NYT’s Ezra Klein Says Biden Should Drop Out, Urges Top Democrats Like Obama to Convince Him
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
New York Times columnist Ezra Klein called for President Joe Biden to step down as a “hero” and make way for a different Democratic Party nominee in November. Klein acknowledged his comments would likely make many Democrats “furious” with him.
In the latest episode of The Ezra Klein Show, Klein praised Biden for unifying the Democratic Party ahead of 2020, contrasting the state of the party with the constant in-fighting among Republicans over border legislation, Ukraine aid, and more. He also offered praise for Biden on the economy, noting wage gains despite inflation woes.
“I want to say this clearly: I like Biden. I think he’s been a good president. I think he is a good president. I don’t like having this conversation. And I know a lot of liberals, a lot of Democrats are going to be furious at me for this show,” Klein said.
He argued Democrats have been arguing Biden can perform the job of president, but they are not asking whether he can perform the job of being at the center of a presidential campaign. He also cited some of Biden’s dismal poll numbers.
Klein called Democrats pointing to Donald Trump’s age (77) when responding to concerns about Biden’s (81) a “self-defeating” argument.
“The arguments I see even some smart Democrats making so they don’t have to look at this directly are self-defeating. The one I hear most often is that Trump is also old. He’s 77. He also mixes up names — he recently called Nancy Pelosi, Nikki Haley. He sometimes speaks in gibberish,” Klein said. “And it’s all true. But that is a reason to nominate a candidate who can exploit the fact that Trump is old and confused. The point is not to give Trump an even match. The point is to beat Trump.”
It’s time, he continued, for Biden to step down “as a hero.”
“So yes, I think Biden, as painful as this is, should find his way to stepping down as a hero,” Klein said.
After that, he argued, Democrats should meet in August and “organize victory.”
Klein urged Barack Obama, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and other close allies to advise Biden that dropping out is best.
“The people whom Biden listens to — Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Mike Donilon, Ron Klain, Nancy Pelosi, Anita Dunn — they need to get him to see this. Biden may come to see it himself,” he said.
You can listen to or read the transcript of the full episode of The Ezra Klein Show here.
