On today's
CNN This Morning, the panel from Kate Bedingfield to Bakari Sellers, to Shermichael Singleton, to host Kasie Hunt herself, all praised Joe Biden for being "selfless" in stepping aside.
It's all a tired repeat of fervent over-praise of the president after he was dragged kicking and screaming to the door, with Nancy Pelosi threatening to publicly humiliate him if he refused to go. As the New York Post reported [emphasis added]:
"Pelosi reportedly threatened to publicly trash her longtime friend and political ally if he continued to ignore thunderous calls to drop out of the 2024 election over fears for his cognitive abilities, four sources close to the campaign told the outlet. Pelosi threatened to go public with her belief that her fellow Democrat wouldn’t beat the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, in a rematch — and threatened to release humiliating polling data to back it up, the sources alleged."
The two Republican-ish people on the panel were of the Trump-critic variety. Shermichael Singleton, who joined in the praise of Biden's supposed selflessness, was fired as a Trump administration aide when his writings deeply critical of Trump came to light. He subsequently quit the GOP.
And then there was Alyssa Farah Griffin. This New York Times article about her says it all: "A Former Trump Aide Becomes a Liberal Favorite." Just weeks ago, our Nicholas Fondacaro caught Farah Griffin on The View claiming that Kamala Harris is no longer a leftist, but is advancing a "centrist-Democratic message." Because nothing says centrist like proposing price controls over a huge portion of the economy!
So there was nothing "selfless" in Biden's decision to step aside. Nor, contrary to Beningfield's claim, did he "put his ego aside." He quit to salvage whatever legacy he might have, and to avoid a very public humiliation. Imagine the funereal atmosphere at the DNC if he had stubbornly decided to tough it out!
Here's the transcript.
CNN This Morning
8/20/24
6:05 am EDTKATE BEDINGFIELD: Watching him last night, and as somebody whow orked for him for a long time and saw him up close, in the way that he conducts himself in public service. It was such an ode to the idea that public service is about being bigger than ourselves. And that there is reason for optimism and that people should want to participate in the process. I think and so many people look at politics today and say, why would I want any part of that?
And I just thought he did such a moving job as somebody who's dedicated his life to public service. I thought he did such a moving job of making the case for the fact that working in politics is about serving something bigger than yourself. It is about country. There just aren't that many moments in our politics where somebody stands up and says what's best for me, the thing that I want, is not what I think is best for the country. And so I'm going to take a step back. And that is a huge, huge selfless thing to do.
So I was, it was really moving, it was obviously emotional for those of us who worked for him. but I think it was emotional for a lot of people who are invested in politics and public service in this country, and I thought it was just a really powerful night.
BAKARI SELLERS: I agree with Kate wholeheartedly. I mean, I think that he put -- the contrast between Joe Biden and Donald Trump could not be more clear. You have someone who is clinically an egomaniac, versus someone who is as selfless as Joe Biden really is.
. . .
SHERMICHAEL SINGLETON: I want to just touch on President Biden quickly here. I mean, it does take a certain level of magnanimity to be in a very, very powerful position and be willing to give it up. And I really just hope the American people as we are in this divided time, really take the opportunity to just reflect on that. I know there are a lot of differences about the president. There are differences on some of his policy positions. But at the end of the day, we do look to our leaders, Kasie, to give us examples of who we can be under the worst conditions. And even in the best conditions. And I think President Biden has certainly exuded that as a leader.
KASIE HUNT: Certainly it is not, I wouldn't say, Kate, something that we see a lot of in Washington. People being willing to put aside their own ego.
BEDINGFIELD: It is really not. It is a very ego-driven town, and to watch somebody put their ego aside and do what's best for the country, or what he believes is best for the country. It is a really powerful thing.
