Taylor Swift, Oprah and a 'blitz primary': Well-connected Democrats including a former Obama and Clinton advisor issue bombshell memo detailing wild plot to replace Biden
A pair of well-connected Democrats have issued a bombshell memo detailing their wild plan to replace President Joe Biden on their 2024 ticket.
It would require Biden to step down as the head of the ticket by mid-July to pave the way for other Democrats to throw their hats in the ring for a 'blitz primary' that would feature celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Oprah, according to Semafor.
The six candidates with the most votes from delegates would also have to vow to run a positive-only campaign.
The plan is the brainchild of Rosa Brooks, a Georgetown law professor who served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations and as a volunteer policy adviser to the 2020 Biden campaign, as well as Ted Dintersmith, a venture capitalist and education philanthropist who has donated to a number of Democratic campaigns.
They have already circulated the plan to Democrat donors, as well as officials within the Biden campaign and administration - and say they have widespread support.
A pair of well-connected Democrats have issued a memo detailing their plan to replace President Joe Biden as the nominee
The plan is the brainchild of Rosa Brooks, a Georgetown law professor who served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations and as a volunteer policy adviser to the 2020 Biden campaign, as well as Ted Dintersmith, a venture capitalist and education philanthropist who has donated to a number of Democratic campaigns
Under the plan, Biden would have to step down as the Democratic nominee by mid-July and announce the new system to decide who would take his place, with the backing of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Any Democrats who wish to become the new nominee would then have just a few days to announce their candidacy, and the six who garner the most votes from delegates must pledge to run a positive-only campaign in the month leading up to the convention.
The so-called 'blitz primary' would then include weekly forums with each candidate moderated by cultural icons like Michelle Obama, Oprah and Taylor Swift.
The nominee would ultimately be chosen by delegates using a ranked-choice voting system before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19.
Brooks and Dintersmith then suggest the nominee should be unveiled on stage with Biden, former President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton.
Part of the plan calls for celebrities like Taylor Swift to hold weekly forums with the candidates
Brooks and Dintersmith also floated Oprah as a potential moderator
It insists donations would start to pour in if Democrats follow the plan, and argues Biden would be celebrated as a 'modern-day George Washington' - putting away his lust for power for the good of the country.
'We can limp to shameful, avoidable democracy-ending defeat. Or Democrats can make this Our Finest Hour,' the memo says.
'While we hope for help from Lord Almighty, the Lord helps those who help themselves,' it continues, apparently referencing Biden's make-or-break interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in which he said only the 'Lord Almighty' could tell him to drop out of the race.
'We need to act. Now,' the memo argues.
But it acknowledges that there are some issues with the plan, as Biden has thus far refused to step down.
Additionally, under the plan Vice President Harris would not automatically take the helm as several Democrats rally around her.
The 81-year-old president has insisted he is not dropping out of the race
Biden has been facing calls to drop out since his abysmal performance at the CNN debate on June 27
'Will it happen? Probably not, absent a timely decision by Party leaders, including President Biden, who truly put country first,' the memo says.
'Yes, President Biden has served his country with distinction for five decades. Yes, this honorable man deserves our respect, gratitude and admiration. But not our blind loyalty.
'America desperately wants an uplifting choice,' it says.
Still, Brooks said she has received near-universal support from those to whom she sent the memo - suggesting that party leaders would be on board if Biden backs it.
Under Brooks and Dintersmith's plan, Vice President Kamala Harris would not be guaranteed the nomination
The 81-year-old president has been facing calls to drop out since his abysmal performance at the CNN debate on June 27, when he repeatedly trailed off mid-sentence during the debate, and stood slack-jawed while Trump spoke.
Once it was finished, Biden was seen standing around his podium before First Lady Jill Biden eventually ushered him off the stage.
It has since been revealed that the president showed up late to his disastrous debate with Donald Trump.
He left his hotel in Atlanta 27 minutes late and arrived with less than half an hour to spare, with no time to learn where to look when Trump was talking, the Washington Post reported.
As a result, he often looked in the wrong direction and appeared like he was staring into space, barely aware of what was going on.
Biden later blamed 'exhaustion' and being 'sick' for his performance at the debate - claiming he even had to take a COVID test before the debate.
Biden arrived at the disastrous debate 27 minutes late, it has been revealed
He tried to prove he was still capable of running the country with the one-on-one interview with Stephanopoulos once again failed to convince even those in his own party that he has the mental fortitude required for four more years.
Words like 'heartbroken', 'doomed' and 'a f***king disaster' were all used by more than half a dozen Congress Democrats, according to NBC.
Another post-debate interview also made headlines after Biden said he was a 'black woman,' while apparently attempting to hail his appointment of Harris as vice president.
But it was later revealed that the president's team sent the interviewer at WURD radio in Philadelphia questions to ask the commander-in-chief.
That interviewer, Andrea Lawful-Sanders, has since been fired, with WURD saying in a statement that her use of pre-determined questions 'violates our practice of remaining an independent media outlet accountable to our listeners.'
It added that the 'practice of de-legitimizing black voices continues today,' and is concerned that any perception of accepting prepared questions will make it seem that the station is a 'mouthpiece' for the Biden administration.
Biden is plowing ahead with his campaign, making stops in Pennsylvania on Sunday
As of Sunday, at least 10 Democrats have called on Biden to withdraw from the race.
Judiciary Ranking Member Jerry Nadler and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano are among those who expressed they want Biden to end his White House bid.
Reps. Don Beyer, Adam Smith and Joseph Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, also said Biden is done for.
Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has begun organizing a group of Senate Democrats to discuss Biden's future.
Still, Biden is plowing ahead with his campaign - appearing at a predominantly black church and an ice cream shop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Sunday.
'Folks, with your permission, I'm going to find out if we have any ice cream,' Biden mumbled. 'You know, ain't it really dull when you have a president who's known for two things – Ray Ban sunglasses and chocolate chip ice cream?'
Some at the outdoor event described the president's remarks as hard-to-hear.
'If I stand here long enough all of those folks in the back are going to die of sun stroke,' Biden said. 'I'm not going to do that.'
