Thursday, August 06, 2020

COGNITIVE TEST: CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ELEPHANT AND A LION?

Biden hits back at reporter asking if he took a cognitive test: ‘Are you a junkie?’

 

By Max Cohen

 

Politico

August 5, 2020

 

Joe Biden rebuked a reporter who asked if the former vice president had taken a cognitive test, claiming that asking the question was similar to asking the interviewer if he was using cocaine.

CBS correspondent Errol Barnett prompted the presumptive Democratic nominee to clarify if he had taken a test measuring his mental acuity, leading to a tense exchange.

"No, I haven't taken a test. Why the hell would I take a test? Come on, man,” Biden said. “That's like saying to you, before you got on this program if you had taken a test were you taking cocaine or not. What do you think, huh? Are you a junkie?"

A clip from the interview, which was conducted as part of the virtual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, was released Wednesday morning.

"It was a preposterous question deserving of a response that showed the absurdity of it all," a Biden campaign official told POLITICO.

Biden has long bristled at claims that he is mentally slowing. President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is prioritizing Biden’s cognitive ability as a key issue, aiming to portray Biden as doddering and incompetent.

At a press conference in late June, a reporter asked Biden if he had taken a cognitive test. The former vice president did not directly answer and instead claimed he was “constantly tested” by the demands of the campaign trail. 

“I can hardly wait to compare my cognitive capability to the cognitive capability of the man I’m running against,” Biden said at the time. 

In the interview segment released on Wednesday, Biden again went after Trump.

"Well, if he can't figure out the difference between an elephant and a lion, I don't know what the hell he's talking about,” Biden said, referencing questions on Trump’s reported cognitive test that made headlines during a July interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News.

Biden, who is 77, would be the oldest person to assume the presidency on Inauguration Day if he is elected, beating Trump, 74, who is the current record-holder.

A June POLITICO/Morning Consult poll found voters largely viewed Trump and Biden’s health the same, with slightly more voters responding the Republican was in poorer health.

4 comments:

bob walsh said...

Clearly Biden is loosing it. Any time he is in a non-controlled, non-scripted environment his train of thought goes off the tracks and he goes after whoever is handy to focus on. The debates, if they actually take place, should be LOTS of fun.

Trey Rusk said...

I don't like Joe Biden but I saw pain in his eyes as he grasped for words. For a moment he looked lost, angry then sad. I wouldn't wish Dementia or Alzheimer's disease on anyone. It is a cruel way to go. He is not mentally fit to be President.

Dave Freeman said...

There will be no debates Bob. A compelling reason for not doing it will surface at the last minute. You can bet on it.

bob walsh said...

Personally I am reasonably confident they will find a way to wiggle Biden out of it, though I confess I think it is possible he actually believes he is still sharp as a butter knife and will refuse to bow out thinking it will make him look bad. Of course they could always tell him Trump backed out, he'd never know the difference.