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JOE BIDEN HAS acknowledged that he ran as a “transitional candidate” in the 2020 US presidential election, but changed his mind due to how “divided” politics has become in the country.
The US President said he is “reluctant to walk away” now because there is “more to do”.
He was speaking to BET News’s Ed Gordon for a sit-down interview for ‘Black America Votes: The Biden Special’, which will air in full later today.
In a clip from the special, Biden said: “When I originally ran, you may remember Ed, I said I was going to be a transitional candidate, and I thought that I’d be able to move from this just pass it on to someone else, but I didn’t anticipate things getting so, so, so divided.
“And quite frankly, I think the only thing age brings is a little bit of wisdom, and I think I’ve demonstrated that I know how to get things done for the country, in spite of the fact that we were told we couldn’t get it done.
But there’s more to do, and I’m reluctant to walk away from that.
Biden’s age and his fitness to complete another term has dominated the headlines around his campaign, which amplified after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month.
Numerous Democrats have called for him to step down, including former speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and actor George Clooney, who is a longtime supporter and fundraiser.
The 81-year-old president has already acknowledged his poor debate performance but has insisted several times that he is staying in the race.
In the BET interview, Biden said he “made a serious mistake” in the debate, and seemingly speaking about what would make him drop out of the race, said: “If I had some medical condition that emerged. If doctors came to me and said: ‘You got this problem, that problem.’”
When asked about reproductive rights and restoring Roe V. Wade, which he has committed to doing if reelected, Biden warned about the possibility of Trump being reelected and appointing two more judges to the US Supreme Court.
The US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which had enshrined legal abortions across all 50 states, in June 2022. Since then, some 20 states, mostly in the South and Midwest, have prohibited abortion outright or severely restricted access.
This year, the court significantly rolled back the power of federal agencies, while also partially ruling in early July in favour of Trump’s immunity claims.
Of the nine current US Supreme Court justices, six were appointed by Republican presidents. Trump appointed three – Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. This was the most by any president since Ronald Reagan, who appointed four.
“The Supreme Court did it. Trump appointed the Supreme Court with the express purpose of doing it,” Biden said, referring to the overturning of Roe V Wade.
“There’s gonna probably be two more appointments to the court,” Biden explained, saying two judges will probably retire. “Just imagine if he has two more appointments on that court, what that means forever.”
US media, citing unnamed sources familiar with the planning, has reported that Biden is weighing proposals to reform the Supreme Court, including possible term limits and a new ethics code for the conservative-dominated bench.
He has previously resisted calls to overhaul or reform the court of nine lifetime-appointed justices, but that may be changing.
It was unclear whether Biden would come out in support of the measures in the near future or in his second term if he wins the presidential election in November, the New York Times reported.
However, the measures Biden is reportedly considering – including backing a constitutional amendment that would overturn the court’s ruling on presidential immunity – would require bipartisan congressional support that is almost certainly out of reach.
Amid the legal setbacks the Supreme Court has handed down to Democrats, it has also recently been engulfed in ethics scandals.
Conservative justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas refused to step aside on cases related to the 2020 election, even as flags linked to Trump’s false election claims were discovered to be flown outside Alito’s home, and Thomas’s wife was part of Trump’s effort to overturn the vote result.
With reporting from © AFP 2024
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This is an absolute scandal and all of the people who make up this Government should hang their heads in shame. Picking on the elderly like this is inhuman!
…… while Enda K had no problem giving his pal a E37k pay rise on top of an already E95k salary. No problem finding money for that & doing this to the elderly. Yes – they should hang themselves in shame. Shameful.
Wonder is this another cynical blue-shirt kite flying exercise? If it isnt how can they justify attacking the most vulnerable in society one again? and if it is I wonder do they enjoy worrying people for the sake of politics.
FG have always had a fetish for “taking the hard choices”, it makes them feel decisive and reforming. True to form they continue to protect the very top.
I neglected to add that they rarely consider the effect of their actions or if they are logical. They just have to take hard decisions, that always hit the least able hardest. I left it out because I presumed that it was obvious.
I remember reading a description of FG and FF that went roughly – A FF’ers only aim is to have the road outside his house in good shape, and will drive his kids to the boat while boasting about it and that a FG’ers only concern is that things stay the way they are, for good or bad.
FG’s ideology is too tied in with the old IPP outlook of maintain the status quo at all costs. FF – well FF don’t have an ideology apart from sell their country to the highest bidder. Saying FF’ers have a belief system is like saying the General was an Irish Robin Hood.
Beyond the pale by the Government.
@ Tom,
I am non political, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t comment on an issue that affects the most vunerable people in our society!
Trying to get off the subject matter won’t work and the fact that you are defending Fine Gáel means that you agree with closing nursing homes!
Like all of us, you too will be old one day and I just hope that whoever is in power then, will not be of the same mindset of either you or this Government!
Also remember this too…….The very people who are being treated like second class citizens from the closing of those nursing homes, are the very people who built up this Country and are not responsible for this current crisis, but they are being penalised for the people who did!
It’s an absolute disgrace to close these nursing homes and no amount of rationalising by you or anyone can change that fact!
Derek,
I believe that the actions of men are the greatest interpreters of their thoughts. In short, SF aren’t too bothered about human suffering. While you may think that they have the right to get precious about harsh measures, I don’t.
In short I think SF are hypocritical murderous scumbags. If they cared about human suffering there is no evidence of it. All evidence points to the contrary.
Have a good Christmas.
Caoimhin o’Caolan made this statement- not Gerry. If you want to tar people with the same brush i could mention th facist blueshirts of the past or the “murderous scumbags” of FF during the civil war… You will now say that thats in the past, so is the troubles (we’re even learning it in History!) So do tell who you prefer facist FG, murderous scumbags of FF, OIRA of Labour or PIRA of SF? Selective memory perhaps?
That’s your defense? SF should be excused their murderous past because FG have to break the bad news that the country is financial dire straits? Well, I suppose if you think that way, you’re probably not very rational.
Have a Good and (I appreciate the irony of saying to a Shinner) Peaceful Christmas:)
No Irony at all… Im 16 and probably the only political person in my school not a member of Ogra Shinn Fein so thats that out the window. I also love the fact you call SF hypocritical when you as presumably a FGer call Sinn Fein murderous bastards having committed some of the worst murders imaginable during the civil war (both sides Pro and Anti Treaty) but now trot a moral grandstanding while throwing the most vulnerable in society out of their homes. I attack FG for what they do in Government not their past, as facist so i advise you to do the same with all partys and not have such a selective memory of the past. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, sincerly not sarcastically to you ;D
Sinn Fein are just latching on to populist causes. Responsible media sources won’t fall for it and will not run any stories about the provos. They’re finished before they even begin. Might as well pack your bags and go back to Northern Ireland Gerry. You’re not wanted in THIS country.
He topped the poll so seemingly they did… Troll
Given that SF’s policy is to stop people reaching old age by killing them, I think this is quite funny.
Fiachra, given that FG comfortably brought home two seats in the constituency, I’d say that FG are a tad more popular than Gerry “It’s never the IRA’s fault NO MATTER WHO THEY KILL” Adams.
Nonetheless for such a vicious campaign against him he topped the poll and was elected by the people with one of the highest votes in the country… (to which you will now state some meaningless rant about the IRA). This is not populism to hit out against this and if it is im all for it because no matter what you brand something, if it is the right thing to do, then no amount of slurs should be able to stop it being made.
check mate
have your say