On Monday, NBC’s Today show did the bidding of the incoming Biden administration by wailing over a Wall Street Journal op-ed critical of soon-to-be First Lady Jill Biden for use of her academic title “Doctor.” Rather than report real news, the broadcast wasted over three minutes of air time denouncing the “sexist” article. This is the same network that just a few months ago criticized Melania Trump for condemning looting and has spent years hurling similar cheap shots at the First Lady.
“Also this morning, there’s an outpouring of support for the future First Lady Dr. Jill Biden after a controversial Wall Street Journal op-ed,” co-host Hoda Kotb sympathetically proclaimed early in the 8:00 a.m. ET hour. She then explained the minor offense that the Biden team and its leftist media allies decided was a major controversy: “The author suggested that Biden dropped the title ‘Doctor,’ even though she earned it.”
In the report that followed, correspondent Anne Thompson gushed:
You know, growing up, Jill Biden famously punched a bully in the nose to defend her sister. This morning, she finds herself at the center of another fight that she didn’t pick, this time with an op-ed columnist who questioned her use of an academic title.
The on-screen headline hyped: “Jill Biden Responds to ‘Dr.’ Controversy; Backlash Grows After WSJ Columnist Suggests Dropping ‘Doctor.’”
Making it clear that she was just another adoring fan, Thompson hailed: “Two defining characteristics of soon-to-be First Lady Jill Biden are that she is a fierce Philly girl and that she thrives on teaching at community colleges.” Touting how Biden was “known as ‘Dr. B’ to her students,” the reporter noted: “Biden earned her Doctorate of Education from the University of Delaware in 2007.”
Thompson then bitterly complained about a Saturday op-ed in the Journal: “But in a Wall Street Journal op-ed this weekend, author Joseph Epstein called on Biden to stop using the title, addressing her as ‘Madam First Lady-Mrs. Biden-Jill-Kiddo.’ He asked, “Any chance you might drop the ‘Dr.’ before your name? ‘Dr. Jill Biden’ sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic.’”
Helpfully, the NBC correspondent had plenty of talking points lined up:
[Biden] delivered this tweet overnight, writing, “Together we will build a world where the accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated rather than diminished.” Her response praised on social media as pure class and intelligent. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff writing, “Dr. Biden earned her degrees through hard work and pure grit,” adding, “This story would have never written about a man.” Dr. Bernice King, daughter of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., tweeting: “Dear Dr. Biden, my father was a non-medical doctor. And his work benefited humanity greatly. Yours does, too.”
Wrapping up the piece, Thompson cheered: “Now, letters to the journals editor this morning use other words, such as ‘sexist,’ ‘sour grapes,’ and ‘uninformed.’”
However, she did mention Wall Street Journal editorial page editor Paul Gigot calling out the obvious political posturing involved in pushing the story: “And the paper’s editorial page editor made his own accusations, accusing the Biden team of fanning the controversy to play identity politics, describing his encounters with them over the weekend as ‘very Trumpian.’”
Gigot went further, pointing out how the press was working with the Biden team:
This has triggered a flood of media and Twitter criticism, including demands that I retract the piece, apologize personally to Mrs. Biden, ban Mr. Epstein for all time, and resign and think upon my sins. The complaints began as a trickle but became a torrent after the Biden media team elevated Mr. Epstein’s work in what was clearly a political strategy....Why go to such lengths to highlight a single op-ed on a relatively minor issue? My guess is that the Biden team concluded it was a chance to use the big gun of identity politics to send a message to critics as it prepares to take power. There’s nothing like playing the race or gender card to stifle criticism.
Of course NBC never had qualms about going after First Lady Melania Trump, even over the most minor issues. While covering the Republican National Convention in August, Nightly News anchor Lester Holt worried that Mrs. Trump condemning looting and rioting in her speech would “raise eyebrows.” In November of 2018, Holt fretted that the First Lady was sparking a “power struggle” in the West Wing by calling for the firing of a staffer. In October that year, the evening news broadcast even highlighted a rapper’s music video that vilely sexualized the First Lady. That August, Holt complained that Melania Trump’s parents were becoming U.S. citizens.
Liberal networks like NBC have no problem going after the First Lady if she’s married to a Republican president. However, if her husband is a Democrat, all criticism must be silenced.
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Here is a full transcript of the December 14 segment:
8:05 AM ET
HODA KOTB: Also this morning, there’s an outpouring of support for the future First Lady Dr. Jill Biden after a controversial Wall Street Journal op-ed. The author suggested that Biden dropped the title “Doctor,” even though she earned it. NBC’s Anne Thompson has more. Hey Anne, good morning.
ANNE THOMPSON: Good morning, Hoda. You know, growing up, Jill Biden famously punched a bully in the nose to defend her sister. This morning, she finds herself at the center of another fight that she didn’t pick, this time with an op-ed columnist who questioned her use of an academic title.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Jill Biden Responds to “Dr.” Controversy; Backlash Grows After WSJ Columnist Suggests Dropping “Doctor”]
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Please welcome Dr. Jill Biden.
THOMPSON: Two defining characteristics of soon-to-be First Lady Jill Biden are that she is a fierce Philly girl and that she thrives on teaching at community colleges.
JILL BIDEN: I have always loved the sounds of a classroom.
THOMPSON: She’s known as “Dr. B” to her students. Biden earned her Doctorate of Education from the University of Delaware in 2007.
BIDEN: Teaching is so much more than a job to me.
THOMPSON: But in a Wall Street Journal op-ed this weekend, author Joseph Epstein called on Biden to stop using the title, addressing her as “Madam First Lady-Mrs. Biden-Jill-Kiddo.” He asked, “Any chance you might drop the ‘Dr.’ before your name? ‘Dr. Jill Biden’ sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic.” Citing a wise man, Epstein wrote, “No one should call himself ‘Dr.’ unless he has delivered a child.” For the record, Jill Biden gave birth to a child, her doctor Ashley, with President-Elect Joe Biden.
And she also delivered this tweet overnight, writing, “Together we will build a world where the accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated rather than diminished.” Her response praised on social media as pure class and intelligent. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff writing, “Dr. Biden earned her degrees through hard work and pure grit,” adding, “This story would have never written about a man.” Dr. Bernice King, daughter of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., tweeting: “Dear Dr. Biden, my father was a non-medical doctor. And his work benefited humanity greatly. Yours does, too.”
Northwestern University, where Epstein taught for 30 years, pointed out in a statement he has not been a lecturer there since 2003. Adding, “Northwestern is firmly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and strongly disagrees with Mr. Epstein’s misogynistic views.”
Now, letters to the journals editor this morning use other words, such as “sexist,” “sour grapes,” and “uninformed.” And the paper’s editorial page editor made his own accusations, accusing the Biden team of fanning the controversy to play identity politics, describing his encounters with them over the weekend as “very Trumpian.” Hoda?
HODA KOTB: Alright, Anne Thompson for us. Anne, thank you.
