How dare those people try to stave off a crushing defeat for Democrats?
That was the theme on Saturday's edition of MSNBC's The Weekend. Hosts and guests alike lashed out at the Democrats and members of the liberal media who are calling on Biden to quit the race.
Jennifer Horn, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, who quit in the wake of the sex scandal that engulfed fellow co-founder John Weaver, kicked off the attack on those calling on Biden to vamoose:
"The response of a very small number of Democrats that have really come out after the president, and some of the media folks that have really come down on him since the election [sic, presumably "debate'] have done more damage and more harm than the president himself did during that debate . . . It is naive to think that at this point in the process, you can switch candidates and still defeat Donald Trump."
Co-host and still member of the Lincoln Project Michael Steele upped the anger ante, demanding to know "what the hell are these people thinking?" Steele asks this whenever Biden is challenged.
Symone Sanders-Townsend, hard-hitting journalist that she . . . isn't, apologized for asking Biden campaign aide Michael Tyler to respond to criticism of Biden for his answer to Stephanopoulos' question as to how he'd feel if he stays in the race and loses, and all the things that he warned about come to pass. Biden's garbled response seemed to be that he'd be okay with it so long as he did his "goodest." The criticism is that Biden was making it about himself, rather than about the goal of beating Trump.
Sanders-Townsend:
"I want to be clear. That ain't my criticism. But enough people are saying it that we gonna have to ask you to respond."
The question arises: what is the motivation of Horn, Steele, and Symone-Sanders in attacking those who are calling on Biden to quit? Do they believe, all indications notwithstanding, that Biden has a bona fide chance of beating Trump?
Stephanopoulos's question to Biden is equally applicable to the trio. How will they feel if Biden, buoyed by their encouragement and that of other like-minded people, digs in his heels, stays in the race, and not only goes down to defeat but takes many House and Senate members down with him?
In any case, Republicans can sit back, fire up the popcorn machine, and enjoy the spectacle of the Democrat party tearing itself apart as it wrangles with Biden's dire predicament.
MSNBC
The Weekend
7/6/24
8:10 am EDTJENNIFER HORN: I would suggest that the response of that very small number of Democrats that have really come out after the president, and some of the media folks that have really come down on him since the, since the election [sic, presumably "debate'] have done more damage and more harm than the president himself did during that debate. For me, and millions of Americans like me, this election is about the future of our country . . . It is naive to think that at this point in the process, you can switch candidates and still defeat Donald Trump.
. . .
MICHAEL STEELE: I really wish [sighs], I really wish Democrats would understand exactly what they're doing right now to their opportunity this November, four months from now. They, I just have never seen such an absolute creation of a wasteland around a candidate by his own people.
So Basil, you've got Senator Mark Warner trying to organize a group of Democratic senators [quoting from an NBC News article] to meet next week to discuss what to do amid concerns about Biden's electability and the potential for a drag on down-ballot races for the House and Senate, four sources familiar with the outreach told NBC News on Friday.
To the very important point you made, you trashed Kamala Harris for the last three years, right? So a lot of folks in the electorate and certainly within the party say, I don't think I want to do that. Now you're trashing the president and you're going to have another meeting now with senators.
What the hell are these people thinking is going to happen when you turn into September, and whether it's Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket at that point, or Joe Biden, or, I don't know, pick a rando [sic, presumably slang for random] Democrat and make them the nominee. What do you think the Republicans are going to do with that? They don't have to -- the only commercials they have to do are run the stupid things that are being said now.
BASIL SMIKLE: Well, can I tell you? One of the first things I learned in politics is, don't say anything that can be used in a commercial against you.
STEELE: Thank you!
SMIKLE: And that is, that's exactly what's happening right now.
. . .
SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: George Stephanopoulos asked the president, if he stays in, and Trump is elected and everything you're worryig about comes to pass, how will you feel in January? We do have the sound so I'm going to play it for you and get your reaction on the other side.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Mr. President, I've never seen a President with 36% approval get re-elected.
JOE BIDEN: Well, I don't believe that's my approval rating. That's not what our polls show.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And if you stay in, and Trump is elected, and everything you are warning about comes to pass, how will you feel in January?
BIDEN: I'd feel that as long as I gave it my all and did the goodest [sic] job as I know I can do, that's what this is about.
SANDERS-TOWNSEND: Michael Tyler, how do you respond to the criticism that in that answer, the president made it about himself, and it is not about him giving it his all. It should be about beating Donald Trump.
I want to be clear. That ain't my criticism. But enough people are saying it that we gonna have to ask you to respond.
MICHAEL TYLER: Yeah, absolutely. Look, the president is making clear that nobody is going to fight harder to defeat Donald Trump than Joe Biden.
