Clyburn defends Biden’s performance in the debate, attributing it to his history of stuttering and over-preparation. He argues that these factors impacted Biden’s delivery during the event.
Rep. James Clyburn defended President Joe Biden’s recent debate performance, attributing his struggles to his history of stuttering. In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Dana Bash, Clyburn claimed that Biden’s difficulty finding words was due to “preparation overload” and his stuttering, which he experienced as a child.
Clyburn, a close ally of the President, acknowledged that Biden’s performance was not his best but attributed it to the overwhelming amount of information he was trying to convey. “I have been a part of debate preparation before, and I know when I see what I call preparation overload. And that’s exactly what was going on the other night,” Clyburn said.
“I saw Joe Biden grabbing for words and phrases and even numbers that he was loaded up with.”
Despite his struggles, Clyburn believes that Biden’s opinions and thoughts were on point, even if he had trouble articulating them. “He may not have gotten the word out, but the thoughts were great,” Clyburn said. He also highlighted Biden’s history of stuttering, which he believes affects his ability to express himself. “Joe Biden has a history of stuttering. He did that as a child. All of us know how stutterers operate. I went to school with one,” Clyburn said.
Clyburn’s defense of Biden comes as the President faces mounting criticism over his mental fitness and ability to serve. A recent poll by CBS News found that only 27% of voters believe Biden has the mental fitness to continue serving as President. The poll also showed that 63% of voters believe Biden’s mental fitness has gotten worse over the past year.
Despite these concerns, Clyburn believes that Biden should stay in the race. “Very clearly, he should stay in this race,” Clyburn said. He attributed the criticism to political bias and claimed that Biden’s opponents are trying to exploit his stuttering for political gain.
Biden’s campaign has pushed back against these concerns, highlighting his decades of public service and his ability to connect with everyday Americans. They have also emphasized his commitment to issues like healthcare, education, and climate change.
However, some have questioned whether Biden’s stuttering is being used as an excuse for his struggles, rather than addressing the underlying issues. “It’s not about stuttering, it’s about his ability to lead,” said one critic. “We need a President who can articulate their vision clearly and confidently.”
Others have expressed concerns about the impact of Biden’s struggles on his ability to serve. “If he can’t articulate his thoughts clearly, how can he effectively lead the country?” asked another critic.
Despite these concerns, Biden remains a front-runner in the Democratic primary, with many polls showing him leading his closest rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). However, the concerns over his mental fitness and debate performance have raised questions about his ability to take on President Donald Trump in the general election.
As the Democratic primary continues, Biden’s performance and mental fitness are likely to remain a topic of debate. While Clyburn’s defense of Biden has sparked a wider conversation about stuttering, it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to silence the critics and secure Biden’s place as the Democratic nominee.
