The "ableism" defense of Joe Biden is hopelessly confused

Identitarian rhetoric is leading Biden partisans down a ridiculous path.

Natalie Louise Shorter, Virginia’s Regional Director for Biden-Harris 2024:

Ableist comments against the President starkly contrast with the Democratic Party's values of inclusivity and equality. This issue isn't just about age; it's also about race and gender. The prospect of a Black female VP becoming president highlights society's discomfort with breaking traditional power structures. Discrimination based on age or any characteristic mirrors the exclusionary tactics that fueled conflicts like WWI and WWII.

There’s been a modest uptick in this rhetoric about “ableism” over the past week as Biden supporters continue to cope with the fallout from his disastrous debate performance. I do not, however, think the national campaign is likely to embrace it. The charge of ableism against Biden’s critics isn’t just confused — it is offensive, and is more likely to alienate voters than draw them in.