Physician in Congress says president’s cognitive decline obvious

(The Center Square) – President Joe Biden’s health has “obviously had a decline” and left America without a commander in chief “to stand strong, to think well, to think hard for the American people in times of crisis,” says North Carolina’s lone practicing physician in Congress.

“In my tenure, I’ve seen many, many individuals succumb to cognitive decline,” Rep. Dr. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., says in the 81-second video posted about 2 p.m. Thursday to his social media channel. “ Tragedy, two weeks ago , when we saw the president of the United States exhibit those qualities of decline of cognition.”

Murphy said he takes great pride in his role as a physician for 35 years. In his specialty, the urologist says he’s taken care of “a lot of older individuals.” He recently took a short leave from Washington himself , announcing May 21 he would have surgery for pituitary macroadenoma, a tumor at the base of his skull.

Murphy, one of 19 practicing physicians in Congress , said Biden’s health has been hidden by “the White House, by many people in politics, even people of celebrity status.”

As the day began, 10 members of Congress from his party had publicly called on Biden to not pursue a second term. They are Sen. Peter Welch from Vermont; and Reps. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Mike Quigley of Illinois, Angie Craig of Minnesota, Adam Smith of Washington, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, Pat Ryan of New York, and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon.

“He’s obviously had a decline in the ability to think, to react, to assimilate data,” Murphy said. “What we’re facing now is a country that – we were always at risk, we were always in peril of other forces coming in from the outside. We now have a president that, by and large, the majority of individuals do not feel he is up to the task.

“Even more concerning is the fact that the media, the White House, political figures on that side, have lied to the American people. And so, I’m concerned about the president’s health now. He’s in my prayers. But we need a president of the United States that is able to stand strong, to think well, to think hard for the American people in times of crisis. And sadly enough, today we don’t have one.”

Biden, his wife Jill, Vice President Kamala Harris and others have steadfastly said he will not drop out of the presidential race. All three have appeared on the campaign trail in North Carolina since Biden's June 27 debate against former President Donald Trump.