Was that a cream puff interview between George Stephanopoulos and President Biden? How did Biden do? What is the goal of the press now?
Here’s a big question: Why Is the Press No Longer Covering Up for Biden?
Before diving into the interview, see if you can come up with my musical tribute song. Big hint and perhaps a giveaway: The older you are, the more likely you are to come up with the song.
Also, think of a reason for the change in heart by the press. I link to a poll on X with four possible answers.
ABC Interview Transcript: One on One With Joe Biden
Please consider ABC’s George Stephanopoulos’ exclusive interview with President Biden: Full transcript
A Cream Puff Interview?
My answer is no, not even close. And here are a few interview snips that prove the point.
Stephanopoulos : But what has all that work over the last three-and-a-half years cost you physically, mentally, emotionally?
Biden: Well, I– I– I just think it cost me a really bad night, bad run, but, you know, I– George. I have– I’m optimistic about this country. I don’t think we’re a country of losers that he points out. I don’t think America’s in tough shape. I think America is on the cusp of breaking through in so many incredible opportunities. …….
Stephanopoulos: I– I– I understand that, and I’m not disputing that. What I’m asking you is– about your personal situation. Do you dispute that there have been more lapses, especially in the last several months?
Biden: Can I run the 100 in 10 flat? No. But I’m still in good shape.
Stephanopoulos: Are you more frail?
Biden: No. [This is an obvious lie and the public can see it]
Stephanopoulos: I know you
Biden: Come keep my schedule. (LAUGH) [Biden tried to make a joke of this, but I think it backfired]
Stephanopoulos pressed Biden hard with the follow-up questions.
Stephanopoulos: I know you said you have an ongoing assessment. Have you had a full neurological and cognitive evaluation?
Biden: I’ve had– I get a full neurological test everyday with me. And I’ve had a full physical. I had, you know, I mean, I– I’ve been at Walter Reed for my physicals. I mean–uhm yes, the answer.
Stephanopoulos: I– I know your doctor said he consulted with a neurologist. I– I guess I’m asking– a slightly different question. Have you had the specific cognitive tests, and have you had a neurologist, a specialist, do an examination?
Biden: No. No one said I had to. No one said. They said I’m good.
Stephanopoulos: Would you be willing to undergo an independent medical evaluation that included neurological and cognit– cognitive tests and release the results to the American people?
Biden: Look. I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test. Everything I do. You know, not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world. Not– and that’s not hi– sounds like hyperbole, but we are the essential nation of the world.
Still Tougher
Stephanopoulos: … the American people have been watching, yet their concerns about your age and your health are growing. So that’s why I’m asking — to reassure them, would you be willing to have the independent medical evaluation?
Biden: Watch me between– there’s a lotta time left in this campaign. There’s over 125 days. [Yes, we watched you repeatedly duck very pointed tough questions]
Stephanopoulos: So the answer–
Biden: They’ll make a decision.
Stephanopoulos: Right—the answer right now is, no, you– you don’t want to do that right now.
Biden: Well, I’ve already done it.
Stephanopoulos: Mr. President, I’ve never seen a President 36% approval get reelected.
Biden: Well, I don’t believe that’s my approval rating. That’s not what our polls show.
A Huge Dose of Arrogance
Stephanopoulos: You know, the heart of your case against Donald Trump is that he’s only out for himself, putting his personal interests ahead of the national interest. How do you respond to critics who say that by staying in the race, you’re doing the same thing?
Biden: Oh, come on. Well, I don’t think those critics know what they’re talkin’ about.
Stephanopoulos: They’re just wrong?
Biden: They’re just wrong. Look, Trump is a pathological liar.
Full Video Interview
I cannot find a YouTube video to embed but here is a Link to the Full Vide Interview.
For most of the clips above, please play the interview starting at the 7:00 minute mark to the 10 minute mark.
At the 8:50 mark Biden mentions a phone call on the morning of the interview. He momentarily forgot who it was with. After stumbling a bit remembered it was Netanyahu.
Hard Hitting Interview
That was a very hard-hitting interview. Stephanopoulos did his job, much better than expected.
There were so many key parts that I did not list them all. I suggest you read the whole transcript. Biden is every bit the liar Trump is, however, Biden is far more polite about it.
Biden’s response is weak and visible to the public. On one hand Biden says he doesn’t need a test then brags he has a cognitive test every day.
