Joe Biden’s joking threat to murder an ABC reporter didn't bother the network press at all. ABC and NBC on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning completely skipped the cringe-y moment. CBS allowed a scant 15 seconds, dismissing the attempted humor about running over a journalist as “brushing off a question.”
On Tuesday, ABC’s Cecilia Vega tried to do her job, asking at an event: “Mr. President, can I ask you a quick question about Israel before you drive away since it’s so important?” Biden was sitting in an all-electric Ford truck and didn’t want to take real questions from the press. So he sneered, “No, you can’t. Not unless you get in front of the car as I step on it. [Awkward laughter.] I’m only teasing. Okay, here we go.” Then he drove off.
ABC’s World News Tonight and Good Morning America completely avoided the exchange, despite this being about their own reporter! Vega appeared on GMA, Wednesday, hinting, “Now, I was traveling with the President when he was in Michigan yesterday.” But she only talked about Biden’s exchange with far-left Democrat Rashida Tlaib. (GMA on Wednesday featured ads by Ford, so maybe they didn't want to upset a sponsor.)
The CBS Evening News on Tuesday provided the only coverage, just 15 seconds. Reporter Ed O’Keefe dismissed, “But later, while test driving an electric truck, the President brushed off questions about the [Middle East] violence.” A joking threat of violence is “brushing off”? He then played the clip.
The Today show, despite two available hours of air time on Wednesday couldn’t get to the jarring exchange. Instead, the reporters focused on Biden’s “secret” Venmo account.
Not caring about the joke threat, CBS This Morning hosts gushed over Biden driving a truck:
GAYLE KING: The truth, it seems to be, that this President really does like to drive.
ANTHONY MASON: Yes.
KING: He seems to be a car guy, truck guy. He seems to enjoy it.
MASON: In his element.
KING: Nicely done, Mr. President!
As I noted on Tuesday, journalists melted down when Trump in 2017 retweeted a dumb, old clip of him fighting a digitally superimposed CNN logo at a wrestling match. We can certainly imagine how they would handle Biden’s comments, if they were made by Trump.
The hypocrisy on CBS was sponsored by Progressive insurance, on ABC it was supported by Ford and on NBC it was Dove soap. Click on the links to let them know what you think.
Partial transcripts from CBS are below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS Evening News
5/18/2021
6:38ED O’KEEFE: But later, while test driving an electric truck, the president brushed off questions about the violence.
CECILIA VEGA: Mr. President, can I ask you a quick question about Israel before you drive away since it’s so important?”
JOE BIDEN: No, you can’t. Not unless you get in front of the car as I step on it. [Awkward laughter.] I’m only teasing. Okay, here we go.
CBS This Morning
5/19/2021
7:02STEPHEN COLBERT: President Biden toured a Ford factory that’s making electric vehicles and then afterward, he finagled himself a ride in the brand new, all electric Ford F150.
JOE BIDEN: This sucker is quick.
JAMES CORDEN: I hope someone edits Biden into every scene of the Fast and Furious movies.
ANTHONY MASON: You knew he'd have the glasses on.
GAYLE KING: You knew a comedian would do something like that.
MASON: Of course.
KING: The truth, it seems to be, that this president really does like to drive.
MASON: Yes.
KING: He seems to be a car guy, truck guy. He seems to enjoy it.
MASON: In his element.
KING: Nicely done, Mr. President!
