Even Fox News and CNN agree on Biden speech after Trump assassination attempt
President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office Sunday, in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Saturday.
Biden pleaded with Americans on all sides to tone down the heated language that has come to define politics in this country. "The political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated," Biden said. "It’s time to cool it down."
Apparently Jesse Watters of Fox News wasn't listening, but media reaction to Biden's remarks was generally positive.
Biden, whose age and cognitive ability have come under question since a disastrous debate appearance, made a few trademark gaffes, calling the ballot box the "battle box" a couple of times. No big deal, perhaps, but now everything Biden says is under added scrutiny.
'Battle box' aside, Fox News liked Biden's speech
And most of what he said Sunday held up to it. Biden didn't deny differences between Republicans and Democrats, and noted that the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in Milwaukee, will doubtless bring criticism of him and his record. Meanwhile, he said, he'd be out and about defending that record. That's as it should be, he said.
He also stressed that debate over the issues should always be peaceful. "Politics should never be a battlefield or, god forbid, a killing field," he said. Later, he said, "We need to get out of our silos, where we only listen to those with whom we agree, where misinformation is rampant."
This was particularly important, and insightful, as anyone who has logged onto social media in the last 24 hours can tell you. Or, for that matter, watched Sean Duffy on Fox News moments before Biden spoke, where he extolled the strength Trump showed after being shot at a political rally, and said, "Democrats don't understand what they've now done to this man to touch these hearts."
Worth noting: No motive has been established for the shooting, in which a bystander was killed, and the shooter was a registered Republican. What Duffy was talking about is anyone's guess.
After the speech, however, Fox News was positive in its appraisal of Biden's speech. Brit Hume, who earlier in the day decried Democratic rhetoric, was almost effusive in his praise.
"I thought the message was just right," Hume said. "I think most Americans would look at it and say, 'Absolutely Mr. President, you’re right.' The few stumbles he had may have been a reminder of his frailty, but nevertheless, he did what he could, I thought."
Dana Perino, also on Fox News, wasn't quite as generous with her praise, but not overly critical, either. "I thought it just fell short of meeting the moment," she said, adding that she thought Biden should say the toning down of political rhetoric will begin with him. (Some Republicans, like Sen. JD Vance, a front-runner to become Trump's pick for vice president, have been reckless in their remarks and social-media posts, either implicitly or overtly blaming Biden for the shooting.)
Then Pirino gave what could be the Fox News slogan, with its measured praise for the current president while reserving the real kudos for the former one: "I think America will be glad that they saw President Biden tonight," she said, "but the president they really want to hear from is Donald Trump."
Former president, I'm sure she meant to say.
Jesse Watters definitely didn't cool the political rhetoric
On CNN, John King made a good point. "It hits the pause button," he said of the President's remarks. But later, he added, "How long will that last? Mark me down as somewhat skeptical."
In truth cable-news networks didn't spend a lot of time on the speech; after a quick analysis, they got back to covering the shooting, as they should. Watters, however, went all in on trashing the Secret Service. Nearly every commentator and expert has laid blame at their feet, and clearly something went wrong with Trump's protection, but he really went off. He said one of the women agents looked confused. "This lady wasn't prepared," he said. Later: "Some of the agents don't look confident. How do you protect the President if you're not tall enough?"
He accused the Secret Service of covering up "cocaine in the White House, covered up for Hunter" Biden. "There was an angel in Pennsylvania last night," Watters said. "Donald Trump has been blessed."
He's certainly been blessed by Jesse Watters on Fox News. Later he warned that as we draw closer to the election to be wary of darker days to come, because "they'll stop at nothing."
Who is they? And what on earth is he talking about?
King is right to be skeptical. Biden's message was positive, but in some circles turning down the temperature on the rhetoric didn't last five minutes.
CNN and Fox News: How they covered Trump shooting
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fox News, CNN agree on Biden speech after Trump shooting