New York Times’ Maureen Dowd says Dems staged ‘coup’ against Biden

Dowd agreed that the decision to replace Biden was necessary, arguing that he was unlikely to be able to campaign effectively or serve another full term in office. She noted the dramatic shift in the party’s plans for the convention, which had initially been expected to feature Biden as the nominee. Instead, there is now a new sense of optimism and excitement with Kamala Harris stepping in as the Democratic nominee.

In her column, Dowd highlighted the abrupt change among Democrats who had previously supported Biden but later conspired to push him out of the race. She described how many of these Democrats had to admit on cable news that they had been unable to reach the president, who was reportedly sulking.

"Democrat after Democrat who had been close to Biden before conspiring to push him out had to confess to cable anchors that they had not been able to talk to the president, who was sulking in his tent,” she wrote.

Dowd also discussed the influential figures within the Democratic Party who were behind the push for Biden to step aside, including Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and former President Barack Obama.

“The president already resented Obama for shoving him aside for Hillary, and he resented Hillary for squandering that opportunity and losing to Trump. Even though Obama tried to do everything quietly to protect his saintly status, Joe was furious that Obama was sidelining him twice,” Dowd said.

She further claimed that party leaders had “whitewashed the coup by ornately extolling Biden,” pointing to left-wing figures like James Clyburn, who praised Biden’s time in office despite his decision to withdraw from the election.

Despite expressing criticism with the process of ousting Biden as the nominee in the upcoming election, Dowd still said that the party leaders should “be proud.” She also wrote that this decision likely saved their party from a crushing defeat.