Top Media Sources Contradict Hur's Assessment of Biden's Mental State
Following extensive scrutiny over President Biden's mental acuity based on Special Counsel Hur's findings, prominent news outlets have now refuted the accuracy of the assessment.
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Some of America's top news organizations on Tuesday suggested that Special Counsel Robert Hur's portrayal of President Joe Biden's mental faculties was not accurate. This comes after weeks of intense scrutiny and speculation about the president's cognitive abilities following Hur's explosive report.
The Wall Street Journal stated that Biden’s deposition transcripts with Hur, released on Tuesday, provided a more nuanced perspective compared to the initial report. The New York Times noted that despite some confusion with dates, Biden appeared clearheaded. The Washington Post concluded that Biden did not come across as absent-minded as Hur had portrayed him to be.
In essence, the Hur report painted a misleading picture of the president's mental state. This poses a significant issue for news outlets as much of their recent coverage on Biden's age was based on Hur's depiction of him as a sympathetic elderly man with a poor memory.
Some news outlets acknowledged on Tuesday the true nature of Biden's deposition, highlighting another embarrassing moment for the national press. The press has struggled at crucial moments leading up to the 2024 presidential election.
The deposition transcripts revealed that Biden was sharp during his testimony, joking with investigators and providing detailed stories. It also showed that Hur was misleading in how he presented some information in his report.
As noted by Charlie Savage of The New York Times, there was a moment where Hur claimed that Biden forgot about the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan being an ally who opposed the surge. However, Hur failed to mention that Biden later referenced the ambassador, showing that he was aware of the relationship.
Interestingly, Hur also took the opportunity to praise Biden's memory during the depositions. He complimented Biden on his detailed understanding and recollection of his Wilmington home, stating, "You appear to have a photographic memory of the house."
President Joe Biden and Special Counsel Robert Hur.
President Joe Biden and Special Counsel Robert Hur.
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Hur's report surprisingly did not include the portrayal of President Biden as mentally diminished, which led to a flurry of news stories. Instead, Hur focused on depicting the president as an elderly individual who had difficulty recalling basic information during the deposition. This raised concerns about his ability to effectively serve as the leader of the country.
Hur's portrayal of Biden fed directly into a long-standing campaign by Biden's political adversaries and the influential right-wing media to paint the president as a senile and detached individual.
The special counsel's report provided a convenient tool for outlets like Fox News, which used it to support their ongoing negative portrayal of Biden. These outlets then highlighted the attention given by major news organizations to Biden's mental acuity, arguing that the issue had become so significant that even the so-called "liberal media" could no longer overlook it.
News organizations were faced with a tough decision after the Hur report came out. If they reduced coverage, it might have seemed like they were protecting Biden. On the other hand, focusing heavily on the report and producing many stories about Hur's portrayal of Biden's age turned out to be unwise.
Now, what news organizations can do is openly admit that the deposition transcript contradicted Hur's exaggerated description of Biden's mental sharpness. With the extensive coverage in the previous weeks that had a significant impact on public perception, simply hinting at the reality of the situation is not enough.
Don't expect the news media to publicize Hur's findings as loudly and enthusiastically as they did with Biden's report. While some major news outlets like The NYT, The WaPo, and The WSJ acknowledged that the deposition transcripts provided a more nuanced view of Biden, others did not.
According to Bill Grueskin, a respected professor at the Columbia Journalism School, it's challenging for those involved in the coverage to critique their own methods. Unlike a simple misspelling, corrections in news stories often involve how the story is framed to convey its incompleteness to readers.
Editor's P/S:
The deposition transcripts have exposed a significant discrepancy between Special Counsel Hur's portrayal of President Biden's mental faculties and the reality revealed during Biden's testimony. This has raised concerns about the accuracy and objectivity of Hur's report, which had fueled intense speculation about Biden's cognitive abilities. The selective and misleading presentation of information by Hur has undermined the credibility of his findings and raised questions about the motives behind his portrayal of the president.
News organizations that heavily relied on Hur's report for their coverage of Biden's mental acuity now face the challenge of rectifying their reporting and acknowledging the disparity between Hur's portrayal and the actual contents of the deposition transcripts. They must openly admit their error in judgement and provide a more balanced and accurate account of Biden's mental state. This is crucial to restore public trust in the media and to avoid perpetuating misinformation about the president's fitness for office. their initial reporting.
