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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBiden's Cognitive Abilities - How Do We Lay It to Rest?
A lot of my Bernie supporting family has bought into the "Biden has dementia" theme. It's INCREDIBLY pervasive. It reminds me of Trump's birther theme. Obama showed his birth certificate and even that wasn't good enough.
I do think that Biden should get a cognitive "check-up". But I also know that it won't be good enough for some people. So, I found an article. I present it for anyone else who is dealing with the smear campaign and is looking for something to fight it with.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020/03/06/the-disinformation-campaign-being-launched-against-biden/
There is no data to support the allegation that he is in cognitive decline.
During a town hall on Fox News Thursday night, Trump once again alluded to the idea that Biden is unfit for office. While the lies about the Bidens and Burisma will likely continue, the Daily Caller reports that this new line of attack will be a focus for Republicans and the Trump campaign.
This issue, however, is not simply being raised by Trump and his enablers. Steve Friess reports that a memo about Bidens cognitive decline is circulating among Sanders supporters.
Weve all watched Biden stumble with words during debates and extemporaneous speeches. So as people committed to examining facts and evidence, it is important to gather what we know about this particular attack and not simply dismiss it because of the sources from which it is emanating.
consider is that in December, Biden released a three-page summary of his medical history in which his doctor declared he is a healthy, vigorous 77-year-old fully capable of taking on the role of president. Here is what Stuart Jay Olshansky, a professor of public health at the University of Illinois at Chicago who analyzes the longevity of presidents, said about cognitive abilities after reviewing the report.
The only test that hasnt been done is the cognitive functioning test, Olshansky added. But the fact that hes on the campaign trail and meeting a rigorous travel and meeting schedule probably would suffice as a replacement for the formal test for cognitive functioning.
He said that cognitive tests are typically not required unless problems are detected.
In the January/February issue of The Atlantic, John Hendrickson writes that [Bidens] verbal stumbles have voters worried about his mental fitness. Maybe theyd be more understanding if they knew hes still fighting a stutter.
That is the data we have available about Joe Bidens cognitive capabilities. What it all comes down to is that there is an alternative explanation for his verbal stumbles and his medical records did not indicate a cognitive impairment.
Brandy X. Lee, one of the mental health professionals who has been very vocal about Trumps unfitness for office, explained why a declination to diagnose Biden is in keeping with professional standards.
I do not diagnose without examination and do not speak about public figures in general, unless there is evidence of such profound danger to public health and well-being because of serious signs of mental instability in a public servant, that it would be a public disservice not to share the knowledge and training that I have. Biden has not risen to this threshold
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)Case closed.
qwlauren35
(6,150 posts)If UNINFORMED VOTERS think that Biden is as "problematic" as Trump, they may not vote. They will get disengaged, they will think that they have "two bad choices".
We need to nip this shit in the bud.
Not with "one is worse than the other". But that Biden is NOT cognitively impaired.
It has to be fought.
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)If someone is on the fence after seeing how fucking insane Agolf Twitler is then Fuck them.
Seriously.
Im not interested in trying to persuade someone who cant plainly see the current occupant of the WH is insane.
It IS that simple.
Demsrule86
(68,667 posts)and not ones attacking Trump...hmm
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)The OP is something that I would expect on JPR
brush
(53,861 posts)just stop this crap. You're only helping trump. What's you agenda?
JI7
(89,264 posts)it's their goal to help trump win.
Kingofalldems
(38,476 posts)uponit7771
(90,364 posts)doc03
(35,365 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)crickets
(25,983 posts)Pretending he's stupid or impaired because he stutters is childish, bullying behavior that healthy people should avoid at all ages, and certainly should grow out of by the time they reach adulthood.
https://www.stutteringhelp.org/content/joe-biden [The Stuttering Foundation]
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/01/joe-biden-stutter-profile/602401/ [John Hendrickson]
jmbar2
(4,906 posts)It's not a thing. It's like claiming there is a debate over climate science. There isn't.
nolabear
(41,991 posts)I never did them myself but have many colleagues who do on a regular basis. I dont know a single one who worries about Biden. But frankly it would be absolutely impossible to tell without a host of info no one has easy access to.
Whats his health? Any family history? Any hardening of the arteries? Any physical evidence of stroke? Loss of balance? Sudden fears or personality changes? Inability to follow directions? Confusion as to time and place? Any signs of trying to cover up serious memory lapses? Any emotional labilityinappropriate laughter, tears, rage? Can you draw a click face and show various times? Can you retain a number of words and repeat them back in three minutes?
