AMAC Exclusive – By Claire Brighn
Many Americans were rightly appalled to hear President Joe Biden call Fox News reporter Peter Doocy a “stupid son of a b****” during a question-and-answer period following a White House event late last month. The bitter and angry man that Americans saw on their TV screens attacking Doocy for asking a simple question about inflation was a stark contrast with the “Mr. Nice Guy” Joe Biden that the media, elected Democrats, and even some Republicans sold the public ahead of the 2020 election.
But given Biden’s actual record, perhaps that angry outburst should not have been a surprise. Far from being an even-mannered or empathetic figure, Biden has, in fact, made a habit of bullying reporters and insulting innocent bystanders throughout his long career in politics, racking up a number of shocking examples of unnecessary aggression and mean-spirited comments. Here’s a look back at just a few of the moments the media – and Joe Biden himself – would rather Americans forget of his bad temper on full display.
“What the hell, what do you do all the time?” – Joe Biden, June 16, 2021
Doocy isn’t the only reporter who has felt Biden’s wrath over the past year. Last June, Biden engaged in a bit of friendly fire when he went after Kaitlan Collins of CNN for pressing him on why he said that he was “confident” Russian President Vladimir Putin would change his behavior with respect to certain alleged human rights abuses. As has now become a common sight, Biden wagged his finger at Collins and insisted that he didn’t make the comments she was referring to, something which video evidence clearly disputes.
Biden also erupted at a reporter last month who asked why he said that anyone who opposed doing away with the filibuster was “on the side of” Bull Connor and George Wallace.” Again, Biden insisted that he did not say what the reporter accused him of saying, even though video evidence clearly shows the president making the comparison.
On another occasion, while Biden was test driving an electric vehicle, a reporter asked Biden if they could ask a question about Israel. Biden responded, “No, you can’t, not unless you get in front of the car as I step on it.” The press corps laughed nervously at the bad joke, but the malice in Biden’s tone was unmistakable.
On the campaign trail, Biden was arguably even more unhinged with the press. At one point, he whipped around and snarled at a reporter “why, why, why, why.” In another exchange, he commanded a reporter to “ask the right questions!” All told, it wasn’t just the media that ignored these moments – which arguably would have given real insight into the type of leader he would be – but Biden himself who shrugged off his outbursts, consistently and hypocritically making overtures to “unity.”
“Folks, do you have any idea what this clown is doing?” “Will you shut up, man?” “This is a president who has used everything as a dog whistle to try to generate racist hatred, racist division.” – Joe Biden, 2020 Presidential Debate
In the first presidential debate, Biden called Trump, the sitting President of the United States, a “clown,” told him to “shut up,” and even said he was “racist.” The media gave Biden a free pass for this unprecedented lack of respect, incredibly painting Trump as the bad guy. One New York Times headline read “With Cross Talk, Lies and Mockery, Trump Tramples Decorum in Debate With Biden.” Obama helped push this narrative, saying Trump emboldens people to be “cruel and divisive and racist.” But despite the fact that the media constantly portrayed Trump as a “bully,” it was Biden who said before the debate that “if we were in high school, I’d take him [Trump] behind the gym and beat the hell out of him.”
“You ever been to a caucus? No you haven’t. You’re a lying dog-faced pony-soldier” – Joe Biden, February 9, 2020
Biden said this to a young lady at a campaign rally in New Hampshire. How he found these ready words on the tip of his tongue in such speedy fashion is difficult to say. It came out of nowhere. The student had respectfully asked him: “why should voters believe that you can win the national election?”
“I’m beginning to see why your wife left you.” – Joe Biden, February 1, 2020
Biden said this during a campaign event in Iowa to a man who persistently asked for advice on how to win back his wife. Of course, the timing and setting for such an inquiry was questionable. But Biden’s retort wasn’t just a zinger – it was cruel, cutting, and uncalled for. The man was clearly offended.
“…let’s do pushups together, man. Let’s run, let’s do whatever you want to do. Let’s take on two sets…But look, fat, look, here’s the deal.” – Joe Biden, December 6, 2019
Biden didn’t just call a man “fat” in front of a crowd. He leaned into the insult, challenging him to a running and a pushup contest. It was almost as if, looking back at the video, Biden was energized by the whole ordeal. It wasn’t normal, and it was a nasty thing to say.
“Clap for that, you stupid bastards.” – Vice President Joe Biden, 2016
At the receiving end of this particularly insulting comment were deployed servicemen and women of the United States military stationed in the United Arab Emirates. Biden was clearly not happy with the lackluster response to his speech – perhaps foreshadowing what was to come. On the campaign trail four years later, Biden falsely claimed Trump had insulted military members. But this incident and Biden’s time in office has confirmed which candidate was the one who really respected men and women in uniform.
“Why don’t you say something nice instead of being a smartass all the time?” – Vice President Joe Biden, 2010
A small business owner had just given Biden a free ice cream cone, saying, “lower our taxes and we’ll call it even.”Biden didn’t see the humor in it and lobbed an insult instead.
“I think I have a much higher IQ than you do, I suspect.” – Senator Joe Biden, 1987
In the lead-up to his first bid for the Presidency, Biden was asked what law school he attended and “where you placed in that class” (he was 76th out of 85 students). Biden shot back that his IQ was higher than the man asking the question. Considering that Biden has admitted to plagiarism and his defensive posture when pressed on it, perhaps the questions about Biden’s intelligence are not so unwarranted.
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Given this long history of uncalled-for attacks and insults, it was always unlikely that Biden would be the “unifier” Americans were promised in 2020. Throughout his more than four decades in politics, Biden showed the world exactly who he was, and it took a coordinated effort on the part of the media and political establishment to try and cover it up. But this darker side of Joe Biden – now on display for the country and the world to see – was always lurking in the foreground, and it was only a matter of time before it could no longer be hidden. Now, it’s likely a contributing factor in Biden’s dismal poll numbers, and won’t help a Democratic Party that’s already suffering from image issues ahead of a tough 2022 midterm cycle.
Claire Brighn is the pen name of a conservative researcher and writer with previous domestic and foreign policy experience in the Executive Branch.