(08-12-2020 04:53 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote: It's akin to a leading question like, "When did you stop beating your wife?"
It would allow detractors to say, "See, even Biden's team think his mental competency is questionable since they made him take the test!"
I would have 0 issue with Biden doing it, I'm just explaining why I think his team won't have him do it - there is 0 upside/benefit to Biden taking the test. What upside do you see for Biden? Would a passing result change any votes?
You're conflating arguments...
1) the same people who would say 'see they made him take it' are already saying 'he's refusing because he knows he won't pass it'... so nothing changes except their argument. The same would be true of many on the left who would still vote for him if he failed it. Those people deserve no time at all
2) I have not suggested he take one... I have suggested that he either completely dismiss it or that he have a short, concise and somewhat dismissive answer. I have suggested that his rambling answer here actually only provided more fuel to the fire he intended to put out.
3) Only responding because you asked... Yes, I think to a truly undecided person who has seen Biden, including here... and heard the claims about him and has this nagging fear in the back of their minds... I think a test could eliminate their concerns. This probably isn't enough people to matter, but you implied that nobody cared and I think the number is far greater than zero. I know at least one Democrat who has expressed concerns about Biden's ramblings and is therefore looking very hard at his #2. There were similar questions about McCain's health.
Finally to the 'when did you stop beating your wife' comparison... That's not even remotely close. The fact that you lauded his comparison to a pre-employment drug test (as if such things weren't common) and now to this argument in the absurd comes across as an attempt to deflect from a very simple and common question that his team should have been prepared for.
Mr Biden, The life expectancy in the US is just over 78 years. If elected, you will be 78 years old when you take office and 82 by the time your term ends. In addition to death, there are a number of maladies associated with aging that could interfere with your ability to execute the office that you seek. What do you say to people, especially young voters who might have concerns about your age?
He should expect to be asked it and have a prepared answer... So should Trump... and Bernie... and most anyone else of advanced years.... and he should expect the press to ask it in an increasingly abrupt and rude way until they grow tired of the same boring response.
In politics, there sometimes ARE no good answers. As I've suggested, Trump (or Obama) could have spit gold and some would find something to be upset about. Biden's answer made him look like an old white guy trying to sound 'hip'... If he were a Republican, there would be scores of jokes about it... and it did absolutely nothing to dissuade the question from being asked again. If anything, his response made it more likely to be asked because he rambled. The press and/or those seeking to call his capacity into question got exactly what they wanted.