On Tuesday, CNN experienced nirvana as they held their first town hall with President Joe Biden, the candidate they backed in 2020. Unlike other liberal media town halls that featured President Donald Trump, it lacked an openly hostile host and audience members looking to exact pounds of flesh.
With respect to both audience and host, it was clear that CNN was eager to impress the Democratic administration and they made it worth Biden’s while with a 74-minute lovefest (or snoozefest, depending on your viewpoint) devoid of any hardballs or Republican questioners. In other words, it was even more of a hoax of a town hall than the monstrosity CNN and Cooper performed with Biden back on September 18.
All told, five out of 12 audience questions came from the left with five neutral and only two from the right. Of the 12 audience members, six were Democrats, four were labeled as “independents,” and two were “independents” but voted for Donald Trump in 2020. So much for CNN.com’s claim that it would include Republicans.
As for Cooper’s 24 questions and comments, only one came at Biden from right, with four from the left. The remaining 19 neutral utterances were a testament to Cooper’s friendliness with questions such as, “[h]ave you picked up the phone and called any former president yet,” it wasn’t going to press Biden critically.
It was clear that CNN wanted to make it a pleasant experience for Biden with Cooper engaging in friendly banter rather than a contentious debate.
Many of his neutral questions were fair and important questions people at home would want to know the answer too. In fact, he started off the town hall by asking: “When is every American who wants it going to be able to get a vaccine?”
12 of Cooper’s neutral questions dealt with the pandemic in terms of vaccines, their effectiveness against variants of the virus, and reopening schools. There were even a couple questions about China’s human rights abuses and their despicable treatment of the Uighurs.
But towards the end of the town hall, Cooper seemed to be killing time as they chatted about what it was like living in the White House (click “expand”):
COOPER: Mr. President, let me ask you —
BIDEN [on student loan debt]: Cause I don't think I have the authority to do it by signing.
COOPER: — you have — over the years, over your career, you've already spent a great deal of time at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, except now you're living there and you're president. It's been four weeks. What's it like? How is it different?
(…)
COOPER: You had never been in the residence of the White House?
BIDEN: I had only been upstairs in the — in the yellow room, you know, the oval upstairs.
COOPER: I don't know. I've never been there either.
Of course, two of Cooper’s questions from the left were about impeachment and prosecuting Trump. “Only seven [Senate Republicans] did. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the rest cowards. Do you agree with her,” he wondered. The two left-leaning questions were about immigration.
Cooper’s lone comment from the right pushed back slightly on Biden’s minimum wage hike. “The Congressional Budget Office says that a $15 minimum wage would lift 900,000 people out of poverty but would also cost 1.4 million people their jobs,” he noted.
Pivoting to audience members, the first question was from independent about a “plan” for in-person schooling while Democrat and teacher Justin Belot went second and fretted that people want “to put students and teachers in close proximity to each other for an entire day, day after day” “[w]ith large class sizes and outdated ventilation systems.”
The pattern continued as the third inquired about vaccine availability for Americans like her college-age son with COPD, but the fourth was a Democrat with a left-leaning probe about racial inequality in who’s been vaccinated.
Two questions later, we saw the first of two right-leaning questions as a Trump independent said at $15 minimum wage has “many” Midwestern “business owners...concerned that this will put them out of business, forcing them to downsize or cut benefits.”
Fast-forward to after a commercial break and the questions took a further nosedive with three of the five remaining questions on the left (click “expand”):
JOEL BERKOWITZ [DEMOCRAT]: More seriously, Mr. President, like millions of my fellow citizens, I was shaken by the attack on the Capitol on January 6th and on our democracy more broadly by your predecessor and his followers. While I appreciate efforts being made to bring them to justice, I worry about ongoing threats to our country from Americans who embrace white supremacy and conspiracies that align with it. What can your administration do to address this complex and wide-ranging problem?
(....)
