Democratic Reps Call for Biden's Withdrawal after Debate Performance Concerns and False Claims

Houston, Minnesota, Minnesota United States of America
Biden has remained steadfast in his determination to stay in the race despite these calls.
Concerns about Biden's debate performance include false claims made during the debate, such as his statement that no U.S. troops have died on his watch.
Democratic Reps Craig, Doggett, Grijalva, Moulton, and Quigley have called for Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race due to concerns about his debate performance and fitness for office.
Democratic Reps Call for Biden's Withdrawal after Debate Performance Concerns and False Claims

President Joe Biden's debate performance on July 5, 2024, and his subsequent lackluster response have raised concerns among some Democrats, leading several representatives to call for his withdrawal from the presidential race. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) was the latest to join this group, expressing her belief that Biden cannot effectively campaign against former President Donald Trump due to his debate stumbles and lack of a forceful response.

Craig's statement came after Biden met with Democratic governors on July 6, 2024, in an attempt to quell concerns about his fitness for a second term. However, her call for Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee was followed by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), who was the first House Democrat to make such a request.

Other representatives, including Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), and Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), have also urged Biden to consider stepping down. These lawmakers believe that allowing a new generation of leaders to step forward is crucial for the future of the Democratic Party and the country as a whole.

Despite these calls, Biden has remained steadfast in his determination to stay in the race. He has vowed not to be forced out by anyone, including those within his own party. However, concerns about his debate performance and fitness for office continue to mount among Democrats and voters alike.

It is important to note that these calls for Biden's withdrawal are based on the perception of his debate performance and subsequent response. While some may argue that this is a valid reason for concern, others believe that Biden remains a strong candidate with the ability to effectively campaign against Trump.

In addition to concerns about Biden's debate performance, there have been reports of false claims made during the debate. For instance, Biden falsely claimed that no U.S. troops have died on his watch.

As Democrats navigate these challenges and work to rebuild trust in rural America, it remains to be seen how the fallout from the presidential debate will impact their efforts moving forward.



Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • It is unclear how many Democrats have called for Biden's withdrawal, and which other representatives besides those mentioned in the article have made such a request.
  • The article does not provide specific examples of Biden's false claims during the debate.

Sources

72%

  • Unique Points
    • Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) called for President Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee
    • Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) was the first House Democrat to call for Biden’s withdrawal
    • Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) urged Biden to ‘shoulder the responsibility’ and step aside
    • Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) suggested Biden follow in George Washington’s footsteps and step down
    • Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) urged Biden to let someone else run against Trump
  • Accuracy
    • Rep. Angie Craig called for President Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee
    • Rep. Angie Craig expressed concern over President Biden’s debate performance and lack of response following the debate.
  • Deception (0%)
    The article is deceptive due to selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author only reports on the Democrats who have called for Biden to step down, implying that there is a larger number of Democrats wanting him to withdraw when in fact many have not made such statements publicly. Additionally, the author uses emotive language such as 'drumbeat', 'amp up the public pressure', and 'flurry of meetings' to manipulate the reader's emotions and create a sense of urgency.
    • Many other Democratic lawmakers have said privately they want Biden to step down, and there are expected to be more public calls for him to do so from Congress.
    • Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) on Saturday became the fifth Democrat in Congress to publicly call for President Biden to step down as the party’s presumptive nominee
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It lists several members of Congress who have called for Biden to end his candidacy, which could be seen as an appeal to authority. Additionally, the article uses inflammatory language such as
    • Republican lawmakers have told Axios they expect the drumbeat to continue amid a barrage of fears from constituents and donors.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

89%

  • Unique Points
    • Biden has amassed nearly 4,000 delegates through primary voting and caucuses, well over the required number for nomination.
    • Michelle Obama has repeatedly stated she has no interest in running for president.
    • If Biden were to drop out of the race, delegates would be free to vote at an open convention for the candidate of their choosing.
    • Kamala Harris would be entitled to use campaign funds if Biden withdraws from the race and endorses her as his replacement.
  • Accuracy
    • Biden pushed back on calls to drop out of the race during an interview with ABC.
    • Democrats in rural America fear President Joe Biden’s debate performance is undercutting their efforts to build trust with their communities
    • Biden falsely claimed during the debate that no U.S. troops have died on his watch
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

