Joe Biden was probably hoping for a better first year, but the media gave him an unflattering nickname for not delivering on his promise of transparency.
Unsurprisingly, he’s been dubbed “Hidin’ Biden”.
But with the ongoing pandemic, border crisis, Afghanistan fiasco, and surging inflation, 2021 saw Obama’s ratings drop to historically low levels.
It’s unfortunate to hear that the president has been largely unavailable to the media and public. When compared to any of his 5 predecessors, Joe Biden proves himself unworthy of being a transparent politician.
Now the president has a new nickname he won’t like.
For the first year of his mandate, Biden has been criticized and accused of already setting a precedent for inaction and indifference. White House reporters filed an official complaint on the matter.
Biden has yet to give many press conferences since taking on the role of Vice President. Despite this, journalists are claiming that he has been unresponsive when he does.
That’s why he’s now being called “Hidin’ Biden.”
Politico slapped him with the nickname after the following report came out (via the Associated Press):
AS BIDEN WRAPS UP HIS FIRST YEAR IN THE WHITE HOUSE, HE HAS HELD FEWER NEWS CONFERENCES THAN ANY OF HIS FIVE IMMEDIATE PREDECESSORS AT THE SAME POINT IN THEIR PRESIDENCIES, AND HAS PARTICIPATED IN FEWER MEDIA INTERVIEWS THAN ANY OF HIS RECENT PREDECESSORS.
THE DYNAMIC HAS THE WHITE HOUSE FACING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER BIDEN, WHO VOWED TO HAVE THE MOST TRANSPARENT ADMINISTRATION IN THE NATION’S HISTORY, IS FALLING SHORT IN PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON HOW HIS ADMINISTRATION OPERATES AND MISSING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLAIN HIS AGENDA.
It’s a good thing this so-called ‘hiding’ Joe Biden is funny. Just think about it: he’s given less than a third of the number of press conferences that Obama did by the end of his first term, and yet he still has 18 months to go.
The fact that both Bushes – George W. at 49 and George H.W. at 46 – granted so many more press conferences in Washington than our current Vice President Mike Pence, who has only given 22 interviews during his time as Vice President is one of the many reasons the country is taking notice
This all comes after Biden promised to offer the most “transparent administration yet” back during his inauguration last January.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has defended the president’s lack of availability to the press, saying Biden’s schedule was “packed” and that he might add some “local interviews” in coming weeks.
But to many, that’s simply not enough.
President of the White House Correspondents’ Association Steven Portnoy ripped Biden for refusing to answer questions:
FLEETING EXCHANGES ARE INSUFFICIENT TO BUILDING THE HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE PRESIDENT’S VIEWS ON A BROAD ARRAY OF PUBLIC CONCERNS.
WE HAVE HAD SCANT OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS FIRST YEAR TO LEARN THE PRESIDENT’S VIEWS ON A BROAD RANGE OF PUBLIC CONCERNS.
THE MORE FORMAL THE EXCHANGE WITH THE PRESS, THE MORE THE PUBLIC IS APT TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT’S ON THE MAN’S MIND.
Portnoy isn’t the only journalist to have voiced his frustration with the administration’s lack of transparency, and Biden’s apparent unwillingness to deal with the media.
It has been made clear that there is a divide in America on the decision to increase the defense budget. While many citizens feel that it goes against President Trump’s original message and reflects poorly on his leadership abilities, others say it is necessary and best for the protection of us as a country.
And with so many of the country’s problems continuing into 2022, Biden probably won’t be able to escape from press scrutiny.
Key Takeaways:
- Joe Biden has been criticized by many of the mainstream media, who are frustrated with his lack of transparency and availability during the first year.
- In the past 20 years, “Hidin’ Biden” has done less press conferences than any of his predecessors.
- With major issues still happening in the nation, Biden’s refusal to speak at conferences & answer questions might cause him to lose even more approval.
