In the 1984 election, the Leftmedia incessantly made Ronald Reagan’s age an issue. At 73 and already the oldest president in history, Reagan was thought to be losing a step and not up to the job for another four years. At 81, Joe Biden has blown that record out of the water while running under the campaign slogan “finish the job.” What a howler!

I was reminded of Reagan when Biden joked about his age compared to his opponent at this past weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. You see, in a 1984 debate with Minnesota’s Walter Mondale, Reagan deftly dispensed with the age question in one expertly delivered joke that made even his questioner and opponent crack up laughing:

“I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

Mondale later said he knew at that moment he’d lost the election.

A handler or two must’ve coached Biden with Reagan’s answer in mind because he went to the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner and tried to joke about his age, hoping to dismiss it as an issue. (Spoiler alert: He failed.)

“The 2024 election’s in full swing, and yes, age is an issue. I’m a grown man running against a six-year-old.”

“Well, I feel great. I really feel great. I’m campaigning all over the country — Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina. I’ve always done well in the 13 original colonies.”

“Age is the only thing we have in common. My vice president actually endorses me.”

He also called Trump “Sleepy Don,” which was probably a reference to stories about Trump appearing to nod off during one of his numerous courtroom sessions. The trouble is that Biden didn’t even bother to come up with an original insult, instead directly stealing and repurposing Trump’s “Sleepy Joe” moniker.

The elephant in the room is that Biden’s goons are tying up Trump in court in four major cases loaded with bogus charges, and that’s after two civil trials with ludicrous financial penalties. Trying to bankrupt and imprison your political opponent is a real knee-slapper, Joe.

Speaking of “threats to democracy,” Biden naturally used his brief stand-up routine to focus on January 6. At least he remembered the date this time, having misstated it as “June 6” a day earlier.

The press, he insisted, is critical in this election. Well, yeah — the Democrats’ Praetorian Guard always interferes in elections. “On the third anniversary of January 6,” Biden said somberly, “I went to Valley Forge, and I said the most urgent question of our time is whether democracy is still — is still the sacred cause of America. That is the question the American people must answer this year, and you, the free press, play a critical role in making sure the American people have the information they need to make an informed decision.”

That might have been the best joke of the evening. The Leftmedia absolutely does not make sure the American people have good information. Just to pick an example at random, Hunter Biden’s laptop revelations of Joe Biden’s corruption were almost uniformly suppressed until after the 2020 election. Later polling indicated that information would have cost Biden the election because voters wouldn’t have elected a corrupt influence-peddler. Some might call such interference a threat to democracy.

“I’m sincerely not asking you to take sides,” Biden added, “but asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment.” He doesn’t have to ask them to take sides. They’re dutifully on his side already. Barack Obama didn’t have to ask Lois Lerner to target the Tea Party, either.

Actually, the funny thing about Biden, Obama, and the press is that both presidents treat their lapdogs like, well, lapdogs. “Some of you complained that I don’t take enough of your questions. No comment,” Biden chuckled.

Journalists themselves may laugh as part of the show, but it was just last week that The New York Times issued a harrumphing statement complaining, “Mr. Biden has granted far fewer press conferences and sit-down interviews with independent journalists than virtually all of his predecessors.”

Why is that the case? Because he’s old, and it shows. And because Joe Biden is no Ronald Reagan.

WATCH: President Biden complete remarks at 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.#WHCA #WHCD #nerdprom pic.twitter.com/DHyHqW6S0y

— CSPAN (@cspan) April 28, 2024