Age and vagaries of US presidential politics

The first American presidential debate was painful to watch. I’m not referring to the actual debate in the first instance, though it did disappoint. I’m referring to the aftermath. Various pundits have ponied up appeals to demagoguery. Media leaders, aided by debate coaches, corporate spokespeople, Democratic lawmakers and childhood friends of the president, suggest he should withdraw his candidacy because of the debate. It remains a “major news story.” From where I sit, it involves a misunderstanding about constitutional democracy and an imitation of demagoguery.

Having the opinion that a political candidate lacks the mental competence to stand for office isn’t illegal or immoral. Certainly, there are concerns about the competence of both presidential candidates for different reasons. Each voter can choose what to do with the information available on this score. Pedestrian nostrums about what a president should appear to be seem to have too much importance, as opposed to who knows how to run the executive branch of the United States government. And concerns about age and competence seem to “trump” concerns about corruption and criminality as competence.

In an election where people on both sides of the question speak ardently about threats to democracy, actual or fabricated, it’s amazing that media leaders and others now sponsor just that. The United States of America and its presidential selection process aren’t a plebiscite or an action of direct democracy. A debate session is not an election. Neither is media spinning of a debate.

The primaries happened over the last year. That is how America selects candidates, together with the upcoming conventions. Both candidates handily won their primaries and deserve the chance to stand at their conventions for nomination. There are candidates from other parties and a “third party candidate.” That candidate indicates that he had a parasitic infection that somewhat damaged his brain, but no one asks him to withdraw.

To speak of Biden, if people seriously think he’s incompetent due to exhibited infirmities of age, the right thing to do would be to demand he resign now or call for his cabinet to invoke the provisions of the 25th Amendment. There is relief available, using democratic processes. But don’t act like a fear of losing equates to or exceeds the outcomes to date of the electoral process. That would indicate that American democracy is knocking on the door of her own grave. This story is massive scapegoating: displacement of fears about Trump winning the November election.

The Founding Fathers weren’t unqualified admirers of youth. America’s youth-obsessed culture would do well to reflect on the difference between efficacy in thinking and appearing not to miss a beat. Likewise, being president is not about looking like “Teflon Ron” or a field marshal with a staunch and forceful presence. Talking heads are mostly talk. Goodness knows it’s not about winning a forensic debate with the most points.

Perhaps the debate handlers of the president should resign. No need to load up lots of facts. Stick to the first principles and watch the body language and energy. But this only feeds the beast of the current moment. Being president isn’t about winning a debate. Remember people judge by results, not by words. And I don’t mean debate results.

It pained me to see David Muir, arguably among the most American of broadcasters, imply the salience of the evening so one-sidedly as to competence. Better to be slightly doddering and tottering than to be a walking, raving travesty of leadership with no loyalty to the Constitution except when it suits oneself. Or Van Jones, who made his career on the coattails of people in the political pedigree of Biden (only later to truck with Trump), claiming that people would find it hard to “forgive” Biden. Fifty or so of Trump’s former high-level officials ran away from him due to his incompetence.

Let’s hope journalistic leaders know the difference between their roles and those of the voters. Let’s hope their comedies of the postscript are seen for what they are — mistaken. I think American voters, many of whom don’t take their cues from the media entirely — know better. The contest concerns issues and the public interest. And if it’s about competence, it’s about a more balanced understanding of it, along with a bit more respect for the competence of elder statesmen. And for all those in government calling on Biden to withdraw, many of whom rode his coattails, is that what they intend to do to win this November? I hope they don’t ruin the day.

Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and academic services and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and a former visiting professor at Hanyang University.