President Joe Biden called Fox News reporter Peter Doocy a “stupid son of a b—-” Monday.
Biden shouldn’t have said it in the grand scheme of things. Biden should, just like Donald Trump, project at most the idea of civility. He should also convey the power of the office.
Who cares in the grand scheme of things?
Trump didn’t when he was president. Trump supporters didn’t when Trump made crass remarks. But oh, the hand-wringing over Biden’s comment Monday afternoon among some on the right. Get out the smelling salts.
“Grave attack on press freedom,” Glenn Greenwald, journalist tweeted. “This is what the Nazis did: incited hatred against those who challenge them.”
Give me a break.
For context:President Biden caught on hot mic calling reporter a ‘stupid son of a b—-‘ over inflation question
At least Biden didn’t call Doocy an ‘enemy of the people’
You know what Biden didn’t call Doocy? An enemy of the people. Trump did it several times while he was in office. That insult has far greater historical weight (as Greenwald undoubtedly knows). It was favored by Joseph Stalin, for instance.
Trump also exhorted his followers at rallies to boo the media there and used the term “fake news” to describe any story he didn’t like, even (especially) if it was true — so much, in fact, that it has become a knee-jerk response by right-wing fanatics toany story.
Here’s what happened Monday: After Biden addressed reporters, Doocy shouted a question as they were being ushered out of the room. Is Biden concerned that inflation will prove to be a political liability during the midterm elections.
“That’s a great asset — more inflation,” Biden said sarcastically to no one in particular, evidently not realizing his microphone was still on. “What a stupid son of a b—-.”
The White House didn’t exactly try to cover it up — it’s included in the official transcript of the meeting. And some on Twitter defended Biden.
Many did not. Rep. Lauren Boebert tweeted about it. Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted about it. Randy Quaid, the actor and Trump supporter, did, too.
“Brandon ought to be looking in a mirror next time he wants to call someone a stupid son-of-a-b—-,” Quaid tweeted.
Here it is: Hypocrisy. The “Let’s go Brandon!” crowd is suddenly offended? (If you don’t know, “Let’s go Brandon” is code for an obscenity — a much worse obscenity — used as an insult to Biden.) This is absurdity at its finest.
For his part, Doocy was a good sport about the whole thing. Appearing on Fox News later, he said in the moment he didn’t even hear what Biden said. Jesse Watters, laughing, told Doocy that in fact Biden is right, that is what he is.
“Yeah, nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it’s not true,” Doocy said.
Fox News showed less humor in its news alert: Raging Biden curses out Fox News correspondent.” I must have missed the “raging” part. Biden seemed pretty calm.
It was a dumb question. Sometimes they get memorable answers
It was a stupid question. Inflation is an obvious political problem. But stupid questions sometimes yield memorable answers — which, you’d have to say, this one did.
Doocy, the son of “Fox & Friends” co-host Steve Doocy, has carved out a niche for himself as the reporter who will joust with Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, on all things Biden. Sometimes he asks genuine questions. Other times it’s more performance art for Fox News. Twitter is divided over who owns Twitter after each media briefing. It all depends on the political orientation of the person tweeting.
Biden, Psaki and others know who Doocy really is.
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Many people pointed out on Twitter that Biden isn’t the only politician to judge Doocy’s questions. On Monday, an online clip was circulated of Senator John McCain, Arizona, who is a frequent Trump target. Doocy asked McCain if his relationship with Trump had frayed to the point that he wouldn’t support anything the president brings forth.
“Why would you say something that stupid?” McCain answered. “ Why would you ask something that dumb?”
To find an answer.
The uproar over Biden’s word choice will blow over, as it should, and as it did with Trump’s many insults to the media. The arguments over seemingly every other issue will not.
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