George Clooney's Op-Ed and the Calls for Joe Biden to Step Down: A Developing Story

Wilmington or Beverly Hills, Delaware or California United States of America
At least ten members of Congress from the Democratic Party have publicly asked Biden to step down from the ticket.
Biden remains defiant and is committed to staying in the race.
Clooney's call caused panic among Biden's aides and led to several fundraising events being jeopardized.
George Clooney wrote an op-ed in The New York Times expressing doubts about President Joe Biden's ability to lead effectively and urged Democrats to consider nominating a new candidate.
Senator Peter Welch became the first Democratic senator to call for Biden to step down from the presidential race.
George Clooney's Op-Ed and the Calls for Joe Biden to Step Down: A Developing Story

In recent days, a series of events have raised concerns about the fitness of President Joe Biden to continue his bid for re-election in the upcoming November election. One of the most notable voices calling for a change was that of actor and longtime Democratic supporter George Clooney.

Clooney, who had previously headlined a major fundraiser for Biden's campaign, wrote an op-ed in The New York Times expressing his doubts about the President's ability to lead effectively. In the piece, he urged Democrats to consider nominating a new candidate.

The call from Clooney caused panic among Biden's aides and led to many big donors closing their wallets. According to reports, several fundraising events are in jeopardy and scores of donors have informed the campaign they will not continue to give if Biden remains in the race.

Clooney's essay was not an isolated incident. Senator Peter Welch became the first Democratic senator to call for Biden to step down from the presidential race. Nancy Pelosi, while questioning whether Biden should remain the nominee, did not call for him to exit.

Michael Bennet believes Trump is on track to win the election but did not call for Biden to step aside. At least ten members of Congress from the Democratic Party have publicly asked Biden to step down from the ticket.

Biden and Clooney have had a long-standing relationship dating back to Biden's early days as vice president. The fundraiser that Clooney headlined for Biden raised $28 million, the most for the Democratic Party from a single event in history.

Despite these calls, Biden has remained defiant and is firmly committed to staying in the race. Only time will tell if his determination pays off or if he will be replaced by a new nominee.


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Confidence

81%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if Clooney's call was the sole reason for the fundraising events being jeopardized.
  • The article does not provide any concrete evidence of Biden's inability to lead effectively.
  • The number of Democratic senators and members of Congress calling for Biden to step down is not specified in the article.

Sources

88%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

How Biden Lost George Clooney and Hollywood

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Theodore Schleifer, Thursday, 11 July 2024 22:45
  • Unique Points
    • George Clooney wrote an essay expressing doubts about President Biden’s re-election chances in The New York Times
    • Jeffrey Katzenberg, a top Biden official and longtime philanthropy partner of Clooney, attempted to persuade him not to publish it
    • Clooney’s essay caused panic among Biden’s aides and led to many big donors closing their wallets
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The authors focus on the negative impact of George Clooney's essay on President Biden's fundraising efforts without mentioning any potential positive effects or counterarguments. They also use emotive language such as 'panic set in', 'numbers do not look encouraging right now', and 'falling off a cliff' to manipulate the reader's emotions.
    • Several fund-raising events are in jeopardy and scores of donors have informed the campaign they will not continue to give if Mr. Biden remains in the race.
    • The fallout from the Clooney essay has ricocheted across the worlds of politics and entertainment – and onto Mr. Katzenberg himself.
    • There was not – Mr. Clooney published his essay in The New York Times, and the president’s relationship with Hollywood was torn asunder.
    • Mr. Biden is coincidentally scheduled to travel to Southern California for a fund-raiser this month that is likely to be attended by some top Hollywood players.
  • 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

77%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Democrats on Biden: From Clooney's 'Need a new nominee' to Obama's 'Bad debates happen'

