This Thursday’s edition of CNN’s coronavirus town hall turned into a Democratic Party campaign event when co-hosts Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta invited former Vice President Joe Biden onto the show to rip President Trump, and opine about how he would do things differently. And while there were frivolous campaign questions asked, neither of the co-hosts had the integrity to question Biden on the sexual assault claims made against him by former Senate staffer Tara Reade.
The CNN duo asked Biden a total of six questions over a 15-minute segment that allowed him to speak ad nauseam. Following an initial question that involved pleasantries, Cooper’s next question was just a layup to allow Biden to decry the President’s recently released guidelines for reopening state economies. “Looking at the President's new plan for reopening the country in phases, again, it's up to the states. What do you think of what you heard today from the White House?”
Using that question as a springboard, Gupta followed up by having Biden explain how he would lead the country through the recovery. “Large gatherings limited, as you mentioned, temperature, even tests before going into work or a restaurant. People still wearing masks perhaps when they go out in public. What do you think the new normal should look like, Mr. Vice President,” the Doctor asked.
After Acosta-style aggression with the president and his supporters, It was ridiculous to ask Biden those open-ended questions, because he could say whatever he wanted and spin it whichever way he wanted and he didn’t need to be held accountable. That’s why Gupta asked him to explain his recovery decisions and avoid giving specifics:
And Mr. Vice President, it seem to me that ultimately this balance -- and I'm wondering how you think through this, just think through this issue -- there's always going to be a balance between public health and wanting to get the country back up and running. No matter what, we’re hearing once you start opening things up, Mr. Vice President, people are going to get infected, more people are going to get infected, some may have to go to the hospital and some may sadly die. That will happen at any point before the vaccine is actually available.
Again, leaving aside specific numbers, how do you think through that in your own mind, how would you make those decisions?
From there, the last two questions took on a greater campaign tone as they switched over to give Biden viewer-submitted questions. The first was about who he would pick for vice president. “Despite your previous pledge to pick a woman for vice president, would you reconsider that for a qualified candidate who has performed admirably during this crisis like Governor Cuomo,” one man asked.
The final question about the “very big new deal-type proposals” Biden would consider to help the country recover. Of course, those were radical liberal proposals. “Are you willing to consider universal health care, basic income, and other ideas that perhaps just a few months ago you would have thought to be too ambitious or unnecessary?”
This was supposed to be a town hall event to give people the critical information and developments needed regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, CNN turned it into a Democratic campaign event to promote their presidential candidate. This is CNN.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Coronavirus: Facts and Fears: A CNN Global Town Hall
April 16, 2020
9:08:05 p.m. EasternANDERSON COOPER: Joining us now, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden. Mr. Vice President, thanks so much for being with us. How are you? How's your family?
(…)
COOPER: Looking at the President's new plan for reopening the country in phases, again, it's up to the states. What do you think of what you heard today from the White House?
JOE BIDEN: Well, I wouldn't call it a plan. I think what he's done, he's kind of punted. He's decided that he's not -- he doesn't have the right to make the call for the country, and he talks about phases that in a generic sense seem to me from all I've learned and I’ve listened and my morning brief from the docs I talked to is not irrational, but it doesn't give you any hard guidelines.
(…)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA: One of the things that, Mr. Vice president, is people are starting to understand what, at least, normal could look like for a period of time until the vaccine, as you mentioned. Large gatherings limited, as you mentioned, temperature, even tests before going into work or a restaurant. People still wearing masks perhaps when they go out in public. What do you think the new normal should look like, Mr. Vice President?
(…)
GUPTA: And Mr. Vice President, it seem to me that ultimately this balance -- and I'm wondering how you think through this, just think through this issue -- there's always going to be a balance between public health and wanting to get the country back up and running. No matter what, we’re hearing once you start opening things up, Mr. Vice President, people are going to get infected, more people are going to get infected, some may have to go to the hospital and some may sadly die. That will happen at any point before the vaccine is actually available.
Again, leaving aside specific numbers, how do you think through that in your own mind, how would you make those decisions?
(…)
COOPER: I want to bring in just some viewer questions, if we can. Evan of Fairbanks, Alaska, sent in a video question for you. Let’s listen.
BIDEN: Sure.
EVAN EADS: Despite your previous pledge to pick a woman for vice president, would you reconsider that for a qualified candidate who has performed admirably during this crisis like Governor Cuomo?
(…)
GUPTA: Mr. Vice President let's get to one more viewer question, if we can. Scott Owens in Wisconsin sent in this video. Please take a look.
BIDEN: Sure.
SCOTT OWENS: The coronavirus will have a profound impact on our lives for years to come. Many people believe that very big new deal-type proposals will be needed in order to recover economically and ensure the health and safety of all Americans.
Are you willing to consider universal health care, basic income, and other ideas that perhaps just a few months ago you would have thought to be too ambitious or unnecessary?
(…)
