President Joe Biden's damage-control bid to sell himself as the underdog didn't sell well with so-called “elites,” as the angry octogenarian took a lot of heat for being “Trumpian.”
(Video credit: CNN)
Disunity on the left over the future of the 2024 presidential election could be found at every level, from the living rooms of Washington, DC to the corporate media studios. Evidence of that continued Monday as a coordinated stretch for a timed narrative with a refusal to step aside saw Biden feel the heat for the residual impression of a call on MSNBC's “Morning Joe.”
“I'm frustrated by the elites, not by you, by the party elites. Oh, they know a lot more. Any of these guys who don't think I should run, run against me. Run for president, challenge -me at the convention,” the increasingly outraged headline told co-host Joe Scarborough, who himself had street vendor the notion that Biden was going up against “the media elites.”
Comments on the call revealed that it had done little to quell concerns about the Democratic nomination's longevity, and when Vanity Fair special correspondent Brian Stelter joined “CNN Newsroom,” host Jim Acosta comment: “It was a bit of a Donald page. Trump's playbook calls a morning show this morning.”
“Yes, Biden sounded a little bit Trumpian in that most recent call. By the way, he did that on ABC, too,” Stelter responded, adding, “There's an element of resentment and grievance that you and I recognize very well of the former president, and we know that motivates some voters. It's certainly a way to fire up the base voters. What it probably doesn't do is change those anxious, nervous Democratic lawmakers.”
He also referenced a critique from Semaphore's Washington bureau chief, Benjy Sarlin, who defended the call: “The basic dynamic: Biden hasn't made much progress since the debate that convinced Democrats he's in time to beat Trump, but he has gone ahead in telegraphing to them it will be murder-suicide if they try to accept the nomination and fail.”
“It looks like a great place to be heading into convention season,” Sarlin had argued in response to “Pod Save America” and one-time speechwriter for then-President Barack Obama, Jon Favreau.
“Biden at Moring Joe – the energy is great! It's loud! I love that part,” Favreau said. “The message is absolutely cool: angry, defensive, attacking all the wrong people. Please talk about voters' concerns, how you will address them, and how Trump will make them worse. That's it!”
Sounds like a great place to head into convention season
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) July 8, 2024
Similarly, CNN's Jake Tapper pointed to Biden's inconsistency as he aired a clip of the call before reading the transcript: “The fact is, how do you make sure that you're going to, you know, on the way to go to work tomorrow at the age of old, you do not know the idea that I am too old.
“Keep in mind that this bite is supposed to be reassuring to Democratic supporters who have been reeling,” the anchor added.
CNN@jaketapperreads an incoherent Biden quote from Morning Joe word for word: “This bite is supposed to be reassuring” pic.twitter.com/friVDsJis9
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) July 8, 2024
Those criticisms weren't exclusive to one side of the aisle, as others chimed in with reactions, including Red State writer Bonchie, who commented, “Look, I'm not a political consultant, but I think Biden calling out Morning Joe is” will not soothe a soul about its condition. The ease with which he gets angry is a symptom of his condition.”
“The phone interview with Morning Joe is textbook Joe Biden,” he also posted on X. “He started out clearly reading a script, but it only took a few questions to get him angry and yelling. The phone is distorted and He sounds absolutely bewildered.”
Look, I'm not a political consultant, but I'm thinking Biden yelling on Morning Joe isn't going to soothe a soul about his condition.
The ease with which he gets angry is a symptom of his condition. pic.twitter.com/Sky56wtv6p
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) July 8, 2024
This phone interview with Morning Joe is textbook Joe Biden. He started by clearly reading a script, but it only took a few questions to get him angry and yelling.
The phone is distorted and sounds absolutely wonky.
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) July 8, 2024
I wonder what this would have looked like with his face alive.
— Pete LaPlace (@hothotcocoa05) July 8, 2024
big sigh this guy needs to be hung up.
— hella (@HellaMista) July 8, 2024
“Sun position” first thing in the morning?
— ⏳#AssangeIsFREE#FreePalestine #BDS (@aerwaves_) July 8, 2024
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