In a surprising twist, CBS on Friday actually informed viewers of Joe Biden’s town hall flip flops and disassembling on key issues. Unlike ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today, CBS This Morning brought up fracking and the Democrat’s various views on wearing masks.
Co-host Tony Dokoupil opened the segment this way: “At a drive-in town hall in Pennsylvania, Joe Biden faced tough questions last night on his own plan to deal with the pandemic. He said we should listen to scientists to get the country back to normal. But his answers also revealed some evolving or shifting views.”
Now, Biden did NOT face tough questions. (Check out the MRC’s Curtis Houck for more on that.) But it’s unusual for network journalists to highlight Biden’s “shifting views.” Reporter Ed O’Keefe reminded, “One thing Biden wants Americans to do is wear a mask. But his stance on that has changed. First, he called for a national mandate.”
O’Keefe showcased the changes:
JOE BIDEN: Let's institute a mask mandate nationwide starting immediately.
ED O’KEEFE: But when we asked him to clarify his stance earlier this month, he conceded he might not have the authority.
BIDEN: You can't do things the Constitution doesn't allow you the power to do.
O’KEEFE: So last night Biden said he would mandate masks on federal property.
O’Keefe brought up fracking, another area in which Biden has “evolving” views:
The former Vice President was also asked about a major issue in battleground
Pennsylvania: hydriodic fracking, a way to drill for oil and natural gas. A CBS poll last month found voters split on the issue, largely along party lines. In the past, Biden said he wants to move away from fracking. Last night he said that could happen gradually.
Over on Good Morning America, reporter Mary Bruce ignored these issues and portrayed Biden as on the offensive: “Over and over again, Joe Biden ripped into the President's handling of the pandemic.” She added, “On the issue of race while the President has flatly rejected the notion of his white privilege, Biden was quick to recognize it.”
On NBC’s Today, Peter Alexander suggested that there was some doubt about whether Biden’s town hall was full of easy questions: “President Trump in front of a packed outdoor crowd in Wisconsin with few visible masks, complaining that the questions to Biden were softballs. A sentiment shared by some political critics overnight.”
Not just “some” political critics. Even CBS This Morning’s producers noticed it. The show opened with a montage of Biden’s softballs and THEN Trump’s comment that "they don't ask me questions like that."
The covering for Biden’s shifting positions on ABC was sponsored by Lincoln cars. On NBC, it was supported by Honda. Click on the links to let them know what you think.
A transcript of the segment is below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
9/18/2020
7:07:12 to 7:10:10TONY DOKOUPIL: At a drive-in town hall in Pennsylvania, Joe Biden faced tough questions last night on his own plan to deal with the pandemic. He said we should listen to scientists to get the country back to normal. But his answers also revealed some evolving or shifting views.”
WOMAN: Mr. Vice president —
ED O’KEEFE: One after the another, Pennsylvania voters asked Joe Biden what he would do differently to address the coronavirus pandemic.
WOMAN #2: What plan do you have in place to keep us from contracting COVID19 virus in our workplace?
BIDEN: That requires us to have rapid testing, protective gear available from the very beginning like this President hasn't done.
MAN: How will you get the proper messaging out to all Americans to keep them informed?
BIDEN: What presidents say matter. People listen. I will make it clear what is needed to be done.
O’KEEFE: One thing Biden wants Americans to do is wear a mask. But his stance on that has changed. First, he called for a national mandate.
BIDEN: Let's institute a mask mandate nationwide starting immediately.
O’KEEFE: But when we asked him to clarify his stance earlier this month, he conceded he might not have the authority.
BIDEN: You can't do things the Constitution doesn't allow you the power to do.
O’KEEFE: So last night Biden said he would mandate masks on federal property.
BIDEN: If you're on federal land, must wear a mask. In a federal building, you must wear a mask. And we could have a fine for them not doing it. Look, this is about saving people's lives.
O’KEEFE: Biden said it's an irresponsible Trump administration that's cost people their rights.
BIDEN: You lost your freedom because he didn't act. The freedom to go to that ball game, the freedom of your kid to go school, the freedom to see your mom or dad in the hospital, the freedom just to walk around your neighborhood because of failure to act responsibly.
O’KEEFE: The former Vice President was also asked about a major issue in battleground
Pennsylvania: hydriodic fracking, a way to drill for oil and natural gas. A CBS poll last month found voters exploited on the issue, largely along party lines. In the past, Biden said he wants to move away from fracking. Last night he said that could happen gradually.BIDEN: Fracking has to continue because we need to transition. We're going to get to net zero emissions by 2050, and we'll get to net zero powerful emissions by 2035. But there's no rationale to eliminate right now fracking.
O’KEEFE: Later today, Biden and the President will be here in Minnesota where early voting begins today. We're in northern Minnesota, a battleground region within this battleground state. Polls show Biden winning here, but the President remains really eager to pull it off. He lost here by about one point four years ago. Biden will be meeting with union members here in Duluth, and the president will be holding an airport rally. Gayle?
