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Obama says Democrats in “uncharted waters” after Biden withdraws
Washington — Former President Barack Obama commended President Biden “a patriot of the highest order” in a statement on his decision to withdraw from the 2024 race for the White House but did not follow in Mr. Biden’s footsteps and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the nomination.
“Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me,” the statement released Sunday said, adding that Mr. Biden “pointed us away from the four years of chaos, falsehood, and division that had characterized Donald Trump’s administration.”
He added, “I also know Joe has never backed down from a fight. For him to look at the political landscape and decide that he should pass the torch to a new nominee is surely one of the toughest in his life. But I know he wouldn’t make this decision unless he believed it was right for America. It’s a testament to Joe Biden’s love of country — and a historic example of a genuine public servant once again putting the interests of the American people ahead of his own that future generations of leaders will do well to follow.”
But Obama did not endorse Harris in the statement, saying the Democratic Party “will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead,” but he has “extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”
“I believe that Joe Biden’s vision of a generous, prosperous, and united America that provides opportunity for everyone will be on full display at the Democratic Convention in August,” Obama said. “And I expect that every single one of us are prepared to carry that message of hope and progress forward into November and beyond.”
Obama has campaigned with his former vice president a couple times this year, but was publicly silent about the calls for Mr. Biden to withdraw from the race, which came amid reporting from several news outlets that Obama was expressing concern behind the scenes about his chances of winning in November.
Obama picked Mr. Biden, then a senator representing Delaware since 1973, in 2008 to be his vice president.
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Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, dies at 84
Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, died Friday, a producer who worked with him confirmed to CBS News. He was 84 years old.
A post on his Instagram account said Lesh “passed peacefully this morning.”
“He was surrounded by his family and full of love. Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love. We request that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time,” the post said.
One of America’s most enduring musical groups, The Grateful Dead was formed as a quintet in California in 1965, according to their official website. Jerry Garcia, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, Bob Weir Bill Kreutzmann and Phil Lesh made up the original band members. The band signed to Warner Brothers in late 1966, releasing their self-titled debut later that spring.
The band went on to tour for the next half-decade — an era, the band said was their most creatively fertile. Somea members left, some died, and others were added, but the original magic of Phil Lesh and Jerry Garcia stayed intact through some of their most tumultuous years. Garcia died in 1995.
The Grateful Dead toured extensively garnering legions of fans around the world for their ability to play music and “jam.”
In 2007, the band received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Recording Academy.
The band broke the record for the most Top 40 albums to chart on the Billboard 200 in 2024. Even though the band disbanded in 1995 following the death of singer Jerry Garcia, its archival albums’ popularity pushed the music into the Top 40. Forty-one of the band’s 59 entries in the Top 40 have happened since 2012.