Democrats in disbelief over Biden's health condition.
In the twilight of President Joe Biden's tenure, a burgeoning realization has taken hold among his Democratic colleagues: the U.S. President is an aged man, struggling to fulfill his duties. Despite this realization, Biden's inner circle has persistently refused to acknowledge this reality, keeping him in office. This is the picture painted by a recently published book titled "Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again."
Authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson allege that, in the last two years of his presidency, Biden experienced moments wherein he could not recall the names of his most trusted aides, spoke incoherently, and frequently lost his train of thought. They claim that Biden has been kept away from the public to hide the extent of his decline.
The book offers a detailed account of how Democratic lawmakers, White House staff, members of Biden's cabinet, and Democratic donors were left stunned by the President's deteriorating mental and physical condition. The book portrays how Biden embarked on a failed re-election campaign, with few attempting to dissuade him from doing so.
The book describes in detail a scene-by-scene portrayal of the shock felt by democratic lawmakers, White House staff, members of Biden's cabinet, and Democratic donors as they witnessed the President's decline. According to Tapper and Thompson, the President's campaign was a disaster that only a few tried to stop.
In the book's politically charged final stages, the authors suggest that Biden's illness sparked both sympathy and debate. The President's age and health have been under increasing scrutiny in recent days, with Biden's office announcing last Sunday that he had been diagnosed with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. The statement stated that Biden and his family were reviewing treatment options with his doctors.
The President's cancer diagnosis triggered a wave of sympathy, even from former President Donald Trump, who, on the social media platform Truth Social, wrote, "Melania and I send our warmest wishes and best regards to Jill and her family, and wish Joe a speedy and successful recovery."
Despite the outpouring of sympathy, the debate over Biden's decision to run for re-election continues. Vice President JD Vance expressed concern on Monday, stating, "We must honestly ask ourselves whether the former president was able to do the job."
In private interviews, White House staff members have expressed their concerns about Biden's condition. An audio recording published by Axios in March 2024 shows a conversation between Biden and special advisor Robert Hur regarding the affair of secret documents. The recording makes it clear why Hur described Biden as a "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with poor memory."
According to the authors, concerns about Biden's health were raised as early as 2020, but his mental and physical decline seemed to accelerate particularly in the two years leading up to the disastrous debate with Donald Trump in June 2024. In December 2022, Biden could not even recall the names of his national security advisor Jake Sullivan and his communications chief Kate Bedingfield. In the fall of 2023, he seemed not to recognize Jamie Harrison, the head of the Democratic National Committee, although Harrison disputes this. In early 2024, Biden did not recognize actor George Clooney, an old acquaintance.
Some members of Biden's cabinet have expressed doubt about his readiness for a national emergency at 2 a.m. "What would have been a disaster in 2023, we would have handled with 'Okay, we can do this' in 2024," a top advisor told the authors.
Biden was shielded by a tight-knit circle, including his wife, son, and long-time advisors, who were dubbed the "Politburo." These advisors valued loyalty to Biden above all else, and those outside the inner circle, such as campaign aides, pollsters, and cabinet members, believed the advisors were hiding negative information from him. When Biden decided to run again, neither the White House nor the campaign team had a say in the matter.
The book covers various aspects of Biden's declining health and the supposed cover-up by his inner circle. It discusses Biden's cognitive and physical impairments, the efforts of his team to hide these issues, and the detrimental effects of his choice to seek another term. The book also sheds light on the legal and memory issues related to Special Counsel Robert Hur's investigation of Biden's retention of classified documents from his vice presidency.
In conclusion, "Original Sin" is a critical examination of President Joe Biden's final term, revealing his physical and cognitive decline, the attempts to cover up these issues, and the disastrous consequences of his decision to pursue re-election. The book offers valuable insights into the intersection of Biden's health, political decisions, and the management of public perception.
- The book "Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again" alleges that the US President, Joe Biden, has been experiencing moments of forgetfulness, incoherence, and losing his train of thought during his final years in office.
- The authors claim that concerns about Biden's health were raised as early as 2020, and his mental and physical decline seemed to accelerate in the two years leading up to the June 2024 debate with Donald Trump.
- In private interviews, White House staff members have shared their concerns about the President's condition, with one advisor describing Biden as a "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with poor memory."
- The book also addresses the legal issues surrounding Special Counsel Robert Hur's investigation into Biden's retention of classified documents from his vice presidency, shedding light on the memory challenges faced by the President.
