Joe Biden Gaffe Watch: Day #2. As we noted on Wednesday night, the networks avoided the cringe-inducing moment when the President asked where a recently deceased Congresswoman was, wondering of Jackie Walorski: “Jackie, are you here? Where’s Jackie?” All three evening newscasts censored the President’s latest awkward moment.
How about Thursday? Despite an available six hours of air time, ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS Mornings and NBC’s Today all avoided it as well. But what about Hurricane Ian threatening Florida, you might ask? Would there be time? The networks rightly offered detailed coverage on this dangerous storm and all who were impacted by it.
But there was still time to cover Biden’s latest example of being confused in public. For instance, ABC’s Good Morning America managed to devote five minutes and six seconds to Hocus Pocus 2. Sounding like a commercial for his Disney overlords, co-host George Stephanopoulos enthused that the original has “come to define Halloween for a generation of kids and their parents.” Shilling for his corporate parent, he reminded, “[Hocus Pocus 2] starts streaming tomorrow on Disney+!”
GMA allowed another five minutes and 51 seconds for a cooking segment with reporter Stephanie Ramos. They went with this despite ABC White House correspondent Cecilia Vega being one of the journalists who pressed the White House for answers at a press briefing.
Over on the Today show, co-host Savannah Guthrie sold products that are available on the Today show websites, offering deals on “wonderknit bralettes and bikinis,” “drop hoop earrings, “plant-based milk makers” and “bedding collections.” This went on for five minutes and eight seconds. That was followed by a four minute and 25 second cooking segment with Gabby Dalkin.
CBS Mornings was the only show that devoted all two hours to the hurricane. That doesn’t excuse the co-hosts from covering Biden’s latest embarrassment. But at least it can be argued as a decision to focus on serious things. ABC and NBC have no excuse for not ignoring the Biden gaffe. No excuse other than Biden Protection Duty.