Answers like these that prove Biden is hiding something.
If Biden truly believes he is the best person who can beat Trump, then he is as delusional as he sounds.
Press is No Longer Willing to Cover Up for Biden
The interview confirms a new and refreshing development that started the night of the debate.
Across the board, the press is no longer willing to cover up for Biden. But why?
Why Is the Press No Longer Covering Up for Biden?
It’s safe to rule out #1.
If it was #3 we would see some apologies. Has anyone seen a hint of apologies?
So is it #2 or #4 or some combination?
Note that #2 does not imply a conspiracy between news organizations. But it does imply a decision at top of each organization to allow its reporters to pursue individual agendas that collectively appear to be collusion.
It’s a Biden Question
Think of “she” as the liberal media.
“Does she love me with all her heart? Should I worry when we’re apart? It’s a lover’s Biden question, I’d like to know. Does she need me as she pretends? Is this a game and will I win? It’s a lover’s Biden question.”
The liberal media is no longer pretending, no matter what the reason. And the longer Biden stays in the race, the more reporting there will be on every slip.
The press is likely to keep this up this behavior at least until the nomination. Meanwhile, more and more minds will be made up that Biden has been lying and the press has been willing to cover it up.
Once the nomination is final, it will be interesting to see if the Press goes back to its previous ways.
NPR Slams the Interview
As strong evidence the pretending is over, please consider the NPR report on the interview: Six Takeaways from Biden’s High-Stakes Interview.
1. He was better than in the debate, but Biden’s age is clearly showing.
Biden may have calmed some nerves among some political allies with the interview, but he didn’t show the facility and coherence that Democrats would have wanted to see. His thoughts were, at times, scattered and less than clear.
2. Biden showed his stubbornness, for good or ill.
Biden again reiterated that he’s not getting out of the race, and even went so far as to claim that essentially no one else could do the job as well as he is doing it or be a better candidate against Trump.
3. Only the “Lord Almighty” could force Biden from the race — or maybe his closest allies in Democratic leadership.
“If the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get out of the race,’ I’d get out of the race,” Biden said. “The Lord Almighty’s not coming down.”
4. There’s a question of whether Biden thinks Vice President Harris can win or do the job as well.
“I don’t think anybody’s more qualified to be president or win this race than me,” Biden contended.
He later asked, incredulously, who else would have the “reach” he has with allies and whether anyone else could handle foreign policy as well as he can — even though he’s clearly diminished from what he was even a few years ago.
Not even, say, his vice president? Stephanopoulos didn’t follow up with that, but it was curious.
5. This is a critical week for polls.
We are now entering week two after the debate. It usually takes a couple of weeks for public opinion to solidify. Polls this week have shown Biden hurt by the debate — the degree to which is debatable.
So, this is an important period for whether Biden can weather this storm or not. There are Democrats firmly behind Biden certainly. But many, if not most, others are biting their nails and waiting to see what the polls say.
6. This whole episode shows the stark difference between the Democratic and Republican parties.
That Democrats have raised as many questions as they have about Biden’s viability shows a huge difference between the major parties.
One party, the GOP, doesn’t seem to care if two dozen women have accused their nominee of sexual assault, don’t care if he ran a fraudulent foundation and a sham “university,” don’t care if he paid off a porn star, don’t care if he lies repeatedly, and don’t care if he was impeached twice or was convicted on almost three dozen felony counts.
The Democratic Party, on the other hand, is concerned about… Biden’s age, not his character or priorities for the country.
Fact Check Lie
That last NPR sentence above is false if you look at top issues. I will discuss the polls later.
But “the whole episode” shows one thing clearly: The liberal press has been caught in a massive coverup that can no longer be hidden.
Biden’s Dilemma
The longer Biden keeps up this charade, the harder his fall when it happens, alternatively the greater the debacle if it doesn’t.
Some polls are already out and they look nasty. I have some poll coverage coming up. The results are very interesting.
Meanwhile, in case you missed it …
The Unemployment Rate Bottomed a Year Ago, Who’s Impacted the Most?
The unemployment rate has been slowing rising for about a year depending on age group and race. A pair of charts spotlights the issue.
Please consider The Unemployment Rate Bottomed a Year Ago, Who’s Impacted the Most?
I post two charts on race and age. Those chart explain the political polls we see, especially age group.