In case you missed it, President Joe Biden — who is president, mind you — waved off concern about angry pro-illegal-iimmigration activists following Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (as well as students) into a public bathroom at ASU, where they not only accosted her but also recorded her without her consent.
WOW. Biden just dismissed Senator @kyrstensinema being harassed and cornered into a bathroom this weekend, saying "it happens to everybody… it's part of the process."
WATCH. This is absolute insanity. pic.twitter.com/UUmRnEJIkm
— Danny De Urbina (@dannydeurbina) October 4, 2021
Joe Biden’s take would be messed up if anyone said it. But the President of the United States said it, which makes it even more messed up.
So why haven’t his remarks brought about universal condemnation?
I am amazed at the number of journalists QTing this and noting that Biden starts out by saying "I don’t think they’re appropriate tactics" instead of noting that Biden said "I don’t think they’re appropriate tactics BUT". https://t.co/4pjok97II5
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) October 4, 2021
He even laughs! Biden's attitude IS one of dismissal. Yes, I'd have included the 'not appropriate' phrase in the original tweet, but it is in the video clip.https://t.co/4pjok97II5
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) October 4, 2021
One of the journalists with a selective hearing problem is the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman:
He said such tactics aren’t appropriate. Seems important as a piece of the sentence but it’s not here. https://t.co/En5AD54GR1
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 4, 2021
The Bulwark’s Charlie Sykes evidently heard it the same way Maggie Haberman did:
Haberman and Sykes are also leaving out an important piece of the sentence:
You left out the word "But"
That seems important as a piece of the sentence but it's not in your tweet. https://t.co/D9uyBp4agt
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) October 4, 2021
It’s hard to ignore a “but” this big.
That's because he followed it with a "but."
— jimtreacher.substack.com (@jtLOL) October 4, 2021
“I don’t think they’re appropriate tactics BUT it happens to everybody.” https://t.co/vE4Yiz754p
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) October 4, 2021
Why isn’t that in your tweet, Maggie?
But he actually said “I don’t think they’re appropriate tactics, but…"
The "but" is key.
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) October 4, 2021
he negated it with the "but" and the casual dismissal that followed thereafter https://t.co/VThb1kIBKB
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 4, 2021
Had he stopped with "I don't think they're appropriate tactics," there'd be no story. When the President suggests following a woman, who happens to be a Sen. blocking his agenda, into the bathroom with cameras is part of the political process, that's news.
— John Sexton (@verumserum) October 4, 2021
You’re damn right, it’s news.
Rape is wrong but her dress was rather short. https://t.co/CloSCL8TmC
— Madlaw (@madlaw1071) October 4, 2021
"but it happens to everybody."
Stop gaslighting, Maggie. Everything before the but is bullshit and you are more than smart and experienced enough to know that.
And it doesn't happen to everybody. https://t.co/urQynDbo9M
— Nathan Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) October 4, 2021
Do better, Maggie Haberman. When you’re where you’re at, it shouldn’t be difficult.
***
Update:
Here’s CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski with a similar take to Haberman’s:
Make what you want about his full comments but he predicated this by saying, “I don’t think they’re appropriate tactics.” Which is left out of the tweet. https://t.co/mXmluNnnt9
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) October 4, 2021
We want to make of his full comments what deserves to be made of his full comments. Because in his full comments, Joe Biden dismissed violation of Kyrsten Sinema’s personal space and privacy as “part of the process.”
You also left the word "But" out of yours. Honest mistake I'm sure. https://t.co/dgjI3SMwNU
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) October 4, 2021
We’re sure.
We’re sure Glenn Kessler dutifully retweeting Haberman is just him being honest, too:
Gotta check those facts!
***
Related:
Join the conversation as a VIP Member