Brent Bozell: Even the ‘obedient’ press can’t save Biden from his debacle in Afghanistan
Media Research Center president Brent Bozell on Thursday described the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan as a “global disaster” that even Joe Biden’s “obedient” liberal allies are having trouble spinning. Appearing in Varney and company., he stated, “The world has seen this president fail as commander-in-chief. “
Leaving aside the “nuts as Joy Reid“Reminded the president of MRC,” This is a medium that would like to help this guy. But when you have the president criticizing George Stephanopoulos and repeatedly walking out of “press conferences” without answering questions, they can’t.
Bozell said of the negative press Biden is currently getting: “Even the toughest but most serious journalists are looking at this and they’re saying ‘This is a real problem. Something very serious is happening here. ‘”
Below is a transcript of the segment.
Varney and Co.
8/19/2021
10:50 am ET
JOE BIDEN: God bless you all and may I protect our troops. Thanks. [Reporters yell questions at Biden as he walks away.]
STUART VARNEY: There you have it, he left, he didn’t answer questions. That was yesterday afternoon. Now look at the headlines from this morning. It appears that the media is turning against President Biden. All of these headlines are negative. Look at that, from The Washington Post, New York Times, Reuters, those are negatives about President Biden. Let’s call the media guy Brent Bozell. Do you agree with that? Does it seem like the media is starting to turn against Biden or is it just wishful thinking on my part?
BRENT BOZELL: Stuart, it’s inescapable. This is a worldwide disaster. The world has seen this president fail as commander-in-chief. So the media can’t prevent this, but you know what happened with this coronavirus press conference to me is just baffling. It is on the White House line that it publishes the image of the President at Camp David looking like a child who has been kept writing lines after school. They put it in front of the press to try to divert attention from the disaster it caused in Afghanistan and yet it sparked another controversy by leaving the stage. This is the second time in a week that it has. He’s just fueling the narrative that he’s not in charge of this White House. So this hurts.
VARNEY: Why is he running? I hate to say he’s on the run. Why isn’t it being more public? Why do your handlers keep you away from the public? Why do they do that?
BOZELL: Stuart, I really don’t understand this. It is one of two things. Or you have the most incompetent — one of three things. Either you have the most incompetent staff ever assembled by man, or they are trying to protect you, or it is both. I suspect there are both at this point. Again, posting that picture, making him look like an idiot at Camp David, trying to say he’s the commander-in-chief in charge. Have him withdraw from press conferences twice. How can staff allow this, unless there is a bigger problem?
VARNEY: What you’re alluding to those people this president is saying right now is not up to the job. That’s what you mean.
BOZELL: Especially when you have a medium that has been so compatible. Look at this, on the southern border, the coverage of the southern border, another disaster. The media has not given 96 percent any coverage of this. Day after day after day. They have not given you coverage. So these are the media who would like to help this guy, but still take him off the stage. This is, this is, this is not, this is not good for America.
VARNEY: But does it reduce the influence of the president, his political capital, his influence in politics? Is that separate from this?
BOZELL: I have to think that even the hardened liberals in the press, I’m not talking about nutcases like Joy Reid and others, people who are on PBS and who championed this mess in Afghanistan, I’m not talking about them, I’m saying even journalists tougher but serious are looking at this and saying “This is a real problem. Something very serious is happening here. “
VARNEY: Brent Bozell, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it. And I hope to see you a lot, soon. Bye.
BOZELL: Thank you, Stuart.
