All three networks on Monday night and Tuesday morning offered sympathy for Joe Biden calling Fox News reporter Peter Doocy a “stupid son of a bitch.” CBS explained, as though this were a new discovery now that Democrats are in charge, “it’s not easy being President.” ABC and NBC both stressed that Biden was simply “frustrated” by other reporters asking off-topic questions.
Here was Monday's exchange between Doocy and Biden:
DOOCY: Do you think inflation is a political liability going into the midterms?
BIDEN: [Sarcastically] No, it’s a great asset. More inflation. What a stupid son of a bitch.
On CBS Mornings, co-host Tony Dokoupil lobbied for understanding about everything the President is going through: “Yesterday, with pressure building, President Biden had a profane hot mic moment with a reporter asking about a different subject, inflation.” Offering empathy, he fretted, “It’s not easy being President. I think President Biden is learning that anew this morning.”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, senior White House correspondent Mary Bruce indicated that maybe we shouldn’t do things to rattle Biden, “This was not a contentious line of questioning but the President was clearly frustrated he was peppered with questions about Ukraine at an economic event. And Doocy's question, even though it was on topic, clearly struck a nerve with the President.”
On NBC’s Today, White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell didn’t even play the offending clip. Instead, she summarized it as an “insulting response” from Biden. Like her colleague on ABC, O’Donnell called for understanding: “But [the President] appeared frustrated, saying he wanted...questions on the subject of the event, which was related to the economy.”
On Monday night and Tuesday morning, ABC allowed the least coverage on the gaffe. Just 53 seconds on Tuesday morning and nothing on Monday night. CBS came in second with 17 seconds on the CBS Evening News and 51 seconds on CBS Mornings. (A total of 68 seconds.) NBC managed 45 seconds on Tuesday morning and 50 seconds on Monday’s Nightly News. (A total of 95 seconds.)
As Biden’s gaffes and “hot mic” moments pile up, look for the networks to continue to argue for understanding and empathy towards our “frustrated” and sometimes bewildered President.
The sympathetic spin on CBS was sponsored by Progressive insurance. On ABC, it was Allstate and on NBC it was Amazon. Click on the links to let them know what you think.
Transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS Mornings
01/25/2022
7:04 a.m.TOTAL TIME: 51 seconds
TONY DOKOUPIL: Yesterday, with pressure building, President Biden had a profane hot mic moment with a reporter asking about a different subject, inflation. And, of course, he’s also facing questions from members of Congress about all his plans. Weijia Jiang is a questioner of the president. She’s at the White House for us this morning. Weijia, it’s not easy being President. I think President Biden is learning that anew this morning. Good morning to you.
(....)
WEIJIA JIANG: On Monday, when a Fox News reporter asked him a question about inflation, Mr. Biden fired off an insult.
PETER DOOCY: Do you think inflation is a political liability going into the midterms?
JOE BIDEN: No, it’s a great asset. More inflation. What a stupid son of a bitch.
JIANG: That Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy tells me that about an hour later, President Biden called him up to clear the air. He said that the President told him it’s not personal and they talked about moving forward. Jericka?
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ABC's Good Morning America
01/25/2022
7 a.m. TEASEGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: President Biden responds to a question from a Fox News reporter with an off mic insult and profanity. What the reporter and White House are saying this morning.
(....)
7:07 a.m. Eastern
53 secondsCECILIA VEGA: I want to ask about another moment at the White House. You were in the room for it. The President responding to a question from a Fox News reporter with a profanity. Let's watch.
PETER DOOCY: Do you think inflation is a political liability going into the midterms?
JOE BIDEN: No, it’s a great asset. More inflation. What a stupid son of a bitch.
VEGA: All right. The White House, the President trying to clear the air overnight.
MARY BRUCE: Yeah. That reporter, Peter Doocy, says he received a personal call from Biden. The president telling him, quote, “It's nothing personal, pal.” Doocy said he appreciated the President’s call and had a nice conversation. But, Cecilia, you know what these events are like. This was not a contentious line of questioning but the President was clearly frustrated he was peppered with questions about Ukraine at an economic event and Doocy's question, even though it was on topic, clearly struck a nerve with the President, Cecilia.
VEGA: About inflation, thank you so much.
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NBC's Today
01/25/2021
7:05 a.m. EasternHODA KOTB: Meantime, Kelly, there was another headline out of Washington. President Biden was caught, he was swearing on a hot mic at a reporter yesterday. So what happened there?
KELLY O’DONNELL: Well, reporters had asked the President about Ukraine an urgent topic because the President has not said if he is sending troops overseas, but he appeared frustrated saying he wanted to questi-- he wanted questions on the subject of the event, which was related to the economy. So Peter Doocy of Fox asked about inflation and got an insulting response back from the President. The President was standing in front of a microphone and an audience. The White House says the President called Doocy last night. He later said on television the President told him it wasn't personal and they cleared the air.