JAMES LEWIS [INDEPENDENT]: I was a public defender in Kenosha County when the police shot Jacob Blake. I witnessed the city I worked in burned and devastated and recently, District Attorney Michael Gravely denied to prosecute the police officers responsible. So my question to you is what will your administration do to correct these wrongs that we witnessed, not just in Kenosha, but across this country? And what will we do to bridge the gap between communities and their police?
(....)
JOCELYN FISH [DEMOCRAT]: Student loans are crushing my family, friends and fellow Americans. The American dream is to succeed, but how can we fulfill that dream with debt is many people’s only option for degree. We need student loan forgiveness beyond the potential $10,000 your administration has proposed. We need at least a $50,000 minimum. What will you do to make that happen?
Pastor and Trump independent Dannie Evans had the second right-leaning question, which dealt with the push to defund the police even though some “communities...live in fear not of the police but in fear of the violent gangs who commit crimes in those neighborhoods.”
CNN’s embarrassing hoax of an actual town hall was made possible thanks to advertisers such as Carvana, CNN parent company AT&T, and Michelob. Follow the links to the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back page to see their contact information.
To see the relevant transcript of audience questions and Cooper comments/questions from the February 16 town hall, click “expand.”
CNN Town Hall - CNN Presidential Town Hall With Joe Biden
February 16, 2021
9:01 p.m. EasternANDERSON COOPER: New cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations have fallen by half in this last month, so have new cases. So, that’s the good news. There's this potential threat, potential surge from the variants coming down the pike potentially. When is every American who wants it going to be able to get a vaccine?
(....)
9:02 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: When you say — [APPLAUSE] — when you say by — by the end of July, do you mean that they will be available or that people will have been able to actually get them? Because Dr. Fauci —
BIDEN: They'll be available.
COOPER: They'll be available.
BIDEN: Be available.
COOPER: Okay.
(....)
9:03 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: So, if — if end of April — excuse me, end of July, they're available to actually get them in the arms of people who want them, that will take, what a couple more months?
(....)
9:04 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: That's been one of the problems, just getting enough people.
(....)
9:04 p.m. Eastern
KEVIN MICHEL [INDEPENDENT]: My question is regarding education —
BIDEN: Yes.
MICHEL: — and considering the hybrid and virtual school instruction have been in place for nearly a year now, what is the plan and recommendation to get students back into the brick and mortar buildings? As a parent of four children I find it imperative they get back to school as safely as possible.
(....)
9:06 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Well, let me ask you, your administration had set a goal to open the majority of schools in your first 100 days. You're now saying that means those schools may only be open for at least one day a week —
BIDEN: No, that’s not true. That’s what was reported. That’s not true. It was a mistake in the communication.
(....)
9:07 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: So when do you think that would be K through 8 at least five days a week if possible?
(....)
9:07 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Do you think that would be five days a week or just a couple?
(....)
9:08 p.m. Eastern
JUSTIN BELOT [DEMOCRAT]: So along the same lines of schools, so it’s great to be in a winter transition to in-person learning, while there are numerous warnings not to be in large groups or to have dinner parties or small parties, why is it okay to put students and teachers in close proximity to each other for an entire day, day after day. With large class sizes and outdated ventilation systems, how and when do you propose this to occur? And finally, do you believe all staff should be vaccinated before doing so?
(....)
9:10 p.m. Eastern
KERRI ENGEBRECHT [INDEPENDENT]: Our 19-year-old son was diagnosed with pediatrics COPD at the age of 14. We're told he has the lungs of a 60-year-old. He does all he can to protect himself. Last month, he even removed himself from the campus of UW Madison as he feels it's safer and he has less exposure here at home. We've tried all we can to get him a vaccine. I hear of others who are less vulnerable getting it based on far less. Do you have a plan to vaccinate those who are most vulnerable sooner to give them a priority?
(....)
9:11 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Let — let me just ask you, though. Johnson & — Johnson & Johnson could be authorized a new vaccine from them could be authorized in a couple of weeks. That would be a big deal —
BIDEN: Yes, it would.
