Call Trump's bluff.
Donald Trump challenged Biden to a public test of physical and mental fitness. Trump walked into a trap.
Joe Biden should accept the challenge, promptly and very publicly. Offer to meet right now, this week, shirtless and in shorts, for a fitness duel. A showdown. Test ability to do chin-ups and sit-ups. Add a test of flexibility by a test of touching one's toes. Add a cardiovascular-style treadmill test.
Humiliate Trump.
Joe Biden has a problem. People think he looks old, weak, and mentally diminished. Voters across the board see it and worry about it. Biden has been trying to address the issue by minimizing it, deflecting to calling it "experience." That approach isn't working.
The solution to a bad body-language message -- Biden is old and frail -- is another and more vivid body-language message. Biden doesn't need to look young. He just needs to look more fit than Donald Trump.
I don't know the facts on Biden's physical and mental condition. I know what I see. I see a slender man of 80 who walks carefully, in the manner of people worried about falling, which comes across as feeble. But I read that he works out for an hour every day. He certainly appears to care of himself. I am guessing he can do a few chin-ups and more than a few sit-ups. I am pretty sure he can touch his toes. I know he can ride a bicycle.
I don't know the real facts on Trump's physical health, either. I know what I see. Trump generally looks solid and comfortable standing at a lectern. A dark blue suit covers up flaws. His trademark extra-long red tie covers his midsection. He pretends to weigh 215. I know he plays a lot of golf, and that he uses a golf cart. He is confident enough about his health to make the challenge, but I am sure he does not want to appear in public shirtless, and I am confident he would struggle mightily to do chin-ups, sit-ups, touch his toes, or walk any distance uphill.
There are lots of altered photographs of both Biden and Trump circulating on the web, which is why I used one of my own of Biden. The one below of Trump with Brett Favre is from a Reuters report on altered photos. They used this one to illustrate an example of an un-altered one.
I think Biden would easily win the contest of physical fitness measured by tests to lift one's body weight or flexibility. People who work out for an hour every day do cardio work, and my money would be on Biden for the inclined treadmill test, too.
Presidents need to know about present and past foreign alliances, the names and interests of foreign heads of state and their governments, the names and priorities of key Members of Congress, about legislative process, about U.S. laws and the Constitution. Challenge Trump to a mental test written by presidential scholars on subjects that concern the president's job. This is Biden's home turf. He has spent a lifetime in preparation for that test.
Challenge Trump. People think Biden is weak, so he has nothing to lose, but Biden would not lose. But don't worry: Trump won't accept the challenge.
Trump will not want to risk losing. Biden could badger Trump to put up or shut up. Turn the subject from Biden's weakness into Trump's refusal to prove up. Trump's substantial political base enjoys seeing Trump-the-bully dominate his opponents. He comes across as fearless and indomitable, whether he is grabbing women, humiliating political opponents, or claiming Mexico will pay to build a wall. They like his swagger. But there is something else a great many people enjoy seeing. People like seeing bullies put back in their place by the scrappy little guy. We enjoy seeing the bully shown to be a fraud.
This is Biden's chance to change the story on "fitness for office." Trump will go from offense to defense. Biden should keep pressing. Trump understands reality TV. He knows people would watch and they will be disappointed not to see the showdown. He knows he would look ridiculous struggling to do a chin-up, losing to Biden.
Accept the challenge, Joe.
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Once again I am experimenting with a short video version of this post, which I upload to social media sites, where they appear to get about a thousand views. I welcome suggestions from readers.
Great idea. Trump would faint after the first attempt at a sit-up.
I think this is a good suggestion and I agree that Biden would outperform Cheeto in most any test of physical strength or endurance. Even if Cheeto actually were willing (he won't be), Faux viewers would NEVER see the results of him attempting to do a push up or chin-up, but those questioning Biden would, and that would be helpful to his candidacy.
I can just imagine the MEMEs that would come from any attempt of the 215 lb liar to actually do things a 215lb fit person might be able to do.