91%

  • Unique Points
    • Rep. Angie Craig called on President Biden to step aside from the 2024 race in a statement posted to social platform X.
  • Accuracy
    • ]Rep. Angie Craig called on President Biden to step aside from the 2024 race in a statement posted to social platform X.[
    • Rep. Angie Craig expressed concern over President Biden’s debate performance and lack of response following the debate.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author, Tara Suter, is making an appeal to authority by quoting Rep. Angie Craig's statements without providing any critical analysis or context. However, since the author is not endorsing or agreeing with Rep. Craig's position but rather reporting it, this does not constitute a fallacy on its own and lowers the score slightly.
    • Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) called on President Biden to step out of the 2024 race in a statement posted to social platform X Saturday.
    • Craig now joins fellow House Democrats Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) in publicly calling for Biden to withdraw from the race.
    • Biden pushed back on calls to drop out of the race during an interview with ABC Friday.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

71%

  • Unique Points
    • Democrats in rural America fear President Joe Biden's debate performance is undercutting their efforts to build trust with their communities
    • Biden falsely claimed during the debate that no U.S. troops have died on his watch
  • Accuracy
    • Biden struggled to finish sentences during the debate in Atlanta last week
    • Rural Democrats felt like their carefully coordinated, yearslong agenda to rebuild their standing in rural areas suddenly evaporated after the debate
  • Deception (50%)
    The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author quotes several individuals expressing their disappointment and fear regarding Biden's debate performance. However, the author does not provide any counter-perspective or mention that some Democrats have defended Biden's performance or dismissed the concerns raised by those quoted in the article. This creates a one-sided narrative that manipulates readers' emotions by focusing solely on negative reactions to Biden's debate performance. Additionally, the author mentions Biden falsely claiming no U.S. troops have died on his watch during the debate, which is an example of selective reporting as it only highlights this statement without providing context or mentioning that Biden quickly corrected himself after making the mistake.
    • In battleground states and beyond, the level of alarm among lawmakers and local Democrats on the ground in rural areas has only grown in the days since the debate, especially after Biden officials spent days chalking up the president’s struggles to one bad night and dismissing Democrats’ concerns.
    • Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.), a U.S. Air Force veteran who represents a rural stretch of North Carolina, said he thought Biden’s debate delivery ‘was a disaster.’
  • Fallacies (80%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting local Democratic party chairs and voters expressing their concerns about Biden's debate performance. However, the author does not provide any analysis or evaluation of these quotes beyond reporting them. This is a form of unsupported quotation fallacy as the author fails to provide any context or evidence that supports the validity of these quotes or their implications for Biden's standing in rural America.
    • “I think people just feel lied to” about Biden’s physical and mental state, said one local rural Democratic party chair in a battleground district.
    • “I was disappointed,” said Janelle Kelleher, 70, a Democratic voter who lives in a Republican-heavy corner of southeast Minnesota. “You can make excuses for someone, that he had a cold or whatever, but he didn’t come across as a strong leader.”
  • Bias (90%)
    The article expresses concern and alarm among rural Democrats about President Biden's debate performance and its impact on their efforts to rebuild trust in rural areas. The author quotes several individuals expressing disappointment and feelings of being lied to about Biden's physical and mental state. The article also mentions Biden falsely claiming no U.S. troops have died on his watch during the debate, which is derided in rural communities where military service is more common.
    • Democrats in rural America fear President Joe Biden’s debate performance is undercutting their painstaking efforts to build trust with their communities
      • Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.), a U.S. Air Force veteran who represents a rural stretch of North Carolina, said he thought Biden’s debate delivery was a disaster.
        • You can make excuses for someone, that he had a cold or whatever, but he didn’t come across as a strong leader.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        88%

        • Unique Points
          • Rep. Angie Craig called on President Joe Biden to step out of the 2024 presidential race due to his debate performance and lack of forceful response.
        • Accuracy
          • Rep. Angie Craig does not believe Biden can effectively campaign and win against Trump.
        • Deception (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Fallacies (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication