(NewsInsights.org) – Critics and opponents have questioned Whether President Joe Biden should run for another term as an incumbent not only because of his age but also out of concern for his cognitive abilities. Everyone concedes that the job of leading the nation is stressful and demanding, but so far, the commander-in-chief has avoided tests for mental acuity as part of his annual physical. In a briefing on Wednesday, February 28, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pushed back on questions of cognitive testing.
During the briefing, Jean-Pierre took questions from ABC White House correspondent Selina Wang. The reporter asked whether the president had taken a mental fitness or cognitive test earlier that morning during his physical.
In a winding answer, Jean-Pierre mentioned that Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, had stopped by her office ahead of the presser to let her know he was still preparing a “comprehensive” memo regarding Biden’s health. However, the press secretary said O’Connor, who performed a “detailed” neurological assessment, didn’t believe symptoms or his observations merited cognitive testing. He gave the president a clean bill of health, pronouncing him “fit for duty.”
Additionally, Jean-Pierre argued that Biden’s performance as president and the results he and his administration have produced and continue to generate serve as further proof of his fitness for office. As one example, she pointed to his ability to pivot from discussing how to fight crime to addressing border issues to delivering the State of the Union Address to dealing with international crises on multiple fronts. She pointed out that he dealt with matters in detailed ways, not simply topically, and had done so for the past three years.
Yet, Wang persisted. She asked the press secretary why the president would not just take and pass a cognitive test to silence his critics, especially given that he was so confident he’d pass.
Jean-Pierre repeated her argument that the president’s doctors found no compelling reason for him to take the cognitive test. She argued that O’Connor’s assessments were far more comprehensive than any 15-minute standardized cognitive test because he saw the president almost daily. She also repeated her strategy of using the administration’s achievements to justify the president’s day-to-day cognitive abilities, making claims about business and job growth and economic recovery after the devastation of the pandemic.
Copyright 2024, NewsInsights.org
