Why Isn't Biden Blinking? POTUS's Uncanny Valley
Parkinson's? Bizarre video shows Joe staring into the camera with unblinking black eyes.
Stephanie Brail
Jul 27
I’m not sure what the Democrats were thinking when they posted this video yesterday:
Notice anything strange?
That’s right. Biden doesn’t blink once during the entire clip.
This didn’t go unnoticed by Twitter:
The lack of blinking leads to a sense of the “uncanny valley,” a post-modern design aesthetic that aims towards realism that is slightly “off,” making it extremely disturbing on a subconscious (and conscious) level.
On this level alone, highlighting that video clip was a major PR faux pas, on the level of Nixon sweating in his first televised presidential debate with Kennedy, which may have cost him the election:
(Honestly, I don’t think the sweating is that bad, but this was a different time.)
Biden’s lack of blinking is far worse than the little bit of sweat collecting under Nixon’s chin, and it led to a whole lot of online chatter.
Was the clip a “deep fake,” aka a CGI creation to cobble together a strong-sounding statement from Biden? Were parts of his face Photoshopped in for some odd reason? Was this even Biden or a body double?
In my mind, the optics of this video clip are absolutely terrible. It’s not just the odd blank stare with black eyes - reminiscent of the demons on Supernatural.
Biden is trying to appear tough and strong by making these statements about “insurrectionists.” But these harsh words are just pandering to his base. Independents are going to wonder why he’s being so divisive, and well, the rest are just going to be “eff you.”
(I’m one of those independents, formerly a lifelong Democrat, who wished Democrats would focus on something positive and forward-thinking instead of constantly beating up on Trump and his supporters.)
In the clip, Biden’s voice is stronger than usual, further aggravating the gossip that maybe this isn’t Biden at all.
The nasty, vicious tone, coupled with the blank stare, all contribute to the uncanny valley here…that personally, evoked in me a strong gut-level repulsion. Creeped out is how I feel.
What Medical Conditions Stop Blinking?
That said, in the interest of compassion, I am concerned that Biden has some sort of medical condition causing the lack of blinking. So I poked around online…it’s not easy to find, as “too much blinking” appears to be a more common symptom.
The first thing I found was a bit disturbing, from Quora (emphasis mine):
What is the medical condition that causes people to not blink?
Lack of a corneal reflex.
It is tested by rubbing a cotton swab on the cornea. If the person doesn't blink, the sensory nerve (blue) is damaged. If the person blinks with only one eye, the motor nerves (green and red) to the non-blinking eye are damaged.
The medical condition most commonly associated with a lack of a corneal reflex is being braindead, because it is caused by compression of the brainstem (caused by issues like a subarachnoid hemorrhage).
It is one of the diagnostic tests a doctor does to confirm the death of a patient. It is important to check for lenses before testing this, because they can surpress the reflex.
Braindead? Oh my.
Well, some may debate that, but Biden is still standing and talking. I looked further. Here’s what I found (emphasis mine):
Studies have shown the link between dopamine and blinking, as conditions or medications that affect dopamine also alter blinking rates. People with schizophrenia, who are affected by too much dopamine, therefore tend to blink their eyelids more often. In contrast, in Parkinson’s disease, which is caused by the death of dopamine-producing neurons, blinking is markedly reduced. Taking medication to increase dopamine levels accelerates blinking rate. But dopamine also relies on a diverse set of other functions, ranging from control of movements and hormonal levels to learning and motivation.
There may be other conditions that lessen blinking, and perhaps certain medications. However, the association between lack of blinking and Parkinson’s disease is very interesting, considering Biden’s obvious mental deterioration.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s include (from the Mayo Clinic):
Tremor. A tremor, or rhythmic shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. You may rub your thumb and forefinger back and forth. This is known as a pill-rolling tremor. Your hand may tremble when it's at rest. The shaking may decrease when you are performing tasks.
Slowed movement (bradykinesia). Over time, Parkinson's disease may slow your movement, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming. Your steps may become shorter when you walk. It may be difficult to get out of a chair. You may drag or shuffle your feet as you try to walk.
Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles can be painful and limit your range of motion.
Impaired posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped. Or you may fall or have balance problems as a result of Parkinson's disease.
Loss of automatic movements. You may have a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk.
Speech changes. You may speak softly, quickly, slur or hesitate before talking. Your speech may be more of a monotone rather than have the usual speech patterns.
Writing changes. It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear small.
All of this is not to diagnose Biden with Parkinson’s disease, as I am not qualified nor do I have a full medical history.
However, I can safely say that not blinking is not normal.
And as repulsed as I was by Biden in that video, I have compassion for him, because I have nervous system damage. It’s not progressive or anywhere near Parkinson’s and it’s emotionally trying and devastating. I would not wish a degenerative neurological disease on anyone, including the worst people in the world like Hitler or Mao.
My further question is who is running the Democrats’ media operation and why are they so clueless as to not to see the obvious health warning signs that are screaming at the rest of us?
I wouldn’t have highlighted that clip on Twitter. I would have virtually burned it and kept everyone from seeing it if I were on Biden’s PR team.
But the video is out there now…kind of like that time Hillary was “thrown into a van” after allegedly getting heat exhaustion at a 9/11 event:
People speculated at the time she had Parkinson’s too.
Is it fair for the public to speculate about the health of politicians? I think so. We are hiring them to take on very important, stressful jobs, and certainly the speculation occurs on both sides of the aisle.
I’ve said for a while that Biden seems very unhealthy and his energy says “Crypt Keeper” to me, so I’m frankly surprised he’s lasted this long. Why the Democrats are propping up an old white man with clear health problems despite being the party of “diversity” will continue to be a mystery to me.
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