By Dave Van Zandt
The media wields significant power in shaping public perception and influencing political outcomes in the United States. Recently, President Joe Biden has faced intense media scrutiny regarding his mental acuity and age, leading to concerns about his fitness for office.
Recent articles have focused on various incidents and concerns. For example, after a recent debate, KTVZ published an article that attributes a report to CNN regarding President Biden’s mental fitness following his debate performance. Further, The Atlantic has published multiple pieces urging Biden to reconsider his candidacy due to concerns over his cognitive abilities, arguing that his continued campaign might harm the Democratic Party: “The Lie Democrats Are Telling Themselves.” and “Time to Go, Joe.” Similarly, the NYT pieces “To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave the Race.” and “Biden’s Lapses Are Said to Be Increasingly Common and Worrisome” echo these concerns.
Anchors also play a crucial role in framing these narratives. Instead of merely interviewing Biden, particularly after the debate, they often focus their questions on his age and cognitive abilities, forcing him to defend his mental status. This approach shifts the conversation from policy issues to personal defense, impacting public perception and Biden’s ability to project leadership. For example, this was evident during a recent interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, where Biden had to directly address concerns about his mental fitness.
These examples of the media’s intense scrutiny of President Biden’s mental fitness reflect the absence of a clear age limit or cognitive ability tests for holding office. This gap allows the media to shape narratives around a candidate’s fitness to lead, filling the void left by these missing guidelines.
A look at other prominent politicians reveals similar concerns. For instance, Senator Ted Kennedy continued to serve despite being diagnosed with brain cancer, which severely impacted his health and capacity to perform his duties. Similarly, Senator John McCain remained in office while battling brain cancer until his passing in 2018. More recently, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has faced public health issues, including freezing during a press conference and other symptoms, raising questions about his ability to serve effectively at 81. McConnell stated that he had no intentions to step down before his term ends in 2027. Additionally, Senator Dianne Feinstein cast a vote on the day she passed away, highlighting critical issues of cognitive and physical fitness in high office.
These examples reveal the critical issue of lacking clear age or cognitive ability limits for holding high office. Without these guidelines, media narratives fill the void, significantly shaping public perception and political outcomes in the United States.
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