COOPER: — bringing a lot more vaccines on, millions of more doses to the supply. Once that happens, given the urgency of these variants and the potential threat from them, should states stop giving priority to certain groups and just open vaccine access for everybody?
(....)
9:13 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: It may not be as effective as —
BIDEN: That may not be as effective.
COOPER: — against a variant but it would still be effective.
BIDEN: Still be effective. So the clear notion is if you're eligible, if it's available, get the vaccine. Get the vaccine.
(....)
9:13 p.m. Eastern
DESSIE LEVY [DEMOCRAT]: God bless you. Mr. President, hello, my name is Dr. Dessie Levy and my question to you is considering COVID-19 and its significant impact on black Americans, especially here in Milwaukee and thus the exacerbation of our racial disparities in health care we have seen less than three percent of blacks and less than five percent of Hispanics given the total number of vaccines that have been administered to this point. Is this a priority for the Biden administration? And how will the disparities be addressed? And that's both locally and nationally.
(....)
9:17 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Are you concerned about the rollout of this online? Cause it has been incredibly confusing for a lot of people, not just, you know, older people. It's younger people just trying to find a place to get a vaccine.
(....)
9:18 p.m. Eastern
JESSICA SALAS [INDEPENDENT]: As we've been talking about the coronavirus is very real and very scary, and it's especially scary for children who may or may not understand. My children Leyla, eight, here and my son Mateo, seven, at home often ask if they will catch COVID and if they do, will they die. They are watching as others get the vaccine, and they would like to know when will kids be able to get the vaccine.
(....)
9:20 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: You know, let me ask you — [APPLAUSE] — let me ask you, just for folks who are watching out there, there are a lot of people who are scared, and there's a lot of people who are hurting. When do you think this pandemic is — I mean, when are we — when's it going to be done? When are we going to get back to normal?
(....)
9:22 p.m. Eastern
BIDEN: But a significant number have to be in a position where they are — they have been vaccinated and/or they've been through it and —
COOPER: Have antibodies.
BIDEN: — have antibodies.
(....)
9:24 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Um, you’ve made — [APPLAUSE] — you've made passing the COVID relief bill the focus of your first 100 days. Those on the right say the proposal is too big. Some on the left say it's not big enough. Are you committed to passing $1.9 trillion or is that final number still up for negotiation?
(....)
9:28 p.m. Eastern
RANDY LANG [INDEPENDENT, VOTED TRUMP]: You're proposing a $15 minimum wage. Given the lower cost of living, specifically in the Midwest, many business owners are concerned that this will put them out of business forcing them to downsize or cut benefits. How can you instill confidence in small businesses that this will benefit the Midwest business growth?
(....)
9:29 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: The Congressional Budget Office says that a $15 minimum wage would lift 900,000 people out of poverty but would also cost 1.4 million people their jobs. Is that —
(....)
9:31 p.m. Eastern
TIM EICHINGER [DEMOCRAT]: My partner and I own a small brewery in the river west neighborhood of Milwaukee, and we have nine amazing employees. We rely primarily on selling our beer out of our tap room, and with the pandemic, our business has gone down about 50 percent. Now, we've relied primarily on loans, grants, as well as our own reserves to survive. However, the new assistance has been too slow and recently, it's gotten more restrictive on how we can apply it. What will you do so that small mom and pop businesses like ours will survive over large corporate entities?
(....)
9:38 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: I want to ask just a question about what we just witnessed. Before the Senate voted to acquit the former President in the impeachment trial, you said you were anxious to see if Republican senators would stand up. Only seven did. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the rest cowards. Do you agree with her?
(....)
9:39 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the former President is, “still liable for everything he did while he was in office.” If your Department of Justice wanted to investigate him, would you allow them to proceed?
(....)
