On Sunday, in case you hadn’t already heard, a statement purportedly from President Joe Biden was released on social media indicating he was dropping out of the 2024 Presidential race.
On a PDF from Biden’s personal letterhead, he writes the following:
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.
In a follow-up message on X, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democrat Party nominee in the 2024 Election.
It didn’t take long for the media, which has been seething for this moment since Biden’s debate flop against former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party nominee, to start naming potential running mates for Harris.
Primary among that field is Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Here in Schuylkill County, some politicos are sounding off on Biden’s decision on Sunday.
Todd Zimmerman, the chairman of the Schuylkill County Democratic Committee and a Biden delegate for Pennsylvania’s 9th District, says he supports Biden’s decision to drop out of the race.
Zimmerman also supports the idea of a Harris-Shapiro ticket.
“I am endorsing Kamala Harris for President, and suggest Josh Shapiro to be her Vice-Presidential nominee. I would like to thank President Biden for once again selecting what is best for the country,” Zimmerman said.
On the other side of the aisle, Republicans are quick to point out some of the ironies they see in Biden’s decision and the party response.
Zimmerman’s counterpart, Schuylkill County Republican Committee Chairman Gary Feathers said, “It is unfortunate the Democrats turned on their own, after lying to the American people for so long knowing President Biden is in failing health.”
Feathers said the Schuylkill GOP stands firmly united behind the party ticket of Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
US Rep. Dan Meuser (PA-9) called Biden’s decision “remarkable” and said the Democrat Party “bullied” the President off the ballot. In doing so, he said, Democrats are disenfranchising more than 950,000 people who voted for Biden in the Pennsylvania Primary in the Spring.
“Now, the Democrat Party will select their candidate in one of the most undemocratic processes ever, working behind closed doors with no input from the voters,” Meuser said.
The Congressman also offered sharp criticism of Harris, whom he blames for Biden’s failed border policies.
“Harris isn’t a serious candidate, and she will now be vetted by Americans across the nation,” Meuser said.
Schuylkill County Commissioners Chairman Larry Padora echoed some of what Meuser said, saying Democrat voters were disenfranchised with Biden dropping out.
“They say Joe Biden is a hero. They say he is this patriot. This is selecting someone to run,” Padora said. “It’s not going to be the people, the Democrat voters, who pick. How is their democracy in this?”
He added, “I’m confident Donald Trump will beat whoever the Democrats select as their candidate.”
Image: Depositphotos
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