An embarrassing day for the White House press corps

[Counselor706]

There was a huge buildup before President Biden's first formal news conference Thursday. Why had he waited 64 days to meet the press? Were his White House press handlers worried he would commit some classic Biden gaffes? Would he do just that?

The biggest omission: The reporters did not ask a single question about the COVID pandemic. Not one. Not about vaccines. Not about masks. Not about economic effects. Not about schools. Nothing. There was no explanation for it, other than perhaps the reporters who were selected to ask questions were remarkably out of touch with the American people, who consistently list the pandemic as the most important issue facing the country today. Biden even began the news conference with a statement about his pandemic policies. The reporters' lack of interest was simply inexplicable. The headline in Politico was "Biden meets the press and the pandemic disappears."

Just as bad, some of the reporters failed to follow up -- failed to explore the meaning of Biden's answers -- in a way that left Biden completely unchallenged. Take the many questions about the Democratic drive to eliminate the Senate filibuster. They were asked from a why-don't-you-do-it standpoint -- that is, from the standpoint of the left wing of the Democratic Party. Reporters failed entirely to probe Biden's earlier support for the filibuster and why it appears to be changing.

Finally, the fawning. Asking about the influx of unaccompanied minor children illegally crossing the border, PBS's Yamiche Alcindor said this to Biden: "The perception of you that got you elected -- as a moral, decent man -- is the reason why a lot of immigrants are coming to this country and entrusting you with unaccompanied minors." It was first-class sweet talk from a press that appears unconcerned about its reputation for obsequiousness.

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[icanhelp1]

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I find it amusing that Biden’s random press Corp selections evaded all adversarial news agencies which I’m sure was strictly the luck of the draw. What a farce!

 

[LukSkyFokker]

He wasn't asked about COVID. Did you want him to brag about how he's got more done about than 45 ever did? Maybe the fact that he doubled the number of vaccinations in the first months of his Presidency - more than promised?

 

[phrodeau]

Having gotten nothing but bullshit answers from the White House in 2020, the press has given up asking about Covid19.

 

[KeithD]

Again, I saw a compilation on the news last night that put clip excerpts of Biden's first press conference in office against those of Trump's first press conference, and Trump comes out as an ignorant, self-service clown against Biden's standard president. The board Trumpettes are just doing their thing on this issue.

 

[Bud_Spencer]

Steyn called them "fawning court eunuchs," which I think, understates the slavish bootlicking of what we laughably call a "media."

 

[jomar]

Let the games begin! And may the odds be ever in your favor.

 

[YDB95]

What's to ask about COVID? He inherited a huge mess, and he's getting the vaccine out as fast as can be done. No one needed clarification on that point.