Overview
Former Biden White House official Michael LaRosa criticized Democratic leaders for defending President Joe Biden’s debate performance and questioned the reliability of their polling data. LaRosa’s frustration reflects broader concerns within the party about Biden’s viability for a second term.
Why It Matters
This highlights the internal discord within the Democratic Party and raises concerns about transparency and honesty in political communications.
Who It Impacts
This affects Democratic voters and party officials, as it underscores the challenges of maintaining party unity and voter confidence.
A former Biden White House official voiced his frustration on Sunday over the defense of President Joe Biden’s lackluster debate performance and declining poll numbers. Michael LaRosa, who served as press secretary to First Lady Jill Biden, directed his ire at former White House communications director Kate Bedingfield, accusing her of gaslighting the American public.
During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Bedingfield joined host and debate moderator Dana Bash to discuss the Thursday night debate that left many Democrats either defending Biden or questioning his ability to pursue a second term. Bedingfield admitted that the debate had not gone well for Biden but insisted that the overall dynamics of the race remained unchanged. “The reality is that the race has not fundamentally changed,” she claimed, emphasizing that post-debate data showed no significant shift in the head-to-head matchup.
"The reality is the race has not fundamentally changed," @kbeds says. "I think there's universal agreement [it] wasn't a great night for Joe Biden. He said as much. But what we see in all the data that has emerged since Thursday is the fundamental head-to-head hasn't shifted." pic.twitter.com/GVw81foAvl
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 30, 2024
However, LaRosa was not convinced. He took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to challenge Bedingfield’s assertions. “The data!? If there is data that counters the impact of what we all saw then WHERE THE HELL IS IT??? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?? SHOW US!” he demanded. His frustration was palpable as he accused Bedingfield of engaging in misleading spin tactics. “Jesus Christ with the gaslighting, the talking points, and the damn spinning. Enough already.”
LaRosa’s outburst did not stop there. He called for transparency from the Biden camp, urging them to reveal the data they claimed supported their narrative. “Show your supporters or the media this data so we can help you help him! You’ve told us for A YEAR that data and polling can’t be trusted … no one is paying attention … and all of the polling and data are unreliable,” he continued. LaRosa highlighted the contradiction in the Biden team’s stance on data reliability, pointing out their year-long undermining of public polling and media outlets. “Are we NOW supposed to believe it? You’ve been undermining all of the public data and polling and attacking news outlets and their independent data for a year! Is it now safe to trust the data? Should we believe your data instead of independent media data and polling??? Ok, cool. WHERE THE HELL IS IT?”
The data!? If there is data that counters the impact of what we all saw then WHERE THE HELL IS IT??? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?? SHOW US! Jesus Christ with the gaslighting, the talking points, and the damn spinning. Enough already.
Show your supporters or the media… https://t.co/qSuwNOTgU5
— Michael LaRosa (@MichaelLaRosaDC) June 30, 2024
The internal discord within the Democratic Party over Biden’s performance and the reliability of polling data underscores a significant challenge for his re-election campaign. While some leaders attempt to downplay the impact of the debate, others, like LaRosa, demand accountability and transparency. This division reflects broader concerns about the effectiveness of Biden’s communication strategy and his overall ability to lead the party to victory in the upcoming election.
Michael LaRosa’s public criticism encapsulates the growing unease among Democrats regarding Biden’s candidacy. As questions about his cognitive abilities and leadership persist, the party faces the daunting task of unifying its message and restoring confidence among its supporters.