I cannot see any evidence of any of this in Biden but an assessment would ask all that and more. Stumbling over words can come from a host of things from his well known stutter to a personality quirk that makes him not want to go on and on, to having been warned not to do something that goes against his nature so he pulls himself up short.
The dementia card is an egregious misuse of a serious diagnosis and frankly it preys on ignorance of what it means in order to gain an advantage.
csziggy
(34,137 posts)Their biographies do not give causes of death, but they mean that Biden has some good genes for a long life.
Demovictory9
(32,475 posts)they are going to throw up whatever sticks. in twitter, people are replying with videos of Trump acting at his rallies
Sugarcoated
(7,728 posts)but he seems fine in his videos, no "dementia", obviously knows his shit.
In that last primary debate Biden did very well. I'd ask: What's wrong with the way Joe sounded at that debate? He's up there age wise, but just because a man is talking and thinking a bit slower doesn't mean he's in "cognitive decline". We should value wisdom, we're gonna need it.
Response to Trumpers: Pounding the "dementia" line of attack lowers expectations and that's to Biden's advantage. When he speaks on camera, sounds smart, knows his shit, maybe not as sharp, a little stutter here and there, searching for a word, etc. Going too hard on the "cognitive decline" line of attack actually lowers expectations, helps perceptions, lowers the bar to hurdle. Remember how that was the case with Dubya and it vexed and frustrated us that the bar was low for him. It was Democrats who actually lowered it.
Lastly I'd say: Supreme Court and the environment. There's a list of Biden's latest policies, some of Bernie's that he's taken on that I posted on FB. Most of my Bernie friends bit and were lightly engaged, asked questions. He's also going to surround himself with good people is another point.
Some won't get it and it's best to drop a "he's better than Trump," or "Think SC", "Imagine four more years of the antichrist", plant a seed, light touch. Most will come around to it in their own time and the ones that won't, nothing you say will change that.
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)JI7
(89,264 posts)and bitter Sanders supporters are now attacking Biden to help trump win.
Sugarcoated
(7,728 posts)Pathetic. Truly sore losers
Azathoth
(4,611 posts)Assume Biden has dementia. Then we need to be fair and assume Mr. Clorox injections also has dementia.
The last things to go with dementia are long-term skills and knowledge. Biden has been working at the highest levels of national and foreign policy for 40 years. Trump still doesn't know the address of the White House.
Put it another way, let's say you have to have emergency surgery and you have a choice between two doctors: one is a lifelong surgeon who is developing dementia, and the other is a lifelong circus clown who started pretending to be a doctor three years ago...who also has dementia. Which would you pick?
JI7
(89,264 posts)maybe they should have been more concerned with who they were supporting and his losing tho a man with dementia in a debate and elections.
wishstar
(5,271 posts)The whole distraction and projection of attacking Biden while ignoring Trump's obvious malignant mental derangements is such an obvious campaign ploy.
Anyone who has been paying any attention listening to Trump and reading his ridiculous false accusations and misstatements and misspellings in his daily tweets cannot honestly believe that Biden is the one with cognitive problems.
Caliman73
(11,744 posts)He commits gaffes and says some silly stuff now and again, but that has nothing to do with cognitive decline. I suspect he gets nervous like many people do, and if the article is accurate that he has a stutter (which can be caused by anxiety) then he may become even more self conscious.
Here is the thing about Joe Biden (and I supported Sanders and Warren in the Primary), he is a Decent human being, intelligent enough to get through Law School and pass the Bar. He is a skilled enough politician to have been elected to office since the 1960's. He has REAL EMPATHY for people and while most people who go into politics at the highest levels have a bit of an inflated sense of self, Biden seems to be the type of person who would surround himself with a variety of people who are smart and who care about governing, and LISTEN to them when making decisions.
That, in my book, makes him the ONLY choice for President in 2020.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)If they don't run with that they'll find something equally fatuous. It's the lecture fees of this election cycle.
meadowlander
(4,402 posts)It looks terrible when he launches into a long involved answer and then says "nevermind" and waves it off halfway through. It's obvious that he's lost his train of thought. He needs a more graceful stock phrase to get him out of that situation.
He should focus on shorter, punchier, more direct responses and resist the temptation to ramble. Swing-Trump voters aren't going to listen to a five minute response anyway.
And he needs more debate prep, more development of short key messages that he repeats, more takes of pre-recorded messages so he can bring more energy and emphasis to them. The only way to get rid of the impression that he has cognitive issues is for him to stop making public appearances where it looks like he has cognitive issues.
rgbecker
(4,834 posts)Some here, I fear, are blinded by the light and hope of a Trump free White House.
