Reality Check: Addressing President Biden’s Age and Winning in 2024

Understanding the Reality

Democrats are in need of a reality check. The stakes are too high for us to indulge in the kind of denial,
self-deception, and illusions that are a too-common reaction to many of the biggest challenges we face as a
party and a country. Indeed, reality is our greatest strength and our best defense. Only failing to acknowledge
it can undo us.

The Controversial Report

Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report, describing President Joe Biden as a “sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man
with a poor memory” has caused a furor. Reactions to it among members of the president’s team and his
supporters have ranged from defensiveness to outrage. Most such reactions have not been particularly helpful.

The Importance of the Hur Comment

The issue of the president’s age cannot be willed or wished away. It must be understood, accepted, and
addressed in ways that are consistent with observable reality. Among many unassailable facts pertaining to the
comment are the following:

• Hur is a former Trump appointee and self-identified Republican. The fact that he made this comment in the
  report was, as Vice President Kamala Harris accurately observed, “gratuitous, inaccurate, and inappropriate.”
• It is debatable whether the report should have been released or not.
• Hur should not have been picked as the special counsel in this case.
• Attorney General Merrick Garland seemed to serve the partisan interests of the GOP.

Putting the Comment into Context

As the president himself noted, the interviews he did with Hur took place during one of the greatest
international crises of Biden’s presidency. This was a period of immense responsibilities and little sleep.

It is important to acknowledge that Biden has effectively led the country for the past three years, successfully
managing highly complex situations.

Owning Biden’s Age and Showcasing the Future

Rather than denying Biden’s age, it is crucial to manage it effectively and shift the conversation to the bigger
issues on the minds of Americans. Here’s how:

Showcasing Biden’s Leadership

Play to on-demand media by utilizing informal, unstaged videos that resonate with the audience on platforms
like Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok. Show Biden’s interactions with people, his humor, and his compassion. Create
an image of him with his highly capable and younger team members.

A Generational Turn in Politics

Highlight Biden’s role as a patriarch and embrace the generational transition in American politics. Surround him
on the campaign trail or with surrogates who are the next-generation leaders and allow him to elevate them.

Taking on the Opponent

Show Biden’s vitality by directly confronting his opponent. Play offense and emphasize the core issue in this
election: whether Americans will have fewer freedoms in the future or more opportunities. Present Biden as the
defender of fundamental freedoms against the threat of Trump and MAGA.

Proving Harris as the Asset

Recognize Vice President Kamala Harris as the administration’s greatest asset and a key consideration for
voters. Highlight her role in defending freedoms, restoring women’s rights, ensuring voting rights, and battling
for the rights of all Americans. To Biden’s critics, her presence serves as a reassurance against the various
twists of fate.

Setting the Stage for the Future

Illustrate Biden’s commitment to preparing America for the future. Present his agenda for a second term in the
State of the Union address and emphasize his role in enabling the generational turn. Showcase the quality of
Team Biden and contrast it with the previous administration.

Choosing the Future

Embrace the age of the candidates and focus on the age of those they will serve. Highlight the promise of Biden
and Harris to serve the next generation of Americans and their commitment to preserving the freedoms valued
today.