The Democratic nominee for president is languishing in his Delaware mini-mansion, eschewing public events, campaign rallies, and – bereft of personal contact with any strategic advisors – secluded and protected from the COVID-19 virus. How does the former vice president – an extrovert, as some might kindly describe the man who regularly invades the personal space of women and young girls – not go absolutely stir crazy, er, crazier, in lockdown?
For a man who was a regular gadabout town sort, not being able to touch, sniff, grope, and interact with the public might be taking a toll on the 77-year old in ways previously hidden from view. At his age, Biden is a high risk for the virus. He has only two staffers and the secret service able to enter the house and is somewhat despondent that he cannot "kiss and hug" his grandchildren. Politico recently reported that Biden spoke under-wraps with CNN's Jake Tapper: "I'm just following the instructions that — and anybody who walks into the house from the Secret Service on, they're wearing masks and gloves."
It is a situation sure to drive touchy-feely men like Mr. Biden downright batty. And if this is truly the case, it's no wonder Mr. Biden's doom and gloom, virtual fireside chats are a disaster of epic messaging and technological proportions.
To Teleprompt Or Not – Probably A Good Idea
The Bidens renovated the basement rec room in their 8,750 square foot house as a makeshift studio. On four acres, there are no Joe the Plumbers in the neighborhood to consult with about what the little people are experiencing after losing jobs, being unable to visit elderly or ill family members, making ends meet, and all that sort of daily grind. But his chief of staff, Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal, Jill Biden's chief of staff, are the two aides allowed in daily. All other communications are conference calls and Zoom meetings.
Is this the reason Mr. Biden appears hollow-eyed, pasty pale, and unable to remember the next line in his scripted remarks? There have been several technical mishaps that were cringe-worthy for Democrats and continual fodder for Republicans and supporters of the current commander in chief, Donald Trump. The followers of Joe's messages have watched staff people run in and out of camera shot, heard dogs bark, and observed the candidate squinting and leaning towards the computer camera.
Most recently, Biden was busted, asking his staff to adjust a teleprompter: "move it up here."
The problem was the event did not call for a long-winded policy speech: rather a simple question and answer session with the regular Jills and Joes who are AFL-CIO members. No one needs, or could practically use a teleprompter unless the entire event was carefully scripted, and the FL-CIO folks were in cahoots with the Biden camp.
And that's not the only screw up from Biden Basement Studios. The man was interviewing with a local NBC anchor Jackie Nespral, to criticize Trump's foreign policy message. If one isn't familiar with teleprompter use, the script is usually laden with directives such as "pause for applause" or "look pensive here." But off-the-cuff Joe included a subject change labeled "topline message," before uttering this well-written response: "I understand that Cuba along with Russia and China has contributed to the political impasse in Venezuela as well. What's the president doing? Look, Venezuela topline message is President Trump's policy is an abject failure," the confused Biden said.
C'mon Man; No One Wants to Trust a Hologram
The Biden camp appeared to be terrified. Their gaffe-machine candidate will either say something incoherent or beyond stupid or contract COVID-19 before Election Day from groping strangers. And because of the paranoia, the Democratic National Committee has their extroverted candidate seemingly losing more of his marbles right before the eyes of the voting electorate. Why not let the man out to do damage or incite the public into casting their vote for him? As he told reporters unscripted: "I'm chomping at the bit. I wish I were still in the Senate, you know, being able to impact on some of these things. But I am where I am."
What does that even mean?
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