Do you remember how, in the early days of the Biden administration, the narrative was that "the adults are back in charge?" I don't doubt some people still believe that the Trump years were defined by endless chaos and that Joe Biden, with his decades of experience, would make America respected in the world again.
Well, are they even trying to keep up appearances anymore?
Joe Biden's State of the Union address is Thursday evening, and Biden is no stranger to political speeches. He's been in Washington, D.C. for many, many, many, many decades and has long cited his advanced age years of experience as something that people can count on to get things done. While it's obvious that wasn't true, the fact is that the White House knows a lot is riding on this speech, as it needs him to get through it without making any mistakes or glitching. So Biden is seeking the advice of other presidents.
And by other presidents, I mean actors who have played presidents in movies and television shows.
I wish I were joking, but I'm not. On Thursday morning, the official POTUS X/Twitter account shared a ridiculous video featuring Biden, the man who currently portrays the president on television, seeking the advice of Hollywood actors about his speech.
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The actors included Morgan Freeman, who portrayed the president in "Deep Impact"; Bill Pullman, who portrayed the president in "Independence Day"; Geena Davis, who portrayed the president in the short-lived television series "Commander-in-Chief"; and Michael Douglas, who portrayed the president in "The American President."
Before you ask, Kevin Spacey was not included in the pow-wow, despite his performance as President Frank Underwood in "House of Cards."
But seriously, this actually happened. This is not a joke. The White House thought this little staged encounter with Biden seeking advice for such an important and consequential speech was a good idea.
And yes, the entire thing was as cringeworthy as it sounds.
You may’ve heard I’ve got a big speech coming up.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 7, 2024
So, I thought I would hear from some folks who have done the job before – sort of. pic.twitter.com/7wFYVQm7Xm
"Biden asking five fake presidents on a Zoom call what he should say is very on brand for this mess of a [White House]," quipped Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas).
Very true. Think about it. Would you seek medical advice from Ellen Pompeo, Neil Patrick Harris, or Hugh Laurie just because they played doctors on television? I suspect you wouldn't. Frankly, I can't imagine anyone would.
The reason doesn't even require an explanation because it goes without saying that playing a doctor on television doesn't make you a doctor. You haven't had the education or training to be even remotely qualified to give medical advice. Not only would you not go to them for medical advice, but you'd probably be a bit concerned if your doctor consulted one of them or some other actor who portrays a doctor before making medical decisions that affect you, right?
Of course, what this really tells us is that this speech is no different from the performances of Hollywood actors. Biden is reading a script that he's been rehearsing endlessly. Heck, the White House wiped his public schedule clean on Thursday to give him hours of rehearsal and rest time in the hopes that the speech will be executed perfectly.
Perhaps they should just run clips of "Deep Impact," "The American President," and "Independence Day" instead.
