DeKalb GA News

The New York Times faced criticism after an op-ed compared President Joe Biden to figures such as Beethoven and Scorsese, suggesting he was not suffering from dementia. This piece, published in March, has since been mocked by various commentators.

On Independence Day, podcast host Joe Rogan highlighted this criticism. He tweeted a sarcastic response to the op-ed, stating: "Oh, OK. I feel better now."

The original article by A.O. Scott referenced literary critic Edward W. Said's concept of "late style," which involves work that combines disenchantment and pleasure without resolving contradictions. The op-ed suggested that Biden's political career mirrored this concept through his evolution in style and persona.

Evan Osnos, writing for The New Yorker, noted changes in Biden's demeanor over the years, describing him as more solemn now compared to his earlier years marked by a "springy, mischievous energy." Osnos described Biden's current confidence as bordering on serenity.

Scott's article argued that while politics is not art, it shares similarities with craft and vocation. It posited that politicians like Biden develop personas similar to characters or constructs in performance arts.

Biden’s recent campaign style was portrayed as an attempt to rescue American liberal democracy during a time of perceived peril. The narrative suggested he frames his arguments using familiar rhetoric about striving families and justice.

Rogan’s tweet and the subsequent reactions highlight ongoing debates about media portrayals of political figures and their impact on public perception.