Democrats Accused of Ousting Biden in Coup

In a recent op-ed for the New York Times, columnist Maureen Dowd criticized the Democratic Party for orchestrating what she described as a “coup” against President Joe Biden, who ultimately decided to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Dowd noted that while Biden initially resisted calls to step down, he eventually conceded after significant pressure from influential party figures, including Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, who urged donors to withhold financial support. This maneuvering, she argued, was a shocking political maneuver, despite the rationale that Biden was not fit to campaign effectively. Dowd highlighted the irony of the Democrats, who have been vocal about the threats to democracy since 2020, engaging in such tactics. She pointed out that while they praised Biden’s record and framed his exit as a courageous decision, the underlying tensions remained unresolved. Biden's resentment towards Obama and Hillary Clinton for past political sidelining added to the discord within the party, complicating the narrative of unity. As Biden announced his withdrawal at the end of July, he quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. However, the endorsement came amid a backdrop of unease among both Biden and Harris's teams, as they navigated the shifting dynamics of party loyalty and ambition. Dowd concluded that the Democrats' actions, while aimed at preventing a potential defeat by Trump, ultimately undermined their own claims of safeguarding democracy. The op-ed has sparked discussions about the ethical implications of party politics and the future of the Democratic Party as it prepares for the upcoming election cycle.