Biden and Mental Competence — Letters that should have been in the new york times

3.8.19

To the editor

Frank Bruni (Donald Trump’s Outrageous 2020 Advantage) laments the seemingly double standard at play comparing Joe Biden’s misstatements to those of Donald Trump. But the appropriate response is not that others should be given a pass as Bruni implies in describing Biden’s gaffes as ‘picayune’.

Mental fitness is essential to fulfill the responsibilities of being President. If objective criteria existed, as they should, to make such an assessment Donald Trump would not be in office.

It matters if Biden’s errors reflect a stable benign trait or signs of cognitive impairment that may worsen over time. Ideally, the American public would not be left in a position to ponder this question.

Respectfully submitted
Larry S Sandberg