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Jake Tapper’s no-nonsense reaction to the president’s disastrous debate had him readily pushing back on a Democrat chair’s “bad day” spin.

“With all due respect…”

(Video Credit: CNN)

Whether rooted in pre-debate goading about his own biases against former President Donald Trump, having likened the GOP leader to Adolf Hitler, or simply unwilling to prolong the corporate media farce that President Joe Biden was anything but a spry 81-year-old, the CNN anchor has not been shy about decrying excuses for Thursday night.

Tuesday on “The Lead,” he was joined by Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson (D), noted for chairing a wholly different farce that was the Jan. 6 committee kangaroo court against Trump, where a bemused expression crossed his face as he challenged the “bad debate” narrative.

“With all due respect, sir, it wasn’t just a bad debate. I mean, we’ve seen other incidents, and I’m not just talking about aging. We all age. My parents are in their 80s. I get it. It happens if we’re lucky enough to make it to our 80s, it happens. It seems — it doesn’t seem like it’s just aging, don’t you think?”

“Well, I don’t think that way,” began the response from Thompson.

Moments earlier, the host had presented his Democrat guest with some realities as he asked, “How concerned are you about President Biden’s standing right now? We have a new poll from CNN. Most voters — 75%, I think of voters — think Democrats have a better chance of keeping the White House if Biden is not the nominee. And we have a new poll suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris is actually a stronger challenge, within the margin of error, to Donald Trump than President Biden is. Are you concerned about President Biden’s acuity and his ability to win?”

“Well, just like all of us who have committed to making sure that Donald Trump is not put back in the White House,” said Thompson, spoiling the production of the J6 committee for those who never bothered to watch it, “We want the best foot forward. I would still lead with President Biden. He’s a good man. His policies have worked and we’ll see how it works out. If the new strategy — taking it to the people, doing various town hall-type meetings or interviews — works out, then so be it.”

“But I think at the end of the day, Democrats need to be united. If in fact we go forward and that message is positive, then we have, in fact, done what’s in the best interests of this country. But I think — I wouldn’t put everything on just one bad debate. I’ve been in elective office a good while. Some days are just not good days,” he tried. “That debate was not a good day. But it’s not the end of a campaign. It’s not the end of his re-election effort. But we have to do some things to reassure the public that it was not just a one-off, but it was just a bad day.”

Of course, while Tapper remained tactful in rebutting Thompson, he was far more blunt during a Monday monologue when he ran a reel of Biden’s blunders and said, “There is a pattern, a discernible pattern, of Democratic officials seemingly trying to convince you, the public, to not believe what you saw and what you heard with your eyes and with your ears on Thursday night.”

“But behind the scenes, make no mistake,” he went on decrying the varied excuses, “most Democratic officials witnessed the same shocking spectacle that you did…The spinning is all very reminiscent of the George Orwell quote from the book ‘1984’ that I invoked five years ago…’The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.’”

To his point, Thompson insisted after being called out, “I’ve known him for quite a while. As people mature, things happen. But if I look at policies, if I look at what his administration stands for, it’s what keeps America great. He’s a great leader. He’s respected by people around the world, and that has value. Donald Trump, on the other hand, is not that. So, when I look at the two individuals running for president leading both tickets, I say Joe Biden is the person.”

Kevin Haggerty
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