A weird video made the social media rounds on Tuesday. It was a clip of President Joe Biden denouncing his predecessor for his actions – or inaction – as the Jan. 6, 2021, rioters rushed into the Capitol.
What made the video odd was that Biden in one stretch went at least 34 seconds without blinking – when on average, humans blink about every four seconds to moisten and cleanse their eyes.
The wide-eyed Biden’s recitation of his lines has not fueled another demand by Republicans for the president to take a cognitive fitness test.
At the beginning of Biden’s presidency, Rep. Ronny Jackson, a Texas Republican who served as White House doctor for both Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama, was a lone voice demanding that Biden submit to such a test.
On Wednesday, 54 GOP lawmakers, led by Jackson, sent Biden a letter urging him to take a test.
“We believe that, regardless of gender, age, or political party, all Presidents should follow the example set by former President Trump to document and demonstrate sound mental abilities,” they wrote.
“We are worried about your mental abilities.”
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The letter cited poll data that showed 66 percent of Americans want Biden to take that test, 64 percent say he’s too old for the job, and 56 percent say he is not sufficiently mentally or physically fit to do the job.
The lawmakers noted that even Biden’s allies at The New York Times are also concerned.
According to the letter, the Times noted that Biden obviously shuffles his feet while walking, often slurs his words, loses his train of thought, struggles to summon names, and appears momentarily confused. The paper also highlighted that Biden’s staff repeatedly walks back his gaffes, and that he had to delay a trip to the Middle East so he could come home and rest up from a trip to Europe.
The lawmakers pointed how Biden’s behavior syncs with symptoms idenfitied by the Alzheimer’s Association.
“These assertions are extremely concerning and cast doubt upon your ability to handle the duties required of the President of the United States, which poses a very serious national security risk,” the letter said.
“These recent gaffes are not isolated incidents, as they are part of a larger history of your actions which exemplify cognitive decline.”
The Republican legislators pointed to several other examples of where Biden manifested behavior that indicated cognitive decline.
“The American people should have absolute confidence in their President, knowing that he or she can perform their duties as Head of State and Commander in Chief. They deserve full transparency on the mental capabilities of their highest elected leader. To obtain the level of transparency that the American people deserve, we once again urge you to submit to a cognitive test immediately,” they wrote.
“Further, we implore you to publish the results of this test after its conclusion, so the American people may be informed on your full cognitive capabilities, and so that you may continue this example for all Presidents going forward.”
They argue this should be a standard part of the president’s physical.
The lawmakers also maintained the issue was nonpartisan, as some Democrats believe a president’s mental state is worth analyzing.
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“We encourage you to follow the example set by President Trump, by undergoing a cognitive test as soon as possible and immediately making the results available for the American people,” they concluded.
The Florida lawmakers who signed the letter included Reps. Byron Donalds of Naples, Greg Steube of Sarasota, and Scott Franklin of Lakeland.
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