Press Conference After Debate Was an Expected Nothing

Listening to the White House press conference, which was broadcast from Air Force One in an audio only format was frustrating to say the least, but not unpredictable. I mean, of course White House officials are going to defend their guy. But at the same time, after the terrible debate performance last night and the scathing commentary from even CNN and so many other Democrats, many of whom all but said they were no longer supporting Joe Biden's candidacy, you would think they would be more inclined to do some hard knocks damage control and quell what has become a majority fear.

Instead, what they did was dismiss the night's performance and deflect. How can that be a working strategy? When the American people, especially members of the media who generally have your back, are now asking critical questions about the president, you answer them directly, openly, and honestly.

"What did the American people see last night at that debate?" one reporter asked. 

"We saw Donald Trump tell lie after lie to the American people and speak about his radical agenda for America."

That wasn't the question.

I will admit that they did at least acknowledge that even the president himself was aware it was not a good performance. "But you can't judge the president based on one performance," they said. Only the reality is that the debate was the performance that most voters, especially independents, would actually watch. For all intents and purposes, it needed to be the performance of his life, and to dismiss the performance as just an anomaly speaks volumes about the reality of Biden's ability to lead.

Not only was the debate the performance most voters would see, but many people also watched the media reactions as well. These visuals, more than anything, are going to be the things most permanently etched in their minds.

As the old saying goes, once you see certain things, you can't simply unsee them.

The entire press conference focused on Trump, which is not unusual, nor unexpected. But doesn't that also send a message? You just had an awful night on the debate stage that millions and millions of voters saw, and rather than focus on the performance and do your best to try and explain it, you simply point to the other guy?

But Trump. Did you see what Trump did? Did you hear what he said? Trump, Trump, Trump.

What it actually says to the American people is that you have no explanation, and so in its stead you simply point fingers away from the real question. Perhaps hoping that's enough for someone to give Biden a pass and think, "Yeah. You're right. Trump was really bad, wasn't he?"

To me it just does more to hurt Biden. First of all, in order to solve problems, you have to see them. You have to acknowledge they are there in order to be able to fix them. If the president's performance cannot even be accepted, what does that say about your ability to recognize other issues? 

Especially when the one you are being asked about was glaringly obvious.

I don't know why I was hoping for a better set of answers from the White House. I mean, when have we ever gotten anything straightforward from them? It's all pass the buck, deflect, point fingers, and look the other way.

I do think the American people get it, though. That's probably the silver lining. They don't need to answer the questions, actually. We already know what they are. We just wanted to know what you'd say. You said nothing, and that, above all else, provided the real answer.

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© 2024 Jim Bauer