Newsmax Pounces On Special Counsel Report to Portray Biden As Senile

Like the Media Research Center, Newsmax seized on the Robert Hur report on the classified documents President Biden had in his possession while out of office and its side claims about Biden’s purported mental health to push the right-wing narrative that Biden is going senile. There were the usual right-wing talking heads:

• Rep. Ronny Jackson: Biden’s Physician Not to Be Trusted
• McLaughlin Poll: Biden’s Mental Fitness a ‘Weak Point’ for Voters
• Dick Morris to Newsmax: It Is on Paper That Biden’s ‘Senile and Incapable’
• Rep. McCormick to Newsmax: Biden’s Mental Decline Obvious
• Rep. Bucshon to Newsmax: Biden’s Family Should Urge Him to ‘Drop Out’
• Ronny Jackson to Newsmax: Biden’s Decline ‘Profound’
• Musk: Require Cognitive Tests for Presidents

Of course, Newsmax’s columnists helped advance the narrative as well. Michael Dorstewitz insisted in his Feb. 9 column that Biden can’t address the report without admitting to one thing or another:

In this case, if Biden and his team say nothing, the report stands, and he’s given a built-in defense for his misdeeds.

But if he objects to the senility findings, then he admits responsibility for the mishandling of the documents — and only a crazy person would admit to a serious felony.

That’s some catch, that Catch-22. Yup! It’s the best there is!

Right-wing pollsters (and Newsmax faves) John and Jim McLaughlin were in a mocking mood in a Feb. 12 column:

Everyone is talking about Joe Biden’s age – not his alleged corruption.

This is genius. 

Following the release of the Hur Report, everyone should have been talking about the abject negligence of what Biden had done in removing and keeping classified documents.

And the fact that his son, Hunter, may have had access to those same documents for his alleged influence peddling.

But there was seemingly no talking about that.

Instead, what should have been extensively talked about are Joe Biden’s apparent cognitive issues.

Worrisome issues indeed, but not as serious as the purported criminal ones.

[…]

If we really want to defeat Joe Biden in November, we should focus less on Biden being an “old fool” and more on Biden being a “malleable old fool.”

Jeff Crouere ranted in his Feb. 12 column:

The damning Special Counsel report on his mishandling of classified documents should have resulted in criminal charges. Instead, the Special Counsel said that Biden was too mentally frail to withstand a trial and that jurors would feel sympathy for an elderly man.

In his meetings with Biden, the Special Counsel noted Biden forgot when his son died and when he served as vice president. He characterized Biden’s answers to questions as “painfully slow.”

According to a recent NBC News poll, 76% of Americans are concerned about Biden’s age. They are correct, Biden is mentally incompetent and should be removed as President via the 25^thAmendment or impeachment.

At the very least, every congressional Republican should demand Biden submit to a mental competency test.

Of course, he will refuse the test because he will fail. Due to his condition, he is not conducting many news conferences or public events. Some supporters, such as commentator Van Jones, are recommending that he stay hidden during the upcoming campaign.

His policies and his mental incompetence make Joe Biden America’s biggest national security threat. In his deteriorated mental state, he cannot serve as Commander-in-Chief or have access to our nuclear codes.

Good news for Crouere: Sandy Fitzgerald reported in a Feb. 13 article that “House Republicans have plans to keep questions about President Joe Biden’s age and capacities alive for several weeks or even months to come.”