Journalists like to think of themselves as skeptical types who are always asking questions. But when the New York Times on Sunday claimed to have acquired Donald Trump’s taxes and, just hours later, the Biden campaign had a corresponding campaign ad out, the networks didn't seem cynical.
According to the Times, the President paid only $750 in taxes in 2016 and 2017. CBS This Morning reporter Ed O’Keefe on Monday marveled, “Within hours of The New York Times report, the Biden campaign was out with a new ad contrasting the tax burden of average working Americans with the $750 in income tax the President paid. And they're also out with new campaign buttons that read ‘I paid more income taxes than Donald Trump.’” O’Keefe credulously cheered, “Quick work there by the Biden campaign.”
Quick work indeed. Co-host Tony Dokoupil touted, “The Biden campaign is wasting no time capitalizing on this tax report, huh?”
Over on Good Morning America, Cecilia Vega parroted how quickly the Biden campaign is “pouncing” on the Times report:
As you can imagine, the Biden team is pouncing this morning. They already have got a new video out that breaks out what the average teacher, firefighter and nurse would have paid in taxes. It's significantly more than that, $750 Trump paid. And on George on that note, the fact is $750 is about what someone who earns 20,000 in salary would have paid.
On NBC’s Today, Hallie Jackson echoed the journalistic amazement at the speed of the Biden campaign:
Democrats are going after the President already. You have the Biden campaign overnight, for example, putting out a video comparing what nurses, teachers, and firefighters pay in taxes to what President Trump has paid. All of it, of course, is happening just before the first presidential debate.
Given how journalists jump on promoting all sorts of liberal theories about Republicans, isn't at least a little skepticism warranted at just how coordinated the Times story seems to be with the Biden campaign.
The CBS This Morning segment was sponsored by Amazon. The Good Morning America report by Verizon and the Today story by Lexus.
Partial transcripts are below. Click "expand" to read more.
Good Morning America
9/28/2020
7:06CECILIA VEGA: As you can imagine, the Biden team is pouncing this morning. They already have got a new video out that breaks out what the average teacher, firefighter and nurse would have paid in taxes. It's significantly more than that, $750 Trump paid. And on George on that note, the fact is $750 is about what someone who earns 20,000 in salary would have paid.
CBS This Morning
7:08:22TONY DOKOUPIL: There are 36 days now to go until the presidential election and the President's taxes are among the many issues that are sure to come up at the first debate tomorrow night. Ed O'Keefe is covering the fireworks from the site of the debate in Cleveland. And good morning to you. The Biden campaign is wasting no time capitalizing on this tax report, huh?
ED O’KEEFE: That's right. Within hours of The New York Times report, the Biden campaign was out with a new ad contrasting the tax burden of average working Americans with the $750 in income tax the president paid. And they're also out with new campaign buttons that read "I paid more income taxes than Donald Trump." Quick work there by the Biden campaign. This all comes as the candidates prepare for their first debate tomorrow night. Aides say that traveling the country dealing with a hostile news media and just being President every day is enough debate prep for Mr. Trump.
Today
9/28/20207:05 AM ET
HALLIE JACKSON: Bottom line, though, Democrats are going after the President already. You have the Biden campaign overnight, for example, putting out a video comparing what nurses, teachers, and firefighters pay in taxes to what President Trump has paid. All of it, of course, is happening just before the first presidential debate.