USA Today Wednesday, 10 July 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • Senator Peter Welch was the first Democratic senator to call for Biden to drop out of the presidential race.
    • Nancy Pelosi questioned whether Biden should remain the nominee, but did not call for him to exit.
    • Michael Bennet believes Trump is on track to win the election, but did not call for Biden to step aside.
  • Accuracy
    • President Joe Biden struggled during the first presidential debate with Donald Trump, leading some to question his fitness for another term.
    • George Clooney expressed concern over Biden’s performance and urged him to step down.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article reports on various Democratic leaders expressing concerns about President Biden's performance in the debate and some calling for him to step down from the race. This qualifies as selective reporting as it only reports details that support the authors' position of questioning Biden's candidacy. It does not provide any counter-arguments or context that could challenge this perspective.
    • Several lawmakers and Democratic surrogates have voiced concerns, and some even called on Biden to step down from the presidential race.
    • Questions over whether President Joe Biden should remain the Democrats’ candidate in November have not died down since the first debate.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several instances of appeals to authority fallacies. George Clooney and Peter Welch are quoted making statements about President Biden's performance in the debate and his fitness for office. These statements do not provide any logical reasoning or evidence to support their claims, but rather rely on their own authority as prominent Democrats. Additionally, there are several instances of inflammatory rhetoric used throughout the article, such as 'disastrous debate performance' and 'worried about November's election.' While these statements may reflect the opinions of the individuals quoted, they do not provide any logical reasoning or evidence to support their claims.
    • George Clooney: 'We need a new nominee'
    • Peter Welch: 'The stakes could not be higher'
    • I have great respect for President Biden. He saved our country from a tyrant. He is a man of uncommon decency. He cares deeply about our democracy. He has been one of the best presidents of our time,",
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Comedian D.L. Hughley criticizes Clooney after Biden op-ed

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language AK Pohlers Thursday, 11 July 2024 15:00
  • Unique Points
    • Comedian D.L. Hughley responds to George Clooney's op-ed in the New York Times calling for a new nominee to replace Biden in the 2024 election.
  • Accuracy
    • ]George Clooney wrote an essay expressing doubts about President Biden's re-election chances in The New York Times[
  • 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

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Unfortunately, the George Clooney Op-Ed Was Really Good

Slate Heather Schwedel Wednesday, 10 July 2024 22:08
  • Unique Points
    • George Clooney wrote an op-ed urging Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic presidential nominee in The New York Times.
    • Clooney has been a top fundraiser for Democratic candidates, including Obama, Clinton, and Biden.
    • Clooney has interacted with Biden for years and has observed a difference in his appearance and behavior.
  • Accuracy
    • Clooney's op-ed was well-written and received attention due to his celebrity status.
  • Deception (30%)
    The author uses emotional manipulation by expressing excitement and enthusiasm for George Clooney's intervention in the political discourse. She also engages in selective reporting by focusing on Clooney's op-ed and ignoring counterarguments or opposing viewpoints. Additionally, she makes assumptions about the impact of Clooney's endorsement without providing any evidence.
    • Clooney, who has interacted with Biden for years, tells us that he has seen for himself a clear difference in the president’s appearance and behavior, and not just at the debate but at fundraisers as well.
    • Personally, as a normal-ish person who tries to follow these things but has no special knowledge of political machinations, circa Tuesday I was starting to feel as if the momentum for Biden to drop out was losing steam. If that’s the outcome you’re holding out for, there’s hope to be found in the Clooney piece: Powerful people still want this! And haven’t given up on it!
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (95%)
    The author expresses a clear preference for George Clooney's opinion over Joe Biden's and uses language that depicts Biden in a negative light. The author also quotes Clooney using strong language to urge Biden to step down.
    • He has led some of the biggest fund-raisers in my party’s history. Barack Obama in 2012. Hillary Clinton in 2016. Joe Biden in 2020. Last month I co-hosted the single largest fund-raiser supporting any Democratic candidate ever, for President Biden’s re-election.
      • It has to be.
        • It's worth noting that Clooney hasn’t been especially present in public life lately. For someone who was as big as he was 20 years ago, it’s almost Obama-like how little we hear of him and how much he has receded from pop culture in recent years.
          • Personally, as a normal-ish person who tries to follow these things but has no special knowledge of political machinations, circa Tuesday I was starting to feel as if the momentum for Biden to drop out was losing steam. If that’s the outcome you’re holding out for, there’s hope to be found in the Clooney piece: Powerful people still want this! And haven’t given up on it!
            • When he says he’s been part of these behind-closed-doors conversations that only the rich and powerful are privy to, we believe him. Clooney, who has interacted with Biden for years, tells us that he has seen for himself a clear difference in the president’s appearance and behavior, and not just at the debate but at fundraisers as well.
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication

