Of course, the liberal hacks and Democratic Party lackeys at CNN thought Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy had earned President Biden’s insult. And that’s exactly the argument CNN’s anti-Fox hatchetman Brian Stelter made on Tuesday’s CNN Newsroom, suggesting Doocy’s question about inflation and the midterms was a “provocation” as he lamented “Biden took the bait.”
According to Stelter, “The question wasn’t really a question, but a provocative one.” to elicit that kind of reaction from the President.
He did say that “the White House press corps should be able to ask whatever it wants. Reporters should ask whatever they want” and that “there should be tension between the press corps and the president. We are not there to be best friends with the president,” but he doubled down on besmirching the question. “Biden responded by asking the question.”
After co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Victor Blackwell, and Stelter sympathized with Biden over having “hot mic” moments, Stelter compared Biden’s insult to the ones former President Trump would throw out and not apologize for.
“I think The context, or the background, is what makes the difference.,” Stelter declared. He went on to suggest the reason Doocy was “handling this with such class and basically blowing it off [was] because the backdrop is so different than it was during the Trump years” when there was supposedly an existential threat to the press.
Stelter bragged about Biden’s demeanor when belittling Fox News reporters citing the “mischievous smile on his face when he’s talking – responding to Doocy.” He also believed “it wasn’t a hot mic. It was not a hot mic.. And then he had the manners to call later and to try to mends fences.”
Now, Stelter did say that Biden was just as wrong as Trump was for slinging insults at a reporter, but that didn’t stop him from touting dangerous comments from former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes, who called Fox News a worse problem for the country than Biden’s insults:
It is fascinating to peek into the thoughts and feelings of President Obama. Fox sure has had a tough time with his neck.. It was Ben Rhodes who I had thought of as an ex-aide to Obama. It was said very well via Twitter. He said: “What Fox News has done to this country is infinitely more offensive than anything Biden has said.”
“Now, that’s an interesting argument and that’s a strong liberal argument,” Stelter boasted. “That’s why so many Democrats were cheering for Biden when he was heard on this microphone yesterday insulting Peter Doocy.”
At one point, Blackwell popped a hole in Biden’s defense saying: “I don’t know how you call somebody a ‘stupid son of bitch’ and then say ‘it’s not personal.’ I think it’s a personal attack there.” To that, Stelter said he didn’t “want to do the 3D chess part of it.”
Brian Stelter’s smears against Peter Doocy and Fox News were made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Panera Bread and Angi. You can find their contact information here.
Below is the transcript. Click “expand to read:
CNN Newsroom
January 25, 2022
Eastern, 3:31 p.m.ALISYN CAMEROTA – It seems like Peter Doocy managed that with dignity. He wasn’t trying to make his story up. He said that he had accepted the apology from President Obama. This sounds almost like they were being mature about it. Victor made it clear to me that they were both being grownups about this. But for the grace and favor of God, let us all use hot mics.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: The Truth.
CAMEROTA He didn’t apologize for calling, but it did say something about the culture of the day. So, what’s the point?
BRIAN STALTER: I think it is in the same vein in that all presidents need to be held up to high standards. Presidents shouldn’t call reporters or curse at them. By that high standard, Biden is out of line, just as Trump was when he called Chuck Todd a SOB, and when Trump said crude, untrue things about others.
The context, or the background, makes the difference. Peter Doocy is handling it with class, basically blowing off the fact that the context is different from during Trump’s presidency when a president tried to destabilize the American media and used crude, crass, profane language and did it in an indecent manner. It was clear that the media had to be vocal about this.
We can see that Biden is a different kind of guy. Right? He has a bit of a mischievous smile on his face when he’s talking – responding to Doocy. I personally believe it wasn’t a hot mic. He knew exactly what he was doing and he understood the channel he was in. He also had the good manners to make a call and try to repair fences.
However, it’s still fascinating to peer into the head of the President and to learn what his thoughts or feelings were at the time. Fox sure has been a pain in his neck. It was a pain on his neck, I think. He said: “What Fox News has done to this country is infinitely more offensive than anything Biden has said.”
Now, that’s an interesting argument and that’s a strong liberal argument. That’s why so many Democrats were cheering for Biden when he was heard on this microphone yesterday insulting Peter Doocy.
It’s not, however, in line with the high standard for any president.
BLACKWELL: Brian. So, one, I don’t know how you call somebody a “stupid son of bitch” and then say “it’s not personal.” I think it’s a personal attack there.
STELTER: Ah.
BLACKWELL Why? Why? Are you sure it wasn’t?
STELTER: I’m not interested in the 3D Chess portion of this. If you take a look at his eyes, it’s obvious that he sees that he’s there to capture the moment. You know, he’s been in this business a long time. The three of us all know from experience that wearing a microphone makes you believe you are being constantly heard. It seems that he knew some of the details.
The question wasn’t really a question, but a provocative one. And by all means, that’s great. White House journalists should have the freedom to ask anything they want. Reporters are free to ask anything they like. The president and journalists should have tension. It is not possible to be friends with the president.
You can do it! Right? And let Biden respond. Biden responded by asking the question as a provocative.
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