As the Democrats grapple with internal turmoil, President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, adding to the chaos. This development prompts us to question whether this is mere misfortune or possibly a more calculated move. Could it be that he’s simply exhausted and seeking an easy escape route? As voices within his own party grow louder in their calls for a postponement of the virtual nomination vote, this COVID diagnosis could potentially trigger a series of events leading to Biden’s resignation. The timing, indeed, seems suspicious. Let’s examine the facts and try to understand the underlying dynamics.
Is Biden’s COVID Diagnosis Genuine or Just a Convenient Pretext?
On Wednesday, it was officially confirmed by the White House that President Biden has tested positive for COVID-19. The news was broken by Janet Murguia, president of UnidosUS, at an event in Las Vegas where Biden was scheduled to speak. His speech was delayed by an hour and a half before the announcement was made.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reported that Biden tested positive after his first event in Las Vegas. She said he is experiencing mild symptoms and will self-isolate in Delaware, even though he is vaccinated and boosted. She assured everyone that he would continue performing his duties fully while in isolation.
However, let’s ponder over this. Despite rising concerns about his health and capabilities, Biden has maintained a full schedule in Nevada this week. This sudden positive test following a lackluster debate performance in late June appears somewhat convenient. He last tested positive for COVID in 2022 – are we noticing a trend here?
Increasing Calls to Postpone Biden’s Nomination
The COVID diagnosis isn’t the only challenge facing Biden. A growing faction of House Democrats believe that Biden is too politically compromised to defeat Donald Trump in November. These Democrats are urging the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to delay the virtual nomination vote, setting up an extraordinary clash within the party against Biden’s allies, who are quietly pushing for a swift formal nomination.
Democrats had planned to finalize Biden’s nomination process before August 7, well ahead of next month’s Chicago convention. However, Rep. Jared Huffman, a progressive Democrat from California, expressed concerns about the virtual roll call vote, calling it a “terrible idea” and a “dumb thing.”
Huffman stated, “If the election were held today, he would get crushed. We have got to do something about it.” A draft letter is circulating among House Democrats urging the party to slow down the process – a clear indication of their deep concerns about Biden remaining at the top of their ticket.
Democrats’ Urgent Push for an Early Nomination
While some Democrats are advocating for slowing things down, Biden’s allies are pushing to initiate the virtual roll call process as soon as possible. Two key Democratic committees are scheduled to meet this Friday and Sunday to discuss the exact timeline for delegates across the country to start casting their votes. The earliest voting could commence would be after the second meeting on Sunday.
If voting were to start on Sunday or shortly thereafter, it would mark an aggressive timeline that’s drawing fresh scrutiny from other Democrats. They want Biden to acknowledge his challenges and step aside. One House Democrat commented, “The disbelief that they’d expedite the nomination is as widespread as the recognition the DNC is leading Democrats into a house fire with water bottles.”
The DNC’s virtual roll call process was initially implemented to circumvent a ballot issue in Ohio. Even though lawmakers in Ohio have since resolved this issue, the DNC is persisting with the virtual roll call. For Democrats worried that a Biden loss to Trump could bring down the entire Democratic ticket, time is running out to make their case to the president, his family, and his advisers.
Internal Strife: A Divided Democratic Party
The heated discussions have exposed a potentially messy collision among different factions within the Democratic Party. This is happening while Republicans are rallying around their new ticket at the GOP convention in Milwaukee.
Former DNC chairs Donna Brazile, Howard Dean, and Terry McAuliffe have thrown their weight behind the early nomination process. They sent a letter to DNC members stating that a virtual process is necessary to ensure that the Democratic nominees for President and Vice President appear on every state’s ballot without legal challenge.
However, Brazile, Dean, and McAuliffe also noted that the virtual roll call “need not be immediate” but should conclude before August 7 to prevent potential legal issues related to Biden’s ballot access in Ohio.
Final Thoughts
So what’s really happening here? Biden’s sudden COVID diagnosis, the rising calls from within his own party for a nomination delay, and the push for an early virtual roll call all point to one thing: turmoil within the Democratic Party. Are they finally realizing that Biden might not be their best bet against Trump in November? Or is this just another attempt to cover up Biden’s deteriorating health and capabilities?
It’s clear that the Democratic Party is in disarray, with Biden’s allies desperately trying to keep him at the top of the ticket. But as more Democrats voice their opposition to the virtual roll call and call for a delay, it seems like cracks are beginning to show. Will Biden step down? Only time will tell.
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Is Biden’s COVID diagnosis just a convenient excuse? Will the Democrats delay the nomination process? Share your views in the comment section below.
Stay tuned. The situation is developing, and things are about to get interesting.
