Ageism is Making a Comeback, Just Ask Joe Biden by J.E. Dean
Two months into his presidency, Joe Biden seemed to be doing well. He got the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act enacted and most of his cabinet picks approved. His team began reaching out to the world, setting its own tone in foreign policy and, perhaps most importantly, the nation’s effort to combat the coronavirus was going well.
I hadn’t been watching Fox News. Or following the tweets of giants such as Donald Trump, Jr., a big-game hunter when he’s not serving as an EVP for the Trump Organization, or Stephen Miller, an ex-Trump White House aide who continues to spew venom in private life. I caught up with all three (Fox, Junior, and Miller) after President Biden slipped three times while attempting to jog up the stairs to board Air Force One.
Let’s start with Mr. Miller, perhaps the worst of the entire cadre of Trump White House advisors. Last Friday, in an interview with Fox (who else?) he commented on Biden:
“Our adversaries around the world — Iran, Russia and Venezuela and China — they are looking at the United States and its chief representative, the president of our country, who is unable to get through even a softball interview without a cheat sheet and falls three times going up a flight of stairs. It’s sad to watch.”
Miller apparently coordinated his comments in advance with the program’s host, Sean Hannity, who played video of Biden appearing to use a “cheat sheet” to answer questions and referring to Kamala Harris as “President Harris.”
What is Miller trying to imply here? Could it be a ham-fisted attempt to say, “Biden is senile and all of you who voted for him made a mistake?” Miller’s usual rants focus on border policy. At least for the short term, he concluded more damage could be done by ridiculing Biden based on his age than on the increase in migrants at the southern border.
Now let’s look at the President’s namesake son. The one who some people thought was on cocaine when he addressed the Republican National Convention last year. After the president’s slips on Air Force One stairs, he posted two separate video clips on Twitter. The first showed the president falling, and he commented, in part, “Biden falls repeatedly but I’m sure he’s the picture of health. No wonder all our enemies are pouncing simultaneously and mocking him publicly.” The second video was of Junior’s dad hitting a golf ball that, through the magic of video editing, hits Biden in the head and causes his stumble. The text to this tweet reads, “It wasn’t the wind folks.”
These videos tell us a lot about who Donald Trump, Jr. is but they also are examples of ageism.
Of course, this unlikeable pair of misfits (Trump and Miller) are not the only people who are publicly or privately saying Biden is too old to be president. W. James Antle, III of the Washington Examiner, for example, recently penned an article titled, “Age Questions Continue to Dog 78-year-old President.” In the article, Antle writes about what many saw as a recent Biden memory loss, “In a recent speech, Biden appeared confused about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s name. ‘I want to thank Sec- … the former general … I keep calling him ‘General,’ the president said of the retired Army four-star officer. ‘My … The guy who runs that outfit over there.’It was reminiscent of Biden’s election-year flub of the Declaration of Independence.”
Is this story legitimate news coverage or an example of ageism? Is it wrong for the press to report on the president’s health? On the latter question, the answer is yes. On the former question, it’s a bit of both—legitimate news and ageism.
So, what does recent reporting tell us about how ageism is treated in the press in 2021? The answer is that if another president would have flubbed Secretary Austin’s name, it would have been reported but would not necessarily have been linked to other incidents that also were offered as examples of age-related decline.
The recent events also tell us that ageism, while a recognized form of discrimination, doesn’t quite measure up to discrimination based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Slights and slurs against seniors that would be considered hate crimes or at least expressions of hate, if premised on race or one of the other recognized subjects of hate crimes, are tolerated if directed at “old geezers.” Old people continue to be depicted as technologically clueless and as doddering fools in many films and TV shows. You know the rest.
Today, age discrimination is a recognized form of employment discrimination, but check the statistics to see how often it is enforced. And then check with any person over 50 you may know who has recently sought employment. (And, although it is beyond the scope of this article, look at statistics relating to the reliability, integrity, and efficiency of older workers. The statistics support the conclusion that there is no legitimate basis to deny employment opportunities to anyone solely based on their age.)
Recent episodes of ageism directed at President Biden are troubling but perhaps unavoidable in today’s deeply divided America. If Biden succeeds in getting additional parts of his agenda enacted, expect more, and most likely more vicious attacks. Hopefully, the silver lining of these incidents will be some of us taking a fresh look at ageism—a subject America needs to confront and do something about.
J.E. Dean of Oxford is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, domestic policy, and occasionally goldendoodles.
Nancy Wells says
I’ll take “ageism” and a slight stumble up the stairs to toilet paper attached to the bottom of a shoe.
Chris Roberts says
Biden is leaking oil and it’s obvious. Posed as a statement to my democrat friends, most just reply with some version of “at least he’s not Trump.”
