ICYMI: The Carolinian: It's Time for Biden to Answer the Tough Questions

In London they have a tradition called “Prime Minister’s Questions” where the Members of the British Parliament have the opportunity to ask direct questions to their Prime Minister every Wednesday they are in session. It is quite fascinating to watch it on television because the Prime Minster is expected to stand there and answer all these questions on a wide variety of issues or policies before their government impacting their constituents. Can you imagine Joe Biden doing that?

It is hard to imagine Biden willingly subjecting himself to standing in the U.S. House chamber answering questions from Senators and Congressmen, especially since he still has yet to schedule his first address to Congress.

However, what should be easier for us to imagine is Joe Biden holding a press conference with the White House Press Corps as President of the United of the States. But sadly that is not our reality because after more than 60 days on the job, it was announced that today would be the day he would finally have a press conference.

Historically speaking this is not the norm for modern Presidents of the United States. President Hoover set the bar high holding a press conference after one day in office, however other leaders did not take as long as Biden. It took President Trump 27 days, President Obama 20 days, Presidents Reagan and Clinton, nine days, Presidents Ford and Carter took 19 days, Presidents Nixon and George H.W. Bush took seven days. For President Biden to set the new record at 65 days before holding his first press conference is incredibly odd, not to mention misleading and secretive.    

The reluctance of Joe Biden to speak to the press is sort of surprising because he is not new to being a politician; he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. However, when you look back at how he ran his campaign from his basement with limited human interaction, it makes sense. His aides and ‘handlers’ did a good job of deliberately keeping him hidden so he did not say something offensive, factually wrong, or racist – something that he often has done when speaking without a carefully scripted speech.

Team Biden must be nervous at what Biden might do or say, and for good reason. He has a history of losing his temper or offending people while speaking to reporters and even audience members at his events.

When CBS News’ Errol Barnett asked if Biden had taken a cognitive test on the campaign trail, Biden replied, “No, I haven't taken a test. Why the hell would I take a test? C'mon man. That's like saying you, before you got in this program, if you take a test where you're taking cocaine or not, what do you think huh? Are you a junkie?”

Biden told The Breakfast Club host Charlamagne tha God, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black.”  

In 2019, Biden said “poor kids” are “just as talented as white kids.”

In 2006, Biden said, “In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.”

In August of 2006, Biden boasted about appealing to Southerners saying: “You don’t know my state, my state was a slave state. My state is a border state.”

In January 2007, Biden said of then-candidate Obama: “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”

Ultimately the issue of not speaking to the press and answering tough questions comes down to accountability and Joe Biden, like any other President, has to be held to account for the things he does. The media was relentless in their pursuit of asking really tough questions of not only President Trump but of his staff and family on a regular basis. The White House Press Corps had questions they felt the American people needed answers to, and while many times they were biased, rude or wrong, President Trump was very accessible to the press.

It would be beneficial to hear Biden’s off the cuff responses to questions about many important topics that are affecting our country.  Just to name a few: the crisis on the Southern border, the reason Black unemployment has gone up under his watch, the state of the economy, how his policies are killing American jobs, the logic behind ignoring science and keeping schools closed, or the federal mask mandate he does not follow.  Not to mention other issues like Tara Reade, North Korea, Hunter Biden, the nursing home COVID scandals in New York and Michigan, Syrian air strikes, the price of insulin for Seniors on Medicare Part D, cancel culture, not denouncing ANTIFA, rising gas prices across the nation, how single mothers are not able to work or get childcare because of COVID closures, breaking his promise on sending $2,000 stimulus checks, and importantly, why North Carolina taxpayers are paying for pet projects and other wasteful spending in Biden’s $1.9 trillion bill that included Amtrak funds, pension fund bailouts, and money for museums while only 9% of money that directly combats COVID.

Maybe Biden needs a lot more practice and coaching than we realize to be prepared for an open ended, non-scripted press conference. Or maybe he doesn’t even understand the full breadth and impact of his policies.

Whatever his issue is, there needs to be more direct answers, transparency, accessibility and accountability from Joe Biden and his entire team. If Biden is truly the one running the country, then the American people deserve to have their questions answered.  

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