Klain was taken aback by Biden's apparent lack of preparation. According to RedState, the authors wrote, Hed been assured that Biden had been reviewing his prep materials before he arrived at Camp David, but he hadnt."
Upon arrival at Camp David, Biden's preparation was far from rigorous. The book reveals, He was rusty and exhausted when he arrived, essentially sleeping that whole first day. And even after that, taking lots of naps. His performance during mock debates was erratic, with his mouth often hanging open, prompting his advisers to instruct him to close it.
Despite these concerning signs, many of Biden's top aides left the preparation sessions feeling optimistic about the upcoming debate. This optimism, however, seems to be at odds with the reality of Biden's preparation. The authors question why, if the team felt confident, they were also hoping that Biden would suddenly become more alert and engaged during the debate.
The book quotes Biden campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg as saying, Okay, well, our guy is a game-day performer," suggesting that despite his lackluster preparation, they believed Biden could rise to the occasion when it mattered.
However, this optimism seems misplaced given Biden's performance during the debate. Another book about the 2024 presidential election reveals Klain's concern about Biden's state during the preparation, describing him as "fatigued, befuddled, and disengaged." This description aligns with Biden's performance during the debate, where he appeared confused and made several verbal blunders.
The narrative that the debate was the turning point in Biden's mental decline is misleading. Evidence of his cognitive decline had been visible for years, with his team often having to guide him through public appearances. The debate simply provided a platform where his decline could not be hidden or glossed over.
CNN contributor Scott Jennings highlighted this issue during a panel discussion on "CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip," calling the cover-up of Biden's cognitive decline the "greatest scandal in modern American political history." He said, "If he were in office today, if he had somehow won and were in office, youd have the same people on TV today saying, Hes fine. Behind closed doors, hes fine. And you know it.
The portrayal of Biden's cognitive decline as a sudden occurrence during the debate is a disservice to the public. It obscures the reality that his decline had been evident for years, and that his team, along with media outlets like CNN and Axios, had been complicit in concealing this decline from the public. This raises questions about the integrity of the media and the transparency of those in power.
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