Cha
(297,655 posts)Asked for comment on the coronavirus, Joe Biden appealed for unity, said if he were in charge hed be looking to the experts, and talked about the need for readily available drive-through testing.
Bernie said job one was to shut this president up right now.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287670529
Cha
(297,655 posts)believe anything that supports their Agenda even if it means handing trump another 4 years.
They do Not give a Shite about our country, her people, The Planet, Or the Supreme Court.
The People Voted for Joe Biden Overwhelmingly.. they know he can THINK just fine. Biden Won.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Yet, the same one who make that claim are the same ones who will make it regardless of its chickenshit premise and evidence to the contrary... they have to believe it, else they admit their own pretense.
KayF
(1,345 posts)i've seen clips of him stumbling, and it worried me, but then i would see videos of him speaking well and it undoes the effect of the other one.
still_one
(92,395 posts)should get a "cognitive check-up"
I definitely think some people should get a "cognitive check-up", perhaps those who may not comprehend that Bernie Sanders has endorsed JOE BIDEN
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,431 posts)have slowed some during his time away from the White House, and a person can acknowledge that he doesn't seem as sharp as he used to without supporting Trump.
Cha
(297,655 posts)Primary Overwhelmingly.. the Voters Chose Biden.. and those who are trying to Smear Joe Biden have an Agenda.
Response to Cha (Reply #28)
Post removed
Cha
(297,655 posts)him with their "Biden has dementia" theme." And they have an Agenda.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,431 posts)rgbecker
(4,834 posts)still_one
(92,395 posts)greenjar_01
(6,477 posts)Pitiful.
GoCubsGo
(32,088 posts)And, anyone who conflates that with mental decline needs to go fuck themselves from here to Kingdom Come." This bullshit originated on Fox "News". Which is terribly ironic, given that they've been carrying water for the most mentally addled human to ever set foot in the White House.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,198 posts)My dad is literally the smartest person I know. He is a genius in his field, hands down--published multiple books, speaks multiple languages, has received several awards. (However, he has never, ever referred to himself as a genius. Not once. But he is.)
Like Joe, however, my dad will occasionally stumble over a word or two. Maybe forget a name. Once he even mixed up my kid's birthdays.
No biggie. It's not some sign of mental unfitness or lack of cognition.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,437 posts)It happens. When I saw Bernie and Biden debate about a month or so ago, Biden seemed to be focused and on-track during the entire debate. I wouldn't have any hesitations about handing him the keys to the country after we've wrestled them away from Trump.
TexasTowelie
(112,419 posts)TheFarseer
(9,326 posts)Or Trump. Trump might make more sense. Winner gets the hotel.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,437 posts)Kingofalldems
(38,476 posts)Kingofalldems
(38,476 posts)mcar
(42,372 posts)Another round of "concern" about Biden.
oasis
(49,408 posts)What if we start by actually laying it to rest?
Cha
(297,655 posts)any validity, it has NONE, because "some people say".
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,437 posts)during a bout of Pneumonia and yet, here she is 4 years later and still looks and sounds great. It's a baseless smear like Hillary's health and President Obama's birth certificate designed to drag Biden down. At this point, I frankly wouldn't even care as long as Trump gets defeated in November. He can step down for health reasons if he has to once he's elected if it turns out to really be a problem and his VP can pick another person to replace themselves.
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)I was a day one contributor to Joe and have met him twice at fundraisers. At the first fundraiser just after the debate in Houston, Joe gave a great speech to the attendees and joked with me with I got him to sign some floor signs from his speech at the 2016 National Convention. Joe used my iPhone to take some pictures and did a better job than I could
I got to talk to Joe at a second fundraiser about stuttering. Many on the attacks on Joe are due to how he copes with stuttering. I was a stutter until 4th grade and I was told that by a fellow board member at my Temple that my son was developmentally delayed. After some testing we found out that we both have a language processing issue that manifested as a stutter for me. My son graduated Phi Beta Kappa and is now a partner in a major big law firm. Joe and I discussed stuttering and I got a Joe Biden hug. My kids notice my stutter when I am very tired and Joe told me that he has the same issue.
Joe talks to a couple dozen young people who are stutters and is s a truly decent human being. For example
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
These attacks on Joe will fail
Cha
(297,655 posts)with Joe Biden. That's awesome you got to meet Biden twice!
It's mean spirited to mock anyone who stutters.
Gothmog
(145,554 posts)I have met Joe and he is the real deal. If you watch this video, you see the real Joe when he talks to this medical professional. Joe later called the lady and talked to her husband and children
Link to tweet
Videos like this show the real Joe Biden and show why this moronic talking point is bogus