Ezra Klein says Democrats need to get Hunter Biden out of the way before the general election

We already know that the mainstream media has shelved the Joe Biden/Ukraine scandal under “conspiracy theory” and doesn’t want to talk about. At Tuesday night’s debate, CNN’s Anderson Cooper did bring it up while addressing the former vice president, saying that President Trump had falsely accused Biden of using his political influence in Ukraine for his son’s benefit and there was no evidence of wrongdoing. And NBC News’ Chuck Todd had said that NBC can’t “in good conscience” show video of Trump’s “vicious attacks” on Hunter Biden.

However, there are a few who have admitted that Hunter Biden “does have a problem” and the Democrats need to address it. Add to the concerned Vox founder Ezra Klein, who thinks it’s best to get all of the Hunter Biden questions out in the open during the primary and not hold them until the general election.

Democrats need to talk about Hunter Biden. Sorry, but they do.

Better to see if Biden is vulnerable on this in the primary than in the general. https://t.co/yirfANmZtY

— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) October 16, 2019

Klein writes at Vox:

In 2016, Bernie Sanders famously refused to attack Clinton’s emails in the debates. “The American people are sick and tired about hearing about your damn emails,” he said to applause. The result was that rather than Democrats realizing how damaging that story was — and how ineffective Clinton was at putting it to rest — during the primary, they found that out in the general election. And yes, the media deserves the blame for the coverage decisions, but Democrats can’t simply assume the media won’t make the same mistakes in 2020. The lesson of Clinton’s emails is that unfair smears can help Donald Trump get elected.

Yeah, it’s funny that he thinks the media erred in covering Clinton’s email scandal too much, but he’s got a point. Biden reportedly warning the others in the debate not to bring up his family isn’t going to fly in a face-to-face debate with Trump.

No they don't.

Harry Reid: “No matter what the subject, any argument he involves himself in, it's on his terms. You're always arguing against him. He's never, never willing to debate an issue on terms that aren’t his.”

Dear Democratic Nominee,
Be sure not to argue on his terms.

— Fran Adkins (@fran_adkins) October 16, 2019

No. Absolutely not. We are not playing this game of false equivalence. This has been investigated & put to rest: no wrongdoing. You and the rest of the punditocracy are not going to 2016 Joe Biden. And he's not even my candidate.

— HawaiiDelilah™ (@HawaiiDelilah) October 16, 2019

NO NO THEY DON'T!!!!
They do not need to give any more oxygen to trump's RW tin foil hat conspiracy theory. JUST STOP

— CaliforniaThunderSno (@CalThunderSnow) October 16, 2019

To win, Democrats should do the exact opposite of whatever you say.

— WynnsWorld (@wynnsworld) October 16, 2019

No, they really don't. Just don't nominate Biden. He's too old and out of it. I've been complaining about the ignorant dotard Trump and I don't want to be forced to choose between two old out-of-touch doddering old guys.

— Speculawyer ??-American (@speculawyer) October 16, 2019

If they talk about him they need to do it in the context of Trump's kids. The idea that Hunter Biden did something wrong but Trump's kids are not currently doing things 100 times worse is absurd and media needs to get some perspective.

— trex (@trex9123) October 16, 2019

HUNTER BIDEN IS NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE

— Great and Unmatched Ugh (@ContrarySarie) October 16, 2019

No. The more it's talked about by any of the Dem candidates, the more credence it's given to voters not paying much attention to it now. It needs less oxygen not more.

— enough (@diana_platts) October 16, 2019

No. No they don’t.

— Bathsheba Dreams in Blue (@Inkling61) October 16, 2019

This is exactly what happened in 2016. The press focusing on mole hills while the mountain remains untouched. Do better.

— Yvonne Johnston (@Funflygirl01) October 16, 2019

Donald Trump thanks you. ?

— Hillary Won (@NYAnna22) October 16, 2019

No, actually, they don't. Is the Media looking for an "E-mails!" or "Benghazi!" moment? First the Media says,it's a smear and there's "nothing to it." Then they create an issue by repeating it and baiting Biden. Try some investigative journalism for Ivanka, Jared & the guys.

— theBPwillPersist (@BJPsez) October 16, 2019

"But her emails" is all I can say

I'm disappointed in this piece. Playing into Trump playbook

— Henry (@Fdr1942) October 16, 2019

No. Why chase the Republican football? Why not talk about the real story. Trump's abuse of power. He didn't want to dig up dirt on the Bidens. He wanted to create dirt and you're playing right into his hands. #DoBetter

— Jennifer F. Murphy (@jenny_whyme) October 16, 2019

Hunter isn't running for president.

— Azia Gunn (@TheSmockinGunn) October 16, 2019

Sorry but they don't.

— Maureen (@mmaureen7) October 16, 2019

Nah, they don’t. I’m a voter. I don’t care about Hunter Biden. I DO care about Trump inviting foreign countries to tamper with our elections.

— Gary Hayes (@glhaize) October 16, 2019

Ignoring this issue would be a big, big mistake. Biden is entirely too old & it shows. We don't need to add an achilles heel which GOP will pound on 24/7/365. Dems should nominate someone who effectively has no achilles heel.

— Puesto Loco™ (@PuestoLoco) October 16, 2019

I don't believe we need to talk about Hunter but I agree with you overall argument. Biden is the weakest person on the stage.

— nomadrick (@nomadrick) October 16, 2019

No. This is going to become her emails because it’s the only thing they have. It’s a non-story and shouldn’t be given time. He’s not vulnerable if we don’t fall for it again. Whether or not we discuss they are going to, so why add fuel?

— Jay Morgan (@jazymorgan) October 16, 2019

Is Hunter Biden running for President?

— Armchair Guerrilla (@ACGuerrilla) October 16, 2019

If Congress wants to open that can of worms by impeaching Trump over that phone call with Ukraine’s president, then by all means, do it. Let’s talk about Ukraine.

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