LAME: AP Journo Treats Biden to Softballs in First Major Print Reporter Interview

With Very littleReferring to Public condemnationsFrom the liberal media, President Biden spent over a year in his office and never had sat down for an interview (not with a columnist) in major print. The end was near Thursday with the Associated Press’s Josh Boak. 

Boak’s questions were the epitome of softballs, inviting him to explain his thinking during “a really unique time in American history,” share what it’s like to face such united Republican opposition, and state whether Americans appropriately understand “the stakes” With regard to foreign policies.

One of Boak’s softest questions was his first one: “I’m really interested in how you’re thinking and how you’re making choices during what seems like a really unique time in American history.”

Biden complimented Boak and called it “a great job.” “an interesting question” before saying he’s “making choices” while also ensuring he “give[s] ordinary working-class and middle-class folks a shot” and that he was frustrated how Donald Trump “arranged” the economy to benefit the rich.

Boak’s second question wasn’t any better, which was prefaced by the reality of “voters” feeling “very pessimistic”: “[H]What does it take to make a President feel strong and stable?[?]”

Boak was mildly rebuffed by Biden, who blamed Putin’s soaring gasoline prices.

What is the reason for this? Because it seems like you knew the risks on Ukraine with regard to higher gasoline prices that carried political risks for you at home so when, when your aides said, “Look at the situation,” how did you make that choice? What would you say to someone living in Latrobe Pennsylvania?

After Biden spoke about the ripple effects of war in Ukraine, Boak asked if Americans understood what was happening. “Do you think Americans have that sense of the stakes on a daily basis?”

Boak shifted to the economy, and Biden was there within seconds. “made the choice to prioritize job growth”Even though you have just taken office, “Republicans right now are saying to voters that inflation started with your COVID relief package.”

A miffed Biden said there’s “zero evidence of that” because “we’ve reduced the deficit by $350 billion last year” and ensured there’s “hundreds of thousands of job openings” to go with “another 8.6 million jobs” gained.

Questioned whether he agreed with Treasury Secretary Yellen that the American Rescue Plan could have contributed to inflation, Biden became testy: “Now you just said two different things. Biden claimed that Republicans had caused inflation. She said it may have a marginal impact on it.”

Boak continued on the economy with more open-ended questions (click “expand”):

Let me ask, stepping back, after yesterday’s Fed meeting. I know that you’ve said: “Look, our economy is strong. These jobs are available. It’s the best look we’ve had in decades.” But then you’ve got serious economists who warn of a recession next year. Are Americans to believe these warnings?

(….)

That was most likely a Fed survey. You see this interesting shift, though, in the Census pulse surveys, which show people are clearly employed in a way they haven’t been. They are less dependent on unemployment benefits and the government for aid, and yet more of them say they’re having trouble with meeting their weekly expenses. What’s that paradox?

Biden had asked Boak about his children in a sidebar. The President then blamed anxiety regarding the economy for the country’s mental health crisis.

Boak was furious and threw another softball. “So you’re talking about a country that has undergone profound psychological trauma. How can a president address this psychology and make people more hopeful? Be confident?”

Biden switched subjects on climate change. So Boak responded with weak questions about climate change. “the votes” Get an agenda “helping the middle class”Biden replied to Boak by saying that he felt the same way. “impressed by your objectivity” “how you write” (click “expand”):

BOAK: But you have to consider the possibility of a tradeoff if climate change is having such a significant impact. Americans still are not happy about how much gasoline or other fossil fuels cost. And I’m curious, like, what does that mean for you if you have to say, we need to increase production in the short term and companies say, but we don’t have the long-term incentives?

BIDEN : In the short term I would say do the right things. Instead of, you know, they’ve made 315 or 16 billion, 35 billion dollars, these major oil companies in the first quarter. So I think it’s three, twelve, five … I don’t know how many times (inaudible). Don’t buy back your own stock. Don’t, don’t just reward yourselves. I mean, look, here’s what. It was a lot. One thing I ran on was that Delaware is the corporate capital in the world. In my state, there are more companies than in all of the United States. It’s not a joke. Literally. And, you know, they try to make me, my fr—, the MAGA party, tries to make me out to be this socialist. That state elected me seven times. But one of the things that’s changed is the notion of what constitutes corporate responsibility. The fact that you’re in a situation where you have a Fortune 500 company, you got 55 paid zero taxes, made 40 billion dollars. These surveys show that no one, even Republicans from suburbia thinks the tax system fair. Billionaires paying 8%. There are many things happening that must be changed. It used to be, for example, I’ll give you one example. Are you still holding on?

(Aide warns Biden the time is near)

BIDEN: OK.

