The biggest surprise from Joe Biden’s presidential press conference was its length: At nearly two hours, it was as if he was trying to compete with Donald Trump for making his meetings with the media more like a marathon.
It also confirmed what White House reporters have long said, that the short-term moments of availability Biden tends to give are no match of the traditional press conference. In a more relaxed environment, reporters could ask multiple questions and then follow-up on not only what they asked, but also on the answers Biden provided.
The press conference also gave more of a sense of Biden unscripted, perhaps more of what he really thinks, even if his declaration that “I don’t believe the polls”It is an old talking point for politicians who are struggling to make ends meet. What we saw was a better and more authentic sense of Biden — emphatic on some points, prickly on others, and perhaps a bit too candid on some topics.
Biden stopped at one point. Biden was speaking about Vladimir Putin’s provocations and caught himself in a moment as he described what needed to be done to make the situation recede. “There’s room to work if he wants to do that, but I think as usual he is going to … I am not going to go any further.”
Here’s five moments that stood out:
Putin’s provocations:The situation in Russia was a major topic at the press conference. Biden warned Putin about the dangers that his country is facing. “never seen the sanctions like the ones I have promised” if Russia invades.
While he admitted that Russia would be entering the country, he also spoke candidly about NATO disagreements. “minor incursion.”
“It depends on what he does, to what extent we get total unity on the NATO front.”
CNN reports that the alarms were set off in Ukraine by CNN indicating that there would be a distinction between an incursion or an invasion.
Later, the White House Press secretary sought clarification on what Biden said and issued a statement. “President Biden has been clear with the Russian President: If any Russian military forces move across the Ukrainian border, that’s a renewed invasion, and it will be met with a swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our Allies. President Biden also knows from long experience that the Russians have an extensive playbook of aggression short of military action, including cyberattacks and paramilitary tactics. And he affirmed today that those acts of Russian aggression will be met with a decisive, reciprocal, and united response.”
Black voter disappointment: NBC News’ Kristen Welker asked him about her conversations with his supporters in South Carolina, who told her of their disappointment that Biden did not push for voting rights legislation earlier in his term.
Biden found the question difficult because it is a very personal issue. After the endorsement by Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina congressman, and Black voter turnout in South Carolina, Biden’s 2020 campaign was reshaped.
“The fact is … there is a timing that is not of ones own choices,”Biden stated, adding that “part of the problem is I have not been out in the community nearly enough.”
Republican intransigence:Biden stated that he was surprised at the Republican opposition and tried to argue that it is different from the one experienced by Barack Obama as vice president.
He said that Republicans don’t say what they stand for anymore, but only what they oppose. They are dependent on Donald Trump, their predecessor.
He was not happy about the suggestion that his speech last week on voting rights contributed to the polarization. Republicans claimed that he compared them with Bull Connor, the Birmingham segregationist.
When Real Clear Politics’ Philip Wegmann asked Biden, “I know that you dispute the characterization that you called folks that opposed those voting bills as being Bull Connor or George Wallace, but you said that they would be in the same camp…”
“No I didn’t say that. Look at what I said. Go back and read what I said. And tell me if you think I called anyone who voted on the side of the position taken by Bull Connor that they were Bull Connor. That is an interesting reading of English. I am assuming you got into journalism because you like to write.”
Biden was also questioned by Wegmann about his opinion on the 2022 election. “illegitimate”If there are any new restrictions on state voting and the federal voting laws are not passed,
“Imagine if those attempts to say that the count was not legit, you have to recount it and we are going to discard the following votes. I’m not saying it is going to be legit. The increase in the prospect of it being illegitimate is in direct proportion of the prospect of not being able to get these reforms passed. But you are not going to see me, and I don’t think you are going to see the Democratic party, given up on, coming back, assuming that the attempt fails today.”
Exercise for work: Biden quickly dismissed a question from Newsmax’s James Rosen, who cited polls and asked him, “Why do you suppose such large segments of the American electorate have come to harbor such profound concerns about your cognitive fitness?”
“I have no idea,” Biden said. That was all.
The ‘reset’:Much of the talk leading up to the conference was about how this would present an opportunity for Biden. “reset,”After a tough first year, you can chart a new course or plan for the next one. He attempted to do this from the start by describing the achievements of the administration and also discussing the frustration over the ongoing pandemic. He stated that normalcy will return. “We’re not there yet but we will get there.”
Responding to a question from CNN’s Jeff Zeleny, Biden outlined what he plans to do differently, starting with more travel across the country to talk to the public. “I am going to get out of this place more often,”He said. He plans to seek out the help of other experts, including editorial writers. He also stated that he would be. “deeply involved”in the midterms.
There was nothing said about staff shakeups. It is quite common in times like these, when polls are falling and there is criticism even from his own party. At this point in Donald Trump’s term, after all, he was on his second chief of staff, second press secretary and fourth communications director. Instead, Biden signaled that the administration’s problem was not so much in the message, but in getting through to voters so they can hear it.