Don't we ever learn?
In a troubling echo of the 2016 election, the media's current obsession with President Joe Biden's health is eerily reminiscent of the relentless focus on Hillary Clinton's emails. (In one study, there was as much coverage of Hillary Clinton's emails in six days as there was of her policies in 69). This fixation, fueled by both legitimate health concerns and sensationalist tendencies, risks paving the way for the return of Donald Trump, whose presidency was marked by a significant erosion of democratic norms and values.
The media's relentless coverage of Biden's health plays directly into a narrative that Trump and his allies have been constructing for years, including weaponizing his stutter. By amplifying concerns about Biden's age and health, the media inadvertently assists Trump in undermining public confidence in Biden's ability to govern. This cycle of coverage distracts from substantive policy issues and the real threats facing American democracy.
Even if one concedes that Biden has aged over the last four years, it's crucial to recognize that a president is supported by a team of experts. Biden's administration is characterized by the appointment of knowledgeable and experienced individuals to key positions, ensuring competent governance. In contrast, Trump prioritizes loyalty over competence, leading to a series of disastrous decisions, the most glaring being the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Trump administration's response to COVID-19 exemplifies the dangers of valuing loyalty over expertise. Trump's downplaying of the virus, his suggestion that Americans could inject bleach as a treatment, and the overall chaotic management of the crisis resulted in over a million American deaths. This period starkly contrasts with the Biden administration's science-driven approach, which has significantly mitigated the pandemic's impact, and saw this country through.
The media's preoccupation with Biden's health mirrors the sensationalism that plagued coverage of Hillary Clinton's emails. This approach diverts attention from critical issues, such as the threat posed by Trump's authoritarian tendencies. Instead of focusing on the substantive achievements and policies of the Biden administration, the media fixates on superficial narratives that do little to inform the public about the true state of the nation.
Despite facing an obstructive Congress, Biden has had one of the most successful presidencies in the history of the republic. Here are some of his top accomplishments:
1. American Rescue Plan: Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package provided direct relief to millions of Americans, reduced child poverty, and supported businesses and local governments.
2. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: A historic investment of $1.2 trillion in the nation's infrastructure, aimed at rebuilding roads, bridges, and public transit, while also expanding broadband access.
3. CHIPS and Science Act: A $280 billion package to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing, ensuring technological leadership and reducing dependence on foreign supply chains.
4. Climate Action: Rejoining the Paris Agreement and committing the U.S. to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as pushing through substantial investments in clean energy and climate resilience has led to the Biden administration taking more action on climate than any other administration in history.
5. Economic Recovery: Under Biden, the United States has recovered from the economic downturn caused by the pandemic better than any other western country. The U.S. has seen record job growth, a significant reduction in unemployment, and strong GDP growth despite global economic challenges.
6. Healthcare: Strengthening the Affordable Care Act, expanding coverage, and reducing healthcare costs for millions of Americans, and finally passing legislation allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs.
7. Judicial Appointments: Appointing a diverse array of judges, including a historic number of women and minorities, to the federal bench, ensuring a more representative judiciary. This includes the first African-American female ever appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
And let's not forget he did all of this while restoring decency to the White House. Without berating reporters, lashing out at the justice department, hiding his tax returns, holding Chinese bank accounts, golfing at his own clubs 25% of the time on the taxpayer dime, or inciting an insurrection.
The double standard of the New York Times is is as audacious as it is obvious. Ever since Biden declined to grant them an interview, some thing for which they seem to feel they are entitled to, and went to Howard Stern instead, they have seemingly embarked on a holy war against him. Their recent report on a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's disease visiting the White House eight times in eight months is a prime example. The insinuation is that the only reason for these visits must be Biden's health, conveniently ignoring the fact that over 1800 personnel are stationed at the White House, many of them military, and the White House medical unit is available to the 1.5 million visitors of the White House each year. Literally thousands of people are treated by the White House medical team making such visits routine. Moreover, the Biden administration's transparency in publishing visitor logs—a practice not followed during the Trump administration—has been twisted against them, highlighting the Times' tendency toward sensationalism and weaponization Bidens transparency.
As we approach another critical election, it's imperative that the media focus on the substantive threats to American democracy. Sensationalist coverage that amplifies unfounded fears and distractions does a disservice to the public. The obsession with Joe Biden's health is not just misplaced but dangerous, as it obscures the real dangers posed by a potential return to Trumpian governance. The media must rise above the temptation of clickbait and prioritize informing the public about the genuine threats to our democratic institutions.
Of course they never will so we must.