A former Biden administration staffer is calling out Democrats over their response to a story from The Wall Street Journal raising question about President Joe Biden’s mental fitness.
In a lengthy post on X, Michael LaRosa wrote, “The faux outrage over the use of blind sources is especially rich coming from political staffers in both parties.”
“What credible or objective reporter/outlet actually WANTS to take the same on the record quotes from provided by the WH’s approved list of surrogates to offer with the same pre-approved and WH-written language/talking points?” he asked. “The NYT, the WSJ, the WAPO are not extensions of the Democratic Party and nor should they be.”
LaRosa also criticized Biden’s staff for not letting “powerful voices who are in the room with POTUS every single day and know him best or work closely with him” talk to the Journal to counter concerns about his age since the White House is “clearly still THIS sensitive”about the matter. He suggested the Journal or any major would not turn down a chance to have a quote in the article from someone in defense of the president’s mental state.
Taking aim at criticism of the paper for quoting unnamed Democrats, LaRosa wrote, “Let’s not pretend like we don’t know what happens to Democrats who regurgitate unfiltered, unapproved, and unscripted analysis. Why would ANY of the 20 Democratic Admin officials and lawmakers who spoke to the [WSJ] go on the record with their candid impressions?”
On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal published an article with the headline, “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping.” It was based on interviews with 45 people who interacted with the president suggesting he is showing “his age” in several meetings behind closed doors.
“Some who have worked with him… including Democrats and some who have known him back to his time as vice president, described a president who appears slower now, someone who has both good moments and bad ones,” the Journal reported. “For much of his career, Biden enjoyed a reputation on Capitol Hill for being a master negotiator of legislative deals, known for his detailed knowledge of issues and insights into the other side’s motivations and needs—and for hitting his stride when the pressure was on. Over the past year, though, with Republicans in control of the House, that reputation has diminished.”
A White House spokesperson told the paper, “Congressional Republicans, foreign leaders and nonpartisan national-security experts have made clear in their own words that President Biden is a savvy and effective leader who has a deep record of legislative accomplishment.”
“Now, in 2024, House Republicans are making false claims as a political tactic that flatly contradict previous statements made by themselves and their colleagues,” they added.
The article conceded most of those who said Biden is showing signs of slowing down were Republicans, but added some Democrats also said the same.
According to the article, “The White House kept close tabs on some of The Wall Street Journal’s interviews with Democratic lawmakers. After the offices of several Democrats shared with the White House either a recording of an interview or details about what was asked, some of those lawmakers spoke to the Journal a second time and once again emphasized Biden’s strengths.”
“They just, you know, said that I should give you a call back,” Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) told the paper.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates told Journal,”We thought it was important that all perspectives be represented.”