You can’t possibly argue that he hasn’t lost a step or three since his last term as VP. It’s not ‘Ageism’ to state the obvious. It’s also not ‘Ageism’ to want the leader of the free world – in arguably the most physically and mentally demanding job in the free world – to be at the top of his/her game – sharp, quick-witted, engaging, energetic, and inspiring.
Maybe those are descriptors of a younger Joe Biden, but not the one that sits in the White House today.
John Dean says
Thanks for reading the piece. President Biden “leaking oil” wasn’t obvious to me.
You are right that Biden has aged since his VP years and that, ideally, the president should be “at the top of their game.” Historically, we have rarely had presidents “at the top of their game.” JFK had undisclosed health issues, Reagan suffered diminished mental capacity in his second term. Trump, at least in my view, had psychological issues.
In the overall scheme of things, Biden is doing okay. It is okay to ask questions about his healthy/fitness to office. it is not okay to ridicule him as Donald Trump, Jr. did.
Again, thanks for reading.
Kristina Herold says
Anyone can trip any time, especially on steps that are slippery. Even a new pair shoes an cause anyone to trip until they are broken in. Finally, I missed the apparent slip of the tongue by President Biden. In any case, I do assume that any highly visible official stays in close touch with their private doctor out of a sense of responsibility to the Nation, especially President Biden – who is known around the world as a highly responsible, ethical and moral man.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading and commenting on the piece.
Stephen Schaare says
There is generally decline with advancing age.For this most important post, that of President, maybe you want someone who does not show such rapid decline in recent years.
By no means would I try out for pro baseball in my fifties. Why? I no longer have the skills to compete with much younger men. This particular, individual, President Biden, no longer has the skills for this very demanding job. When the fifty year old is not hired by the baseball team, is that ageism? I say no. The time for that employment has passed.
There are many 78 year old men who do, still have the mental acumen for the Oval office. Joe Biden does not happen to be one of them.
Believe me, I want President Biden to remain in good health. I cannot possibly envision the empty headed cackling schoolgirl Harris as leader of this once great Republic.
You bristle at the unpleasant remarks of former Trumpster staff, after all the derision, lies, and persecution he endured for years? To mention unsubstantiated cocaine use by Donald Trump Jr. when you have Hunter Biden, who admitted to being in drug rehab at least sixty times? The cable channels are still, today, showing Trump going down steps at West Point and commenting on his fitness. Remember when there was an abundance of chat regarding the 25th amendment as a vehicle to remove a deranged Trump from office? One of the FBI criminals was going to “wear a wire” to a meeting to catch the crazy man on tape.
President Biden has not, and never will receive the pummeling Trump endured. Why, even one of my favorite writers mocked and diminished Trump with the theme of ” Seven Deadly Sins”
President Biden is not a victim of “ageism”. He is the victim of some very poor advice from his family and inner circle, all of them encouraging him to run for President.
John Dean says
I would encourage you to view the YouTube videos posted by Donald Trump, Jr., who, unlike Hunter Biden, has served as a surrogate for his father. Also, review President Trump’s comments on Biden–many of them suggesting that Biden is senile or disabled.
As I commented in one of the responses above, it is okay to inquire about the president’s state of health/fitness for office. Ridiculing him and attempting to discredit him with ageist attacks is not.
Despite his age, I believe Biden is a much healthier president than Trump was.
John Fischer says
I voted for President Biden and am saddened and worried at his decline. But I don’t think it’s helpful to attempt to cancel the comments of those who remark on that readily apparent situation as yet another -ism.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment. As I indicated above, it is okay to inquire and worry about the president’s health and fitness for office. I acknowledge that sometimes the president shows his age. I don’t believe he is no longer fit to serve as president.
I also believe, strongly, that attacking seniors with ridicule or attempting to discredit their views through attacks based on age, is wrong.
Deirdre LaMotte says
It must be quite difficult for anti-Biden people. He has accomplished so much in two months…just
breathtaking in his fortitude. Keep up the great work Joe…our nation needs you after what we’ve endured!!
Stephen Schaare says
Please understand, we are not “anti-Biden.” We are pro American.Yes! You mentioned Joe Biden’s accomplishments in just two months time. You must be referring to the tragedy at our southern border.
More good news! VP Harris has just been put in charge of the border! God help us.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Ha, ha, another defection.
No, I’m speaking of Biden successfully gettin
100 million vaccine shots administered in 59 days and getting a $242B in stimulus checks sent to 90 million.
Your man got 500,000 people killed because he doesn’t care for anyone except his miserable self.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Oh, and one cannot be “pro-American”
and support overturning a free election.
This is the present GOP. Nothing but
fascist.
Dodie Theune, PhD says
I am the curriculum chair for the Chesapeake Forum, an Academy for Life Long Learning. I am looking for someone to lead a Zoom “Conversations” programs for our Fall semester on the following topics:
** Ageism in America
** Unity & American Democracy
** Post Pandemic: What will a New Normal Look Like
** Social Emotional Learning
** Consciousness and Neuroscience