9:40 p.m. Eastern
JOEL BERKOWITZ [DEMOCRAT]: More seriously, Mr. President, like millions of my fellow citizens, I was shaken by the attack on the Capitol on January 6th and on our democracy more broadly by your predecessor and his followers. While I appreciate efforts being made to bring them to justice, I worry about ongoing threats to our country from Americans who embrace white supremacy and conspiracies that align with it. What can your administration do to address this complex and wide-ranging problem?
(....)
9:42 p.m. Eastern
JAMES LEWIS [INDEPENDENT]: I was a public defender in Kenosha County when the police shot Jacob Blake. I witnessed the city I worked in burned and devastated and recently, District Attorney Michael Gravely denied to prosecute the police officers responsible. So my question to you is what will your administration do to correct these wrongs that we witnessed, not just in Kenosha, but across this country? And what will we do to bridge the gap between communities and their police?
(....)
9:47 p.m. Eastern
DANNIE EVANS [INDEPENDENT, VOTED FOR TRUMP]: Defund the police is discussed as an option for reforming policing. However, there are communities where people live in fear not of the police but in fear of the violent gangs who commit crimes in those neighborhoods. How can we be sure that we don't over legislate police officers so that they can do their job to protect the law-abiding citizens who live in these high-crime neighborhoods and yet train officers to police with compassion?
(....)
9:53 p.m. Eastern
LUVERDA MARTIN [DEMOCRAT]: Our nation's experiences with and through COVID-19 and other recent tragedies have strengthened the foundation of division among Americans. What are your immediate and tangible plans to address how deeply divided we are as a nation?
(....)
9:55 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Let me ask about a question which does often divide many people in this country, immigration. Your administration, along with congressional Democrats, expected to unveil an immigration reform bill just this week. You want a pathway to citizenship for the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants. Would you sign any immigration bill if it did not include that, a pathway for the roughly 11 million undocumented?
(....)
9:57 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Just to be clear though — and I know you're going to be announcing stuff later this week, or I've heard — you do want a pathway to citizenship —
BIDEN: Yes.
COOPER: — for roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants.
BIDEN: Yes.
COOPER: And that would be essential for any bill for you?
(....)
9:59 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: You just talked to China's president.
BIDEN: Yes, for two hours.
COOPER: What about the — the Uighurs? What about the human rights abuses?
BIDEN: The Uighurs, we must speak up for human rights. It’s who we are. We can’t — what my comment to him was — and I know him well, and he knows me well. We're a two hour conversation.
COOPER: You talked about this too?
BIDEN: I talked about this too.
(....)
10:01 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: When you talked to him, though, about human rights abuses, is that just -- is that as far as it goes in terms of the U.S.? Or is there any actual repercussions for China?
(....)
10:02 p.m. Eastern
JOCELYN FISH [DEMOCRAT]: Student loans are crushing my family, friends and fellow Americans.
BIDEN: Me too.
FISH [LAUGHS]: The American dream is —
BIDEN: You think I'm kidding.
FISH: — to succeed, but how can we fulfill that dream with debt is many people’s only option for degree. We need student loan forgiveness beyond the potential $10,000 your administration has proposed. We need at least a $50,000 minimum. What will you do to make that happen?
BIDEN: I will not make that happen.
(....)
10:07 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Mr. President, let me ask you —
BIDEN [on student loan debt]: Cause I don't think I have the authority to do it by signing.
COOPER: — you have — over the years, over your career, you've already spent a great deal of time at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, except now you're living there and you're president. It's been four weeks. What's it like? How is it different?
(....)
10:08 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: You had never been in the residence of the White House?
BIDEN: I had only been upstairs in the — in the yellow room, you know, the oval upstairs.
COOPER: I don't know. I've never been there either.
(....)
10:09 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Is it different than you expected it to be in some way?
(....)
10:12 p.m. Eastern
COOPER: Have you picked up the phone and called any former president yet?
BIDEN: Yes, I have.
COOPER: Do you want to say who?
BIDEN: No, I don't. They're private conversations. But, by the way, all of them, with one exception, picked up the phone and called me as well.
COOPER: I know you don’t want to talk about him.
