The following is an excerpt from a column written by The Hill’s Brett Samuels about a column composed by David Ignatius, a prominent figure in Washington politics, in which Ignatius calls on President Biden not to run for reelection.
A top Washington Post columnist has joined the fray of pundits calling on President Biden to step aside and not seek reelection.
Let us examine his argument in greater detail.
Ignatius presents a dichotomy in his argument, asserting that while the president has been successful and effective overall, there is a caveat to this assessment.
“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.”
A significant portion of Ignatius’ coverage of foreign affairs for the Washington Post does not address the topics of abortion and assisted suicide. The exception to this is his conclusion that “What I admire most about President Biden is that in a polarized nation, he has governed from the center out, as he promised in his victory speech.”
The narrow focus on a single issue means that Ignatius, who covers foreign affairs for the Washington Post, does not address abortion and/or assisted suicide in his work. The exception is his conclusion that “What I admire most about President Biden is that in a polarized nation, he has governed from the center out, as he promised in his victory speech.”
One might contest this conclusion on a multitude of issues; however, it would be implausible to maintain that he has been a centrist on the issue of abortion, at least in a manner that would be perceived as sincere. As pro-life champion Rep. Chris Smith has stated, “By his words and deeds, President Biden is the ‘Abortion President’.”
Ignatius acknowledges that President Biden faces two significant challenges in his bid for a second term.
The first is obvious:
He would be 82 when he began a second term. According to a recent Associated Press-NORC poll, 77 percent of the public, including 69 percent of Democrats, think he’s too old to be effective for four more years. Biden’s age isn’t just a Fox News trope; it’s been the subject of dinner-table conversations across America this summer.
The second is a corollary of the first.
Because of their concerns about Biden’s age, voters would sensibly focus on his presumptive running mate, Harris. She is less popular than Biden, with a 39.5 percent approval rating, according to polling website FiveThirtyEight. Harris has many laudable qualities, but the simple fact is that she has failed to gain traction in the country or even within her own party.
In a recent interview, Ignatius asserted that Biden has historically demonstrated a tendency to be reticent in declining requests. He provides three examples of significant missteps on the part of the president, which Ignatius attempts to downplay. Furthermore, he adds
Biden has another chance to say no — to himself, this time — by withdrawing from the 2024 race. It might not be in character for Biden, but it would be a wise choice for the country.
It remains to be seen whether this column will result in another, and potentially even more significant, “fray of pundits” calling for Biden not to seek a second term.
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.
