First lady Jill Biden’s former press secretary Michael LaRosa on Tuesday rebuffed accusations from the Left that Jill is engaging in “elder abuse” by working to keep her husband as the Democrats’ 2024 presidential nominee, despite serious concerns about Biden’s fitness for office.
LaRosa was specifically asked about comments from far-Left activist and filmmaker Michael Moore, who called for Biden to step aside and accused those around the president of “the cruelest form of elder abuse.”
“What [Jill] would say is that she hates politics but she loves [Joe Biden],” LaRosa told Fox News. “He never got in the way of her career and she won’t get in the way of his. They just never did that … they’re pretty independent.”
The former press secretary went on to emphasize that he believes it’s Biden himself who wants to remain in the race, and Jill is merely supporting him.
“This is his decision,” he said of Biden. “Jill and the advisors and his sister and his family are probably there and giving advice, but Jill alone won’t make this decision.”
“I don’t know if Democrats really want her to be making the decision for the party,” LaRosa said. “I don’t think she would want that decision. I don’t think she’s comfortable with it.”
Moore made his blunt comments following a concerning ABC News interview with Biden that aired on Friday.
“If I have to be the only one to stand up for Joe Biden here to protect him from the cruelest form of elder abuse I’ve ever been forced to watch, well then that’s what I’ll do,” the filmmaker said.
“He was in epic distress [during the debate],” Moore continued. “Every cognitive default in his mind seemed to be shutting down. If this had been somebody that you truly cared about, loved, embraced, what would you have done? Would you have seriously even let him go out on that stage?”
“I will say this, to protect him from an out of control party machine that is in a panic over what to do—for any of us to be silent now is exactly what the term elder abuse is meant to describe,” he added. “Leave Mr. Biden alone.”
Before addressing the “elder abuse” accusation, LaRosa said that the Bidens’ decision to stay as the nominee is likely being colored by Biden’s withdrawal from the Democratic nomination race in 1987.
“That moment was scarring for them,” LaRosa said.
Biden has been adamant about staying in the race, even saying during the ABC News interview that he would only drop out if the “Lord Almighty” told him to.
Further, in a letter he sent to Congressional Democrats on Monday, the president emphasized his position and urged Democrats to fall in line. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us,” Biden wrote. “It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.”
Related: Schumer Backs Biden As Democrat Concerns Over Fitness Mount
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[[{“value”:”
First lady Jill Biden’s former press secretary Michael LaRosa on Tuesday rebuffed accusations from the Left that Jill is engaging in “elder abuse” by working to keep her husband as the Democrats’ 2024 presidential nominee, despite serious concerns about Biden’s fitness for office.
LaRosa was specifically asked about comments from far-Left activist and filmmaker Michael Moore, who called for Biden to step aside and accused those around the president of “the cruelest form of elder abuse.”
“What [Jill] would say is that she hates politics but she loves [Joe Biden],” LaRosa told Fox News. “He never got in the way of her career and she won’t get in the way of his. They just never did that … they’re pretty independent.”
The former press secretary went on to emphasize that he believes it’s Biden himself who wants to remain in the race, and Jill is merely supporting him.
“This is his decision,” he said of Biden. “Jill and the advisors and his sister and his family are probably there and giving advice, but Jill alone won’t make this decision.”
“I don’t know if Democrats really want her to be making the decision for the party,” LaRosa said. “I don’t think she would want that decision. I don’t think she’s comfortable with it.”
Moore made his blunt comments following a concerning ABC News interview with Biden that aired on Friday.
“If I have to be the only one to stand up for Joe Biden here to protect him from the cruelest form of elder abuse I’ve ever been forced to watch, well then that’s what I’ll do,” the filmmaker said.
“He was in epic distress [during the debate],” Moore continued. “Every cognitive default in his mind seemed to be shutting down. If this had been somebody that you truly cared about, loved, embraced, what would you have done? Would you have seriously even let him go out on that stage?”
“I will say this, to protect him from an out of control party machine that is in a panic over what to do—for any of us to be silent now is exactly what the term elder abuse is meant to describe,” he added. “Leave Mr. Biden alone.”
Before addressing the “elder abuse” accusation, LaRosa said that the Bidens’ decision to stay as the nominee is likely being colored by Biden’s withdrawal from the Democratic nomination race in 1987.
“That moment was scarring for them,” LaRosa said.
Biden has been adamant about staying in the race, even saying during the ABC News interview that he would only drop out if the “Lord Almighty” told him to.
Further, in a letter he sent to Congressional Democrats on Monday, the president emphasized his position and urged Democrats to fall in line. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us,” Biden wrote. “It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.”
Related: Schumer Backs Biden As Democrat Concerns Over Fitness Mount
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