Time for Democratic Leaders to Deliver Message to Biden

There was a time, not so long ago, when Congress was full of heroes. John F. Kennedy even wrote a book about a few of them, which he unapologetically called “Profiles in Courage.”

But that was then, and this is now. Even Diogenes with his proverbial lamp would have a hard time finding profiles of courage in today’s Congress. It’s filled with men and women with little or no backbone – as proven by leaders of both parties refusing to stand up and save the nation at a time when we needed them the most.

First was the Republican Party’s failure to break with Donald Trump after January 6. Our memory’s short, so let’s remember the facts. After two months of unsuccessful attempts to overturn results of the 2020 election, Trump resorted to violence against the government. He summoned an armed mob of supporters to Washington and unleashed them in an attack on the U.S. Capitol, where they overran, killed, and wounded police officers, trashed the citadel of democracy, and threatened the lives of every member of Congress and the Vice President of the United States.

If there were ever a compelling case for impeachment, that was it. Indeed, within a week, the House of Representatives impeached Trump for “incitement of insurrection.” Yet Senate Republicans, led by spineless Mitch McConnell, refused to convict him. Yes, refused to hold Trump responsible, even for attempting to overthrow the government.

We’ve never seen such an astounding display of political cowardice, nor one with such disastrous results. Because, had Republican senators only found the courage to do the right thing at that time, a disgraced Donald Trump would not be a factor today. He’d be in the dustbin of history, where he belongs. Instead, Republicans not only defended Trump’s treasonous behavior on January 6, they’re now championing this serial liar, wannabe dictator, and convicted felon as their presidential nominee.

In 2021, by sticking with Donald Trump, Republican members of Congress put party loyalty above saving the country. And now, sadly, by sticking with Joe Biden, Democratic members of Congress are doing the same thing. At least so far.

Of course, the parallel’s not perfect. Joe Biden’s no Donald Trump. He’s everything Trump is not: honest, patriotic, hard-working, loyal, compassionate, and effective. He’s accomplished more in four years than most presidents do in eight. He should be automatically given another four years.

The problem is he has to win them first. And, fairly or unfairly, the focus in this campaign is not on all the good things Joe Biden’s done or could accomplish in a second term, nor on how bad things were for four years under Trump and how much worse they’d be were he given another four.

The entire focus is on whether or not Joe Biden is mentally and physically fit to serve another four years. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe he’s not up to it. And, unfortunately, starting with his dismal debate performance against Donald Trump, Biden’s given them no evidence that he is.

Democrats are right, including longtime Biden fans like me, to believe there is too much at stake in this election to take a chance with a weak candidate against Donald Trump. So now’s the time for Democrats to show some courage. It’s time for Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, James Clyburn, and Chuck Schumer to head to the White House and convince President Biden that he must step aside and let the party rally behind a younger, more energetic candidate.

Biden must step down for the good of the party, lest Democrats not only lose the White House, but the House and Senate as well. Biden must step down for the good of the country, to save our democracy and prevent the prospect of a madman president who has promised to trash the Constitution, prosecute his political opponents, sic the Justice Department on his critics in the media, pardon the January 6 criminals, undertake mass deportations, and roll back all the freedoms we’ve won and expanded over the last 50 years.

And Joe Biden must also step down for his own good: to save his own reputation as a great, one-term president. As a hero who saved our country once in 2020, and again in 2024. Not as a confused old man who didn’t know when it was time to pass the torch.

But time is running out. Jeffries, Pelosi, Clyburn, and Schumer need to deliver that message to Biden now. Before it’s too late.

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(Bill Press is host of The BillPressPod, and author of 10 books, including: “From the Left: My Life in the Crossfire.” His email address is: bill@billpress.com. Readers may also follow him on Twitter @billpresspod.)