Posted on 08/05/2020 8:30:55 AM PDT by Kaslin
CNN's media unit emails out a nightly newsletter titled "Reliable Sources." The newsletter is not always reliable, since it has a slippery grasp on what its own network is putting on television and online.
On Aug. 3, Oliver Darcy led the newsletter discussing what he described as an "imaginary controversy": the notion that Joe Biden might skip the presidential debates. Darcy quoted Biden national press secretary T.J. Ducklo's spin. "Donald Trump and his allies at Fox News have decided an imaginary controversy about debates will be their latest attempt to distract Americans," Ducklo told Darcy. Under the header "Where it originated from," Darcy added, "Yes, there have been some NYT opinion pieces and brief chatter about why Biden should skip the debates. Personally, I've never taken the suggestions too seriously."
On Twitter, Darcy's colleague Brian Stelter agreed: "It is mostly a right-wing media tempest, fueled by hour after hour of Fox commentary (not reporting), far removed from campaign reality."
Both of these men seemed supremely oblivious to the fact that CNN.com published an opinion piece by CNN political analyst Joe Lockhart in which he argued Biden should skip the debates ... and CNN booked a subsequent weekend interview with Lockhart on its "Smerconish" show. Host Michael Smerconish didn't lecture his guest about being in danger of fueling a right-wing media tempest.
So who's "removed from campaign reality"? Omri Ceren retorted on Twitter: "In fairness to Stelter and Darcy, unclear if they're intentionally lying here. Could simply be that like everyone else they never tune into CNN."
Lockhart -- as well as New York Times columnists Thomas Friedman and Elizabeth Drew -- expressed the firm belief that Trump should be disqualified from debates. His truth mangling and "extreme narcissism" make debate unhelpful and unnecessary. His audacity is an unfair advantage.
No one should believe Biden will actually skip the debates. Liberals are far too arrogant about how Democrats will brilliantly wipe the floor with Republicans every time -- no matter who the Republican is. And for Trump, that goes triple.
All these opinionators are offering is pre-debate spin, suggesting Trump's patter is so abhorrent that he's unworthy of any televised pedestal. This underlines why CNN and MSNBC now ignore or talk over Trump press conferences and speeches. At this point, we might expect they'll talk over the president's big convention speech.
Liberals prefer Biden cocooning in safer venues, like occasional puffball press conferences with his compliant campaign press corps. When Stelter interviewed Ducklo on his "Reliable Sources" program on Aug. 2, he mildly suggested Biden "owes the public" more access to the press but added, "I think what your candidate is doing is he's dodging Trump's punches with silence, which is probably an effective campaign strategy."
All this media acceptance of Biden's basement strategy masks their terror over the possibility of another Trump win. On July 26, MSNBC host Joshua Johnson interviewed Democratic National Committee boss Tom Perez and revealed Democrats' inner panic. "I cannot tell you how many people I know who are Joe Biden supporters who feel like they're on the verge of a stroke all the time at the possibility of four more years of Donald Trump, particularly with any gaffe that Joe Biden makes," Johnson said. "If he says something that comes out sideways, it's like you can feel everybody's heart kind of squeak shut."
This is especially true of the debates, which will have massive national audiences, and where gaffes might be immediately exploited and magnified by the president. Don't believe the media swagger about Biden having this race in the bag. They're terrified that Democrats nominated the Gaffe Machine.
Terrified of bait? What? Who said we were going fishing?
Video: Will Joe Biden have a panic attack if he debates Trump?
https://www.facebook.com/160966480583155/videos/1385038081701696/
2020 Debate - Biden is scared to debate Trump
What if his drooling is all a part of sandbagging us? Maybe he plans to come out kicking ass. Under promise and over deliver...?
Trump just has to tweet “Is it a good idea to debate or not?” Then the OMB morons heads will explode and they will arrange debates immediately for their Alzheimer’s candidate.
And if frogs had wings, their a$$e$ wouldn’t hit the ground when they jumped!
You think he’s acting?
I'm sure Biden will do just fine. /s
Varney just announced Biden won’t even go to his own convention. Just released from the campaign.
“What if his drooling is all a part of sandbagging us? Maybe he plans to come out kicking ass. Under promise and over deliver...?”
If he comes out kick ass, I full expect Trump to kick ass back. Remember that in 2016 it was received knowledge that Trump couldn’t attack Hillary effectively because she’s a woman and it would look bad. Didn’t stop him.
What if his drooling is all a part of sandbagging us? Maybe he plans to come out kicking ass. Under promise and over deliver...?
You cannot fake the behavior of Biden. Watch the video of him just simply moving from one place to another. He is clearly confused. Have you ever seen anyone other than Melania take Trump’s arm to move him to the car?
I wish they would stop calling them debates.
Debates argue a question, these are just media interviews.
“You think he’s acting?”
Probably not. I just recall an episode of “Just Shoot Me” where a perfectly fine guy, “Donny”, got away with everything by pretending to have brain damage. We always remember and laugh about Danny.
Where any Trump gaffes might be immediately exploited and magnified by the MEDIA. There fixed it for them.
“You cannot fake the behavior of Biden. ... He is clearly confused.”
I know; I was kidding. I remember my FIL when he was going through Alzheimer’s. There’s a vacant look that can’t be feigned.
Expectations can’t get any lower.
To cover for Biden, I expect the DEMs to recommend a debate format that protects Biden and does not benefit Trump at all. Something like a debate via video conference. Force Trump to decline that debate format and put the blame on him for no debates. We’ll know the truth, but that’s not what the MSM will report and what most who get their news from them will hear.
I am past the point of thinking it is sad. The people pushing him want to run the nation. Let that sink in for a minute....
Biden can still beat Eddie Munster Ryan in a debate.
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