CBS Frets to First Lady: Aren’t You ‘Frustrated’ By Republicans?

This Friday CBS MorningsWe eagerly watched a flirty interview with President Joe Biden (First Lady Jill Biden) on the network’s website. CBS Sunday Morning. Reliable liberal hack correspondent Rita Braver conducted the friendly chat and was shown commiserating with the First Lady over how the President must be “frustrated” by Republican opposition to his radical agenda.

“I think a lot of people would find it hard to believe that you don’t get frustrated when you feel that Republicans are really trying to block the President’s agenda,”Braver was sympathetic. Jill Biden replied: “He keeps working at it. He’s an eternal optimist and he keeps working, Rita, like almost 24 hours a day, at creating relationships with Republicans as well as DemocratsTo help him push his agenda ahead. It’s that important.”

It was a headline that gush: “‘He’s An Eternal Optimist’; First Lady Reflects on Republican Opposition to President’s Agenda.”

Braver then pressed the First Lady about her husband’s angrily inflicting the GOP. “He doesn’t ever come home and say to you, ‘These such and suches, I can’t believe what they’re doing’?” Jill Biden admitted: “Well, he might make a disparaging remark once in a while, but I’m telling you, he believes, as he always has. He’s always worked with both sides of the aisle.”

Gayle King, co-host of the taping preview and Democratic Party donor, was feisty about the notion that President Trump had been attacking Republicans behind closed doors. “I like the First Lady saying he might make a disparaging remark once in a while. That’s called being a human being.”

It’s no surprise that the White House would go to Braver for a certain softball sit-down, she has a reputation of slobbering over liberal politicians and media personalities, including the Bidens:

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In fact, Braver’s husband, Democratic lawyer Bob Barnett, even helped then-Hillary Clinton vice presidential running mate Tim Kaine do debate prep in 2016.  

Braver, a bidens’ interviewee, knew what they were in for when they gave it a choreographed interview.

The December 10 Preview Segment is available here as a transcript. CBS Mornings:

7.34 AM ET

TONY DOKOUPIL: On this weekend CBS Sunday MorningRita Braver sits down with Jill Biden (President) and reflects on the first year of their tenure in the White House. It’s a rare Camp David interview, and Rita asked the First Lady about the President’s political opponents.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: “He’s An Eternal Optimist”; First Lady Reflects on Republican Opposition to President’s Agenda]

RITA BRAVER: I think a lot of people would find it hard to believe that you don’t get frustrated when you feel that Republicans are really trying to block the President’s agenda.

JILL BIDDEN: He continues to work at it. He’s an eternal optimist and he keeps working, Rita, like almost 24 hours a day, at creating relationships with Republicans as well as Democrats, to push his agenda forward. It’s that important.

BRAVER: He doesn’t ever come home and say to you, “These such and suches, I can’t believe what they’re doing”?

BIDEN: Well, he might make a disparaging remark once in a while, but I’m telling you, he believes, as he always has. He’s always worked with both sides of the aisle. He will keep doing that.

DOKOUPIL: An optimist. Rita Braver’s full interview with the President and the First Lady airs this weekend on CBS Sunday Morning.

GAYLE King: It’s funny how the First Lady might occasionally make disparaging remarks. That’s called being a human being.