USA 2020 Elections: Thread

[grarpamp]

Biden White House Self-Censors to Protect Biden...

Matt Whitlock tweeted, "Oh my gosh they cut the President's microphone
so nobody could hear him answer. That's how worried this White House
is about Biden answering questions on Afghanistan."

Others decried what seemed like a callous response from the president.

White House marks Youtube videos as "unlisted"
so that only holders of direct links can view them.



Fauci blamed measles outbreak on Hasidic Jews; Orthodox leaders set
the record straight



White House in chaos struggles to keep Biden on time

President Biden is struggling to provide a message of strength and
confidence amid international scorn and uncertainty over his handling
of the U.S. military drawdown in Afghanistan — showing up late to
speeches, refusing to answer reporters' questions, and largely
avoiding the White House press corps ever since Taliban insurgents
took over the country in a matter of days.

Biden's remarks Tuesday from the White House were delayed more than
four hours after being rescheduled twice, and the U.S. evacuation
effort in Afghanistan was the last topic he addressed after touting
his Build Back Better agenda.

MEDIA PUMMELING BIDEN FROM LEFT AND RIGHT AS AFGHANISTAN CRISIS DEEPENS

"He made us wait a number of hours and then touted a $5 trillion
liberal wishlist that will increase greater inflation and transform
our country in the worst way possible," House Minority Leader Kevin
McCarthy fumed during a press briefing Wednesday morning.

"The most embarrassing part though, was that he refused to take
questions, and he turned his back and walked away — an image that has
come to define him and his presidency," McCarthy said. "He turned his
back on our own citizens stranded in Afghanistan, he’s turned our back
on our allies and partners, he’s turned his back on his duties as
commander in chief."

Biden has repeatedly defended his plan to withdraw American troops
from Afghanistan, while tens of thousands of U.S. citizens, allies and
Afghans vulnerable to Taliban reprisal are desperately trying to flee
the country through Kabul's airport, which has been surrounded by
militants.

Biden assured Americans just last month that a Taliban takeover of
Afghanistan was not likely and that he trusted "the capacity of the
Afghan military." The president largely avoided cameras during the
debacle, watching the Aug. 15 fall of Kabul unfold last weekend from
the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.

Three days later, Biden was fiercely criticized after he gave public
remarks about COVID-19 and failed to address the situation in
Afghanistan or take any questions. He later sat down with ABC News’
George Stephanopoulos and said the "chaos" in Kabul was inevitable. It
was only the ninth cable news interview of his presidency and the
second with Stephanopoulos, placing him far behind his predecessors in
terms of TV appearances.

On Friday, Biden was nearly an hour late to give remarks further
defending his Afghanistan withdrawal.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki had an "out of
office" email message for one week starting the same day Kabul
collapsed.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who previously said she had a key role
in Biden’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, has also managed to
stay relatively silent on the crisis, embarking on her first official
visit to Southeast Asia this week.

"The president never shies away from taking questions," White House
communications director Kate Bedingfield insisted during a Friday
appearance on MSNBC.

The White House didn't immediately return a request for comment.