Presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ventured out of his basement on Tuesday and during his first press conference in 89 days, Fox News correspondent Doug McKelway pressed him on whether or not he’s been tested for “cognitive decline;” a serious concern for a man Biden’s age. Biden came back with a rather braggadocious response, but neither ABC’s World News Tonight nor CBS Evening News shared that exchange with viewers. Instead, they chose to boast about him slamming President Trump.
The question McKelway posed was fair enough. After pointing out that he himself was 65, McKelway added: “I forget my train of thought from time to time. You’ve got 12 years on me, sir. Have you been tested to some degree of cognitive decline?”
Of course, NBC Nightly News had chief foreign affairs correspondent and Democratic establishment cheerleader Andrea Mitchell to do the report and defend Biden. She wasn’t afraid to air Biden’s response, as unhelpful as it was:
MITCHELL: In his first news conference in three months, Biden also said he has not been tested for COVID because he has no symptoms. But when asked by Fox News if he's been tested for cognitive decline --
BIDEN: I'm been testing. I’m constantly testing. Look, all you've got to do is watch me and I can hardly wait to compare my cognitive capability to the cognitive capability of the man I'm running against.
On top of this, NBC was eager to boast about their candidate to viewers. “In a rare news conference today from former Vice President Joe Biden, a major escalation of his attacks against President Trump's leadership on the COVID pandemic,” announced anchor Lester Holt.
“Joe Biden today slamming President Trump's handling of the pandemic, accusing him of failing to protect the American people and frontline workers from the virus,” Mitchell added. She also showed off a clip of Biden declaring: “It seems like our wartime President has surrendered.”
That same soundbite became the focal point of ABC’s report. “Joe Biden blasting President Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying, ‘our wartime president has surrendered’ and ‘left the battlefield,’” touted fill-in anchor Tom Llamas at the top of the segment. “In his first news conference in months, the Democrats’ presumptive nominee saying the President, quote, ‘failed us.’”
Llamas was echoed by senior congressional and anti-Republican correspondent Mary Bruce: “Joe Biden today accused President Trump of abandoning the country he leads in the midst of this growing crisis.”
And in wrapping up her report, Bruce suggested that the President didn’t care about the common good like Biden did. “Now, Biden says he wishes he could be out meeting with voters, but for the sake of the common good, he will not be holding campaign rallies. That's a stark contrast with the President, who plans to celebrate the fourth of July at Mt. Rushmore with thousands of people and no social distancing,” she proclaimed.
CBS didn’t spend too much time on Biden. However, anti-Trump correspondent Weijia Jiang shared how “Biden also slammed the President for his handling of coronavirus.” “Biden said he is aiming to announce his pick for vice president in early August, and it will be a woman,” she praised at the end.
This protection and cheerleading for Biden were sponsored by GEICO on ABC, Allstate on CBS, and Progressive on NBC. Their contact information is linked.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
June 30, 2020
6:39:56 p.m. EasternTOM LLAMAS: Back here at home and let's turn to politics now. Joe Biden blasting President Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying, “our wartime president has surrendered” and “left the battlefield.” In his first news conference in months, the Democrats’ presumptive nominee saying the President, quote, “failed us.” And tonight, President Trump is moving ahead with his fourth of July celebration at Mt. Rushmore, where no masks or social distancing will be required. Here's ABC's Mary Bruce.
[Cuts to video]
MARY BRUCE: Joe Biden today accused President Trump of abandoning the country he leads in the midst of this growing crisis.
(…)
BRUCE: Biden says Trump is in retreat.
(…)
BRUCE: Today, I asked Biden what he would tell Americans.
The response to this pandemic has become very politicized. Even wearing a mask has become political. If elected, how are you going to get Americans on the same page?
JOE BIDEN: I think we have to start appealing to the better side of human nature by pointing out that that mask is not so much to protect me [transition] it's to protect you against me. It's to protect other people. And it's called patriotism. It's called responsibility.
[Cuts to video]
BRUCE: Now, Biden says he wishes he could be out meeting with voters, but for the sake of the common good, he will not be holding campaign rallies. That's a stark contrast with the President, who plans to celebrate the fourth of July at Mt. Rushmore with thousands of people and no social distancing.
CBS Evening News
June 30, 2020
6:40:44 p.m. Eastern(…)
WEIJIA JIANG: Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said there’s no acceptable explanation for President Trump being unaware of the reports.
JOE BIDEN: The idea that somehow he didn't know or isn't being briefed, it is a dereliction of duty, if that's the case. And if he was briefed and nothing was done about this, that's a dereliction of duty.
JIANG: Biden also slammed the President for his handling of coronavirus.
BIDEN: Your promises and predictions and wishful thinking pulled out of thin air are not only doing the country no good, they're making them lose even more faith in their government.
[Cuts back to live]
JIANG: Biden said he is aiming to announce his pick for vice president in early August, and it will be a woman. He also said if elected, there is one person he will ask to stay on board to tackle the pandemic, infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci.
NBC Nightly News
June 30, 2020
7:08:40 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: In a rare news conference today from former Vice President Joe Biden, a major escalation of his attacks against President Trump's leadership on the COVID pandemic. Andrea Mitchell has the story.
[Cuts to video]
ANDREA MITCHELL: Joe Biden today slamming President Trump's handling of the pandemic, accusing him of failing to protect the American people and frontline workers from the virus.
(…)
MITCHELL: And after the President said this --
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I'm a wartime president. This is a war.
JOE BIDEN: It seems like our wartime president has surrendered.
MITCHELL: Biden also saying if he's elected, his first call would be to Dr. Fauci.
(…)
MITCHELL: In his first news conference in three months, Biden also said he has not been tested for COVID because he has no symptoms. But when asked by Fox News if he's been tested for cognitive decline --
BIDEN: I'm been testing. I’m constantly testing. Look, all you've got to do is watch me and I can hardly wait to compare my cognitive capability to the cognitive capability of the man I'm running against.
[Cuts to video]
MITCHELL: Biden said he will announce his running mate next month a few weeks before he is nominated in Milwaukee. The Democratic convention will be largely virtual. Unlike the President, Biden is not holding any rallies and will not have a traditional convention because of the pandemic.
