The transition from vigilant government watchdogs who speak truth to power to government lap dogs who promote administration propaganda is well under way. CBS This Morning’s co-hosts replayed a Joe Biden eight minute infomercial, a self-aggrandizing segment CBS calls Note to self. Essentially, the segment is famous people writing their younger selves telling them just how awesome they will be in the future.
In the video, originally made in 2016, Biden talks to his 12-year-old self, praising, “That's why you'll follow your heart, serve your community, your state and your country. Intolerance for abuse, standing up for civil rights.” In other words, Joe Biden tells young Joe Biden he'll one day be great.
Co-host Gayle King gushed over the fact that Biden loved the segment: “I remember that Note to Self back in 2016. Page Kendig produced that. She now works for Stephen Colbert. I remember the thing that stood out to me in addition to how well it was done, he sent her a note after to say, ‘Thank you very much, thank you to the CBS team that put it together.”
Maybe the fact that a powerful politician loved your segment isn’t exactly the compliment that a supposedly tough journalist should take. Instead, King promoted, “I remember Page being so struck and so touched that he would take time in great detail. It shows how the man, the character of the man really doesn't seem to have changed. It’s consistent.”
The seven minute and 58 second video included soft music, old footage of the Democrat and inspirational, autobiographical praise:
Dear Joe, you're only 12. Your stutter is debilitating, it embarrasses you, and the bullies are vicious. Listen to mom when she says bravery resides in every heart and yours is fierce and clear. Listen to dad when he says Joe, when you get knocked down, get up, get up. Because if you listen, you'll summon bravery to overcome a stutter and learn to stand up to bullies. You learn from dad who moved the family to look for work that a job is about a lot more than a paycheck, it is about your dignity, it's about respect.
Can you imagine this kind of Note to Self for Trump? No, of course not.
The Biden propaganda was sponsored by Cadillac.
A partial transcript is below.
CBS This Morning
11/9/2020
8:39:26 to 8:47:24ANTHONY MASON: This morning, we are revisiting a personal message from now President-Elect Joe Biden. In his victory speech Saturday night, Mr. Biden called for unity. In 2016, he reflected on accomplishing some of his dreams and coping with devastating loss. For our series Note to Self. These are words of encouragement to his younger self.
...
JOE BIDEN: Dear Joe, you're only 12. Your stutter is debilitating, it embarrasses you, and the bullies are vicious. Listen to mom when she says bravery resides in every heart and yours is fierce and clear. Listen to dad when he says Joe, when you get knocked down, get up, get up. Because if you listen, you'll summon bravery to overcome a stutter and learn to stand up to bullies. You learn from dad who moved the family to look for work that a job is about a lot more than a paycheck, it is about your dignity, it's about respect.
...
BIDEN: That's why you'll follow your heart, serve your community, your state and your country. Intolerance for abuse, standing up for civil rights.
GAYLE KING: I remember that Note to Self back in 2016. Page Kendig produced that. She now works for Stephen Colbert. I remember the thing that stood out to me in addition to how well it was done, he sent her a note after to say, “Thank you very much, thank you to the CBS team that put it together.” Really speaks to who he is. Little known fact back in the day, Donald Trump used to send notes. I remember getting a note with him after an interview with I think Ivanka before he was president saying thank you so much for the interview. That was before the press was labeled fake press if you disagreed with him. I remember Page being so struck and so touched that he would take time in great detail. It shows how the man, the character of the man really doesn't seem to have changed. It’s consistent.ATHONY MASON: No. What an extraordinary life he has had, what he has endured.
TONY DOKOUPIL: Endured is the word for it. And from the very beginning, through the stutter at 12. He chose at the age of 12. we don't tell them what age to pick, the bullies are insufferable. He feels debilitated by the stutter. It is a very interesting starting point.
KING: When you get knocked down, get up, get up, get up. He has certainly done that. We tell them you pick the age? I didn’t know that.
DOKOUPIL: They pick their own age.
KING: I didn’t know that. That’s interesting.
DOKOUPIL: Whatever age is meaningful to them. 12 is such, you're on the cusp.
KING: Such a turning point for so many things.