BOAK: Let me now ask because you mentioned it, the domestic agenda. In speeches you’ve said your domestic agenda is key for helping the middle class and beating inflation.

BIDEN: Yes.

BOAK: Do you have the votes as of today, because …

BIDEN: Yes. I think it’s changing. First, the votes. If I had told you (garble) … You’re not doing (inaudible). I’m impressed by your objectivity, how you write. I’m not being, I shouldn’t say that on the record because then you’ll get in trouble.

BOAK: I’m in trouble anyway. So it’s OK.

BUT, all jokes aside. The Recovery Act usually starts with (inaudible). Is that possible? I got 1.9 trillion dollars. The economy was saved. 

Boak was told by a White House staffer that their time had come and Boak went on to tell Biden. “people really want to know”If his plan can be successful since he “did something revolutionary on child poverty…with the child tax credit, an idea that came in part from Newt Gingrich back in the day…and a lot of families had hope[.]”

The AP thumbed its nose at the audience by having transcript show the sit-down ended with an “[o]ff-the-record discussion,” but not before Boak’s final four questions massaged Biden’s ego in lamenting the level of GOP opposition (click “expand”):

BOAK: Did you find it surprising that you mentioned Charlottesville as the reason you ran? And I’m curious, have you been surprised when you say Republicans weren’t going to work with you at all on some of these issues? What did you know that made you want to run for office? How do you handle that? What does it compare to the previous wall-sitters?

BIDEN: Well, my predecessor on the wall didn’t pass the (inaudible) his first year, number one. Number 2, the reason…you know why my predecessor is there. His picture was never displayed in the office. I asked my brother to put together the office for me — decide what desk I’d have. I didn’t realize the outgoing president had to be out 10 o’clock, the incoming president by 2 o’clock. You can pick and choose what you like, but you have to make sure you get everything in before the deadline. Jon Meacham came in to set up my office. It was eight years ago that I worked here as vice president. George Washington’s photograph is over there. And I looked and I said, “Why Franklin Roosevelt?” Not that I don’t like Franklin Roosevelt, but why put that big portrait of Franklin Roosevelt? And Jon Meacham said, “Because no one ever inherited that kind of big circumstances and dire, more dire straits than he did that last time.” I said, “Oh, that’s encouraging.” And I said, “Why Abraham Lincoln?” And he said, “The country’s never been as divided since the Civil War.” I knew those two things coming in. What I did not realize was that I might be able to do some. It was an article that I was just reading about Biden, how he brought America together and brought Republicans, Democrats and Republicans together. Anyway, I’ll, I’ll get it to you. I’ll find it. Here you go. New York Times Magazine. That’s factually correct. Now, there’s a lot I couldn’t get done.

BOAK: Because you’re about to get the Ocean Safety Bill, which passed the House with bipartisan support.

BIDEN: Well, yeah. By the way, And when you remember, I called for that, everybody said, “Oh, no, no no.” But guess what? It’s gonna pass. But my generic point is that, you know, we’re going to get gun safety. We’re not going to get what I wanted. We’re gonna get a part where everybody, we’re gonna get the, uh, the uh, uh, the, the Innovation Competition Act, a hundred million bucks is going to be invested outside of Cleveland by Intel. We’re going to have another 57 mil … . You know, there’s forced arbitration I got rid of in sexual orientation, sexual harassment cases. Juneteenth: I passed. It was impossible, but it was possible. I’m not saying, “Look at all I’ve done.” But I knew that were probably, probably 15 sort of traditional, mainstream, conservative Republicans left. And I include in that — and I’m going to get myself in trouble, and I’ll get him in trouble, probably — but the minority leader from Kentucky. He’s a solid, mainstream guy. You also have, ahh, Texas. Many people are MAGA. For example, Johnson, you know, and Scott, they’re. Social Security and Medicare cease to be available every five years. You’ve got to build them back. These guys, they mean it. I mean, why in the hell did you ever think that would happen in your lifetime, and you’re a young man?

BOAK: I feel like I’m getting more gray hair every day, sir. (Laughter.)

BIDEN: Well, I tell you what, well at least you’re keeping it. I’d settle for orange if I had more hair. But all kidding aside, I think this is a process and I think what you’re going to see this election is people voting their overall concerns as well. Even people who are not pro-choice are going to find it really, really off the wall when a woman goes across a state line and she gets arrested (garble) where she’s doing. Even people who are, you know, I mean, there’s so many things these guys are doing that are out of the mainstream of where the public is. And I think — but it is, I knew I was stepping into a difficult moment[.]

You can click here to view the entire transcript from AP (with some stylistic adjustments).