In a previous commentary, I went to some length in focusing on President Biden’s ability to perform in public. That is why his public statements are often pre-recorded video messages. That is why he built a television set in the White House.
Why he rarely utters an impromptu statement – and why he relies on teleprompters and pocket notes — cheat sheets as they have been dubbed. He has become more of a virtual digitally generated image than a flesh and blood President. (Note to conspiracy theory types: I am not saying Biden IS a digitally generated character – just seems that way.)
His inability to perform off the cuff without gaffes and senior moments is the reason he has held fewer press conferences than any modern President. We have recently seen a vivid example of the problem. But it is not just Biden’s necessity to rely on notes – even on obvious information. (You might recall the time his inadvertently revealed cheat sheet had to inform him to enter the room … say hello to guests … and sit in his chair at the head of the conference table.)
In his recent rare press conference, Biden not only revealed his need for speaker crutches but a very disturbing relationship between the press and the President. There have been both rumors and complaints that the press was either providing Biden with questions in advance – or, even worse, accepting questions provided by the White House Press Office.
We do not need to rely on suspicion or speculation anymore. We saw it in real-time.
It seems Biden is not a poker player — or he would know to hide his hand from others around the table. Instead, Biden inadvertently revealed the information on his cheat sheets. This time it was a scandal-level boo-boo.
Biden’s cheat sheet had a picture of Courtney Subramanian of the Los Angels Times and the question she would ask – along with talking points for his response. Then there was the video of her reading the question from her own cheat sheet.
I am sure the leftwing press will play down the incident – largely because they are engaged in the same biased game. But in terms of journalistic norms, traditions, and ethics, this is a class-A felony. There should be an inquiry into the scope of this problem. How many other White House reporters engage in this sort of staged exchange?
There should be an explanation from the White House. Will this be brought up during the daily White House briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre? (It was, and Jean-Pierre dodged).
And what does the Los Angeles Times have to say? It is their credibility that is being undermined. Will they make a policy statement condemning the practice? Will they fire Subramanian — as they should?
We will have to wait and see how this plays out, but we should not underestimate the harm this conspiracy does to the meaning of a free and independent news media.
So, there ‘tis.