Completely ignoring his recent racist comment declaring “you ain’t black” if you’re African American and vote for President Trump, the broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) praised former Vice President Joe Biden for providing a “stark” and “sharp” contrast to the President on the matter of George Floyd’s death.
“After staying close to home for months during the pandemic, today Joe Biden went to Philadelphia to address the anger over the deaths of George Floyd, and to blast President Trump for, in Biden's words, turning the country into a battlefield,” announced CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell on Tuesday.
CBS political correspondent Ed O’Keefe touted how Biden had “invoked the final words of George Floyd” while giving a speech. He then played a soundbite of the Vice President saying: “I can't breathe. I can't breathe.”
“Biden has spoken with Floyd's family and is making plans to attend his funeral, according to a family attorney. With the nation reeling over his death, Biden sees an opening,” he added, seemingly letting the cat out of the bag.
O’Keefe went on to scoff at the idea that Trump had helped the black community (the White House normally cited the historically low black unemployment rate, pre-pandemic). “Biden supporter and South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, the most senior black lawmaker in the House, called the President's remarks, quote, ‘Absolutely just downright stupid,’” he countered on Biden’s behalf.
Over on ABC’s World News Tonight, congressional correspondent Mary Bruce marveled at “the tale of two leaders, the President and the man who wants to replace him. President Trump holding that Bible, Joe Biden visiting a church.”
Touting “Biden taking on the President,” Bruce’s report was just back-to-back soundbites from Biden’s address with gushing commentary in between (click “expand”):
BRUCE: Biden calling on leaders to confront systemic racism. And blasting Trump for that bible photo-op.
BIDEN: I just wish he opened it once in a while instead of brandishing it. If he opened it, he could have learned something.
BRUCE: Biden speaking of his own loss, a parent losing a son.
BIDEN: I know what it means to have that black hole in your chest where your grief is being sucked into it.
BRUCE: Tonight, Biden is calling on Congress to ban chokeholds and vowing to establish a national police oversight commission.
(…)
BRUCE: And Biden's promise, less than six months from the election.
BIDEN: I promise you this, I won't traffic in fear and division. I won't fan the flames of hate. I'll seek to heal the racial wounds that have long plagued our country, not use them for political gain.
In wrapping up, Bruce noted that Biden was going to be making more public appearances as the country reopened. “Especially as he looks to draw the sharp contrast with President Trump,” she added.
NBC Nightly News took a different approach. Instead of giving Biden his own segment in the newscast, they directly showed the contrast between him and Trump in the same report.
After decrying Trump’s visit to a church that was almost burnt down by rioters Sunday night, correspondent Geoff Bennett hyped: “Joe Biden offering a stark contrast to the President (…) The apparent Democratic presidential nominee pledging to address racial injustice.”
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
June 2, 2020
6:44:22 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: But the former Vice President speaking out today about President Trump, that scene in front of St. John's church outside the White House. And Biden with his own promise to Americans in this time. Here's Mary Bruce.
[Cuts to video]
MARY BRUCE: Tonight, the tale of two leaders, the President and the man who wants to replace him. President Trump holding that Bible, Joe Biden visiting a church. Tonight, Biden taking on the President.
FMR. VP JOE BIDEN: The country is crying out for leadership. [Transition] Leadership that can recognize pain and deep grief of communities that have had a knee on their neck for a long time.
BRUCE: Biden calling on leaders to confront systemic racism. And blasting Trump for that bible photo-op.
BIDEN: I just wish he opened it once in a while instead of brandishing it. If he opened it, he could have learned something.
BRUCE: Biden speaking of his own loss, a parent losing a son.
BIDEN: I know what it means to have that black hole in your chest where your grief is being sucked into it.
BRUCE: Tonight, Biden is calling on Congress to ban choke holds and vowing to establish a national police oversight commission.
BIDEN: Donald Trump has turned this country into a battlefield driven by old resentments and fresh fears. He thinks division helps him. His narcissism has become more important than the nation's well-being that he leads.
BRUCE: And Biden's promise, less than six months from the election.
BIDEN: I promise you this, I won't traffic in fear and division. I won't fan the flames of hate. I'll seek to heal the racial wounds that have long plagued our country, not use them for political gain.
[Cuts back to live]
BRUCE: Now this was Biden's first public address in months. But as the country opens up, we can expect to see more of Biden on the trail, especially as he looks to draw the sharp contrast with President Trump. And his campaign is defending to lay low for these past few weeks. They say just look at the poll numbers, which showing Biden on the rise. David.
MUIR: Mary Bruce, tonight, on the race for 2020. Thank you.
CBS Evening News
June 2, 2020
6:41:58 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: After staying close to home for month during the pandemic, today Joe Biden went to Philadelphia to address the anger over the deaths of George Floyd, and to blast President Trump for, in Biden's words, turning the country into a battlefield. Here's CBS's Ed O’Keefe.
[Cuts to video]
ED O’KEEFE: Speaking outside his home state of Delaware for the first time since March, former Vice President Joe Biden today invoked the final words of George Floyd.
FMR. VP JOE BIDEN: "I can't breathe. I can't breathe."
O’KEEFE: Biden has spoken with Floyd's family and is making plans to attend his funeral, according to a family attorney. With the nation reeling over his death, Biden sees an opening.
(…)
O’KEEFE: And he's looking to reset a campaign grounded by the coronavirus.
(…)
O’KEEFE: A CBS News poll ow today shows Biden leads Trump's nationally but when asked about Biden's response of the past week, many Americans say they haven't heard enough to say. Just this, Biden prayed with African American leaders and visited the asset a protest. Today, he rebuked Mr. Trump's decision to use the bible as a prop outside St. John's church.
(…)
O’KEEFE: The President claims he's make inroads with African American voters, today saying he had done more than any president since Lincoln, but Biden believes his strong standing with the black community gives him an advantage in this crisis.
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
O’KEEFE: Responding to what President Trump said about his success with the black community, Biden supporter and South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, the most senior black lawmaker in the House, called the President's remarks, quote, "Absolutely just downright stupid." Norah.
O’DONNELL: Ed O’Keefe, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
June 2, 2020
7:10:45 p.m. Eastern(…)
GEOFF BENNETT: Sources tell NBC News the President's decision to visit that church was fueled, in part, by frustration over news reports that the Secret Service ushered him to a bunker during Friday night's protest. And it “was his idea” because he “wanted the visual” of looking strong and in charge.
Meantime, Joe Biden offering a stark contrast to the President, today in Philadelphia.
FMR. VP JOE BIDEN: A country that is crying out for leadership. Leadership that can recognize pain and deep grief of communities that have had a knee on their neck for a long time.
BENNETT: The apparent Democratic presidential nominee pledging to address racial injustice.
BIDEN: The moment has come for our nation to deal with systemic racism. To deal with the growing economic inequity that exists in our nation, to deal with the denial of the promise of this nation made to so many.
(…)
