On Monday, the broadcast network morning newscasts collectively punted on former Vice President Joe Biden’s latest kooky statements from over the weekend, ranging but not limited to calling for fossil fuel executives to be jailed, giving life to a conspiracy theory that 5G networks could be making people sick, and attacking a heckler an “idiot.”
Oh, and another heckler told Biden, “don’t touch kids, you pervert.”
Instead, NBC’s Today decided to swoon about the possibility that, if elected, Biden would appoint former President Barack Obama to the Supreme Court on the condition he accepted.
Co-host and Craig Melvin and White House correspondent Kristen Welker first alluded to Biden’s flip-flop to now saying he’d respond to a subpoena if it were issued for him to appear at the Trump impeachment Senate trial, but Welker pivoted to the Court.
Here was Welker:
Now, separately, Biden was asked if he would nominate his former boss, former President Barack Obama to the Supreme Court. Biden saying, “if he would take it, yes.” So far, there’s only been one former president to serve on the high court. That is William Howard Taft. A little history lesson heading into 2020, Peter.
No word on whether that sent thrills up the legs of these NBC News journalists. And again, nothing about any
While her 8:00 a.m. Eastern news brief only touched on Biden’s flip-flop on a subpoena, the same chyron accompanied Welker that appeared in the first hour: “Biden on Impeachment Testimony; Also Weighs in on Obama on Supreme Court.”
While ABC’s Good Morning America never mentioned Biden, CBS This Morning did drop a Biden reference, but it was only about that hypothetical subpoena.
“Bolton is among the witnesses that Democrats want to hear from in a Senate trial. One witness the President wants, former vice president Joe Biden, is now reversing himself after previously saying that he would refuse to testify at the impeachment trial even if subpoenaed by Congress,” reported White House correspondent Ben Tracy.
If President Trump said any of those things Biden uttered in recent days, the newscasts would be feigning outrage. But since Biden isn’t actually the president, none qualify as news.
To see the relevant transcripts from December 30 below, click “expand.”
NBC’s Today
December 30, 2019
7:15 a.m. EasternCRAIG MELVIN: Kristen, after some fierce criticism, the former vice president, Joe Biden, is now clarifying his comments as to whether he will testify in the senate’s impeachment trial. What is he saying?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Biden on Impeachment Testimony; Also Weighs in on Obama on Supreme Court]
KRISTEN WELKER: That’s right, Peter. Well, former Vice President Biden initially said he would not comply with a Senate subpoena to testify in the impeachment trial for President Trump. In follow-up comments, Biden saying he would comply if it were a legitimate request but he added, “this impeachment is about Trump's conduct, not mine.” Now, separately, Biden was asked if he would nominate his former boss, former President Barack Obama to the Supreme Court. Biden saying, “if he would take it, yes.” So far, there’s only been one former president to serve on the high court. That is William Howard Taft. A little history lesson heading into 2020, Peter.
(....)
8:04 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Biden Says He’d Comply with Subpoena]
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Biden on Impeachment Testimony; Also Weighs in on Obama on Supreme Court]
WELKER: Next up, former Vice President Joe Biden is clarifying comments after initially suggesting he would not comply with a Senate subpoena to testify in the impeachment trial for President Trump. Biden, in follow-up comments, saying he would comply if it were a legitimate request but adding, “this impeachment is about Trump's conduct, not mine.”
—
CBS This Morning
December 30, 2019
7:17 a.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: President Trump Impeached: Impeachment Showdown; Report Claims President Rejected Pleas to Release Aid to Ukraine]
BEN TRACY: Bolton is among the witnesses that Democrats want to hear from in a Senate trial. One witness the President wants, former vice president Joe Biden, is now reversing himself after previously saying that he would refuse to testify at the impeachment trial even if subpoenaed by Congress.
