In a stunning escalation of the Democratic Party’s internal crisis, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-W.A., became the first elected Democrat to call for President Joe Biden’s resignation on Thursday.
This unprecedented move marks a massive shift in the Democratic Party’s discourse, moving beyond concerns about Biden’s electability to directly questioning his cognitive ability to govern effectively.
Gluesenkamp Perez’s questioned the president’s age, health, and decision-making capacity.
“I doubt the president’s judgement about his health, his fitness to do the job, and whether he is the one making important decisions about our country, rather than unelected advisors,” she said, a stunning break in the normally tight-lipped party politics of Washington, D.C.
The congresswoman’s call for resignation comes amidst growing unrest within the Democratic Party following Biden’s widely criticized debate performance on June 27.
The event, which was watched by an estimated 50 million Americans, has become a flashpoint for concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities and his chances against former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
“We all saw what we saw, you can’t undo that, and the truth I think, is that Biden is going to lose to Trump,” Gluesenkamp Perez stated.
While several Democratic lawmakers have suggested Biden should step aside from the 2024 race, Gluesenkamp Perez’s call for immediate resignation is a significant escalation.
Behind the scenes, high-profile Democrats are grappling with how to address the situation. Reports suggest that former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have had private conversations about Biden’s candidacy and encouraging him to withdraw.
Obama, in particular, is said to be cautious about intervening directly, aware that his involvement could be weaponized by Trump — who is far ahead in recent polls.
Hollywood star George Clooney recently penned a New York Times op-ed calling for the President to drop out of the race.
Clooney’s piece, which insiders say had Obama’s tacit approval, argued that the Biden must withdraw.
The Democratic Party finds itself in a precarious position. With the 2024 election looming, party leaders are struggling to find a way to figure out what to do with an elderly Biden without sabotaging their electoral prospects. The lack of a clear succession plan and the potential for a messy primary process if Biden were to step aside add to the complexity of the situation.
Critics within the party argue that decisive action is needed to prevent electoral disaster. However, Biden’s teams insistence on continuing the campaign have created a standoff within the party.
The crisis has also strained longstanding tensions within the Democratic establishment. The cooler-than-perceived relationship between Obama and Biden, as well as the hesitancy of party leaders to directly confront the issue, highlight the delicate political balancing act at play.
As the controversy unfolds, questions about the Democratic Party’s future leadership and direction are coming to the fore. The calls for Biden’s resignation may embolden other party members to voice similar concerns publicly.
And the potential for a sitting president to be pushed out by his own party illustrates just how extraordinary the turmoil is that has swept through the Democratic establishment.