Biden health examination delay becomes cause of concern

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Washington Examiner
31 Jan 22:37
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The lack of transparency in US President Joe Biden's health examination results pushes Republicans to bridge their concerns regarding his health with those that arose over his classified documents scandal.

President Joe Biden listens during a news conference with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the 10th North American Leaders' Summit at the National Palace in Mexico City, January 10, 2023. (AP)

If he secured a second term, US President Joe Biden would be 82 during his second inauguration. However, his physical health has been a cause of concern and criticism for several of his opponents.

Currently, the White House is being pressed to reveal the findings of the President's health examination, given his age and most recent gaffes and missteps.

US Republicans have used Biden's age and health as an opportunity to further criticize the President on a more personal level where, for example, former family medicine practitioner and current Republican representative Scott DesJarlais said Biden's missteps are "certainly" a cause of concern.

"I think it would be important to see a very thorough and comprehensive cognitive function study that is released with transparency to the public," DesJarlais told the Washington Examiner, adding that "the American people want to know that their commander in chief is fully capable of performing at the highest level to protect the safety and security of our nation.”

Transparency in health examination questioned

Moreover, Republicans have bridged concerns of transparency pertaining to delays in revealing Biden's health examination results to those related to the classified documents found in his Washington, DC, think tank late in 2022.

A senior Republican noted, "Seriously, where is Biden? No press interviews, the White House press secretary has no credibility left, and the administration dodges, deflects, and delays on matters that deserve full transparency," emphasizing that "the American people deserve better than the dishonesty and evasiveness of Biden."

On the contrary, David Pietrusza, a historian, explained that "secrecy" when it came to the President's health has "more often" than not been "the norm". He then cited the non-publicized cancer operation that Woodrow Wilson conducted prior to his White House stroke and impaired vision.

Another example the historian gave was "[Franklin Roosevelt's] infirmity," which was "downplayed to an immense extent following his ascension to the presidency," as he noted that back then "the efforts to disguise his paralysis had taken on truly remarkable lengths."

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, was asked for information regarding the President's health examination over six times this past month, to which she responded by citing White House physician Kevin O'Connor's 2021 memorandum, which noted Biden's health as "very extensive."

It is worth noting that the last disclosed medical examination for Biden was in November 2021, which updated information that was initially offered much earlier in December 2019.

Moreover, Biden will be traveling across the US later this week to promote his $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure bill, according to the Washington Examiner.