            62%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            George Clooney says Democrats need a new nominee just weeks after he headlined a major fundraiser for Biden

            CNN News Network Michael Williams Wednesday, 10 July 2024 16:44
            • Unique Points
              • George Clooney called on President Joe Biden to step aside from the presidential race in a New York Times opinion piece.
              • Clooney's assessment of Biden's performance at the June debate was not an aberration but reflected his current state according to Clooney.
              • The fundraiser that Clooney headlined for Biden raised $28 million, the most for the Democratic Party from a single event in history.
              • Biden and Clooney have had a long-standing relationship dating back to Biden’s early days as vice president.
              • At least ten members of Congress from the Democratic Party have publicly asked Biden to step down from the ticket.
            • Accuracy
              • Clooney is seen as a compass among Democratic backers in Hollywood due to his engagement and activism.
            • Deception (30%)
              The author, Michael Williams, makes editorializing statements and uses emotional manipulation in this article. He quotes George Clooney making critical statements about President Biden's performance at the debate and his current state. However, the author does not provide any evidence or context to support these claims beyond Clooney's opinion. The author also selectively reports details that support his position, such as mentioning Biden's faltering debate performance and fundraiser numbers, while omitting information that contradicts it, like Biden's letter to Congress indicating his intention to remain in the race.
              • The actor George Clooney... called on Biden to bow out of the presidential race on Wednesday
              • Clooney is someone who has spent time with Biden over the years and has always been a big fan. But, he added, the Biden he saw during the June 15 fundraiser was not the same man they all witnessed at the debate.
              • Many anxious Democrats who have been holding their breath and waiting to see what happens to Biden’s reelection campaign have been stunned by the past 24 hours.
            • Fallacies (85%)
              The author, Michael Williams, makes an appeal to authority by quoting George Clooney's opinion about President Joe Biden's performance at the debate and his assessment that Biden is not the same man he used to know. However, this does not constitute a logical fallacy on its own as it is a valid observation. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'the dam has broken' and 'we can put our heads in the sand and pray for a miracle in November, or we can speak the truth.' This is an expression of opinion rather than a logical fallacy.
              • ][The author] Many anxious Democrats who have been holding their breath and waiting to see what happens to Biden’s reelection campaign have been stunned by the past 24 hours. One widely shared view had been that everything was likely to come to a head after this week’s NATO conference that the US is hosting just blocks away from the White House. Instead, devastating headlines have come out in rapid succession as Biden has been juggling various engagements on the global stage.[/]
              • The dam has broken.
              • we can put our heads in the sand and pray for a miracle in November, or we can speak the truth.
            • Bias (5%)
              The author expresses a clear preference for Biden to step down from the presidential race and suggests that other Democrats would make better candidates. This is an example of political bias.
              • Many anxious Democrats who have been holding their breath and waiting to see what happens to Biden’s reelection campaign have been stunned by the past 24 hours.
                • This seems to be moving more rapidly than I thought.
                  • we can put our heads in the sand and pray for a miracle in November, or we can speak the truth.
                    • we need someone younger to fight back. Joe Biden must step aside.
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication