Movies

Jake Tapper says the media didn’t cover up Biden’s ‘Original Sin’: ‘We were just lied to’

BBG News

During the June 27 presidential debate, approximately eleven minutes in, CNN anchor Dana Bash passed a note to her fellow anchor Jake Tapper following an extended, disorganized response from the president.

“He just lost the election,” she wrote.

The significant debate that transpired at the Atlanta studios of the network – as detailed in Alex Thompson’s latest book with Tapper, titled “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Decision to Continue His Presidency” – turned out to be the most momentous presidential debate ever held.

Review

Biden’s diminished capacities and cover-up explored in painful, if necessary, book

In ‘Original Sin,’ Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson propose the theory of a cover-up, where efforts were made to keep President Biden’s perceived cognitive issues hidden not just from the media but also the general public and influential Democrats.

Due to a poor showing and unfavorable response to his disappointing performance, Biden decided to withdraw from his presidential campaign just three weeks later, leaving Vice President Kamala Harris to step up as the Democratic candidate in the 2024 election, with only four months left before facing off against President Trump.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve always kept an eye on political events, and the speculation surrounding Biden’s health was a recurring theme. However, during that particular town hall event broadcast to 51 million viewers, it felt like the curtain had been pulled back, revealing undeniably the impact of age on his performance.

In a recent chat from his home in Washington D.C., Tapper expressed that the stark understanding had set in – the White House had been deceiving everyone, possibly even themselves. On television, it seemed terrible, but in reality, it was far more distressing.

Following the heated discussion and its consequences, Tapper teamed up with Thompson for a thorough examination delving into Joe Biden’s worsening health status and the methods his family and staff used to shield him from criticism until it became impossible to conceal.

The concept of ‘Original Sin’ seems to be a fitting analogy for instances where Joe Biden, over the years, has struggled to recall names of friends and acquaintances like George Clooney, which was evident at a Hollywood fundraiser. At the same gathering, Barack Obama guided a seemingly bewildered Biden offstage.

Tapper and Thompson provide an extensive summary of President Biden’s October 2023 interview with special investigator Robert Hur, who looked into allegations that the previous president held classified documents unlawfully.

During his testimony, Biden often veered from the main topic and struggled to remember significant dates from his personal history, including the year his son Beau passed away. In his report, Hur opted not to pursue charges against Biden, describing him as an “elderly man with a weak memory but good intentions.” This decision was met with criticism from Democrats who deemed it unkind and ageist.

During potential discussions among advisors, there were considerations about President Biden needing a wheelchair should he serve another term. The team made efforts to subtly conceal Biden’s physical limitations, going so far as to involve director Steven Spielberg in coaching Biden for his 2024 State of the Union speech.

Tapper and Thompson expertly weave their narratives together, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a chilling horror film script – where you anticipate the unfolding events, yet remain powerless to prevent them.

“We were just lied to over and over again,” Tapper said.

A national conversation has arisen around the question of whether the White House misled the public concerning the president’s health, as well as the impact that Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race had on the Democrats’ efforts to prevent a second term for President Trump, due to their book.

The conversation became more heated following Sunday’s revelation that Biden had been diagnosed with an aggressive type of prostate cancer.

Initially, conservative pundits have reacted to the book’s disclosures by saying “We predicted this all along,” accompanied by claims that the main stream media collaborated with the White House in concealing the President’s health concerns.

The tapper foresaw the response. He stated that approximately 99% of the information presented in the book was uncovered following the election.

Hollywood Inc.

The shift towards a digital focus is imminent. However, it remains to be seen if consumers hold CNN’s brand in high regard enough to subscribe to its online services.

He stated, “Had I encountered any of these tales in 2022, 2023, or 2024, I would’ve shared the news immediately. However, I don’t possess the authority to issue subpoenas.

According to Tapper, it seems that conservatives were vindicated by their blunt evaluations of President Biden’s health, which noticeably deteriorated in 2023 following the collapse of a plea deal for his son Hunter regarding tax and firearm charges, potentially leading to imprisonment.

Tapper commented, “Indeed, they were correct, and this deserves recognition. However, it’s important to note that labeling the President as having mushy-brained isn’t journalism. Instead, it falls under the category of commentary or punditry.

Despite an abundance of video evidence suggesting memory issues for President Biden, Tapper pointed out that there were relatively few comprehensive news reports detailing the full extent of his health condition. The president was often shielded by family members and long-standing allies who skillfully deflected or dismissed such questions as political attacks.

In the White House briefing room, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy consistently brought up concerns about President Biden’s health, while former Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly countered him by asserting that his comments might be misleading or false information.

Tapper stated that not only were they deceiving journalists, but everyone. They’d give false information to reporters, and even trusted Democratic sources, who are known for their honesty, would say ‘he’s okay.’ It seems they either genuinely believed this or had no other facts available.

Hollywood Inc.

1. It was generally believed that the debate served CNN’s purpose of enhancing its reputation as a reliable source for significant news. However, the event didn’t go well for President Biden.

2. Many saw the debate as an opportunity for CNN to strengthen its standing as a credible news provider. Unfortunately, the event was not favorable for President Biden.

3. People thought that the debate could help CNN boost its image as a reliable news outlet. Regrettably, it wasn’t a good night for President Biden.

4. The debate offered CNN a chance to solidify its status as a trusted news provider; unfortunately, it was not a successful night for President Biden.

5. It seemed that the debate could help establish CNN as a reputable news source. Sadly, the event didn’t turn out well for President Biden.

6. The debate provided an opportunity for CNN to increase its credibility as a major news provider; unfortunately, it was not a positive outcome for President Biden.

7. It appeared that the debate could help solidify CNN’s reputation as a trustworthy news source. Unfortunately, it was a difficult night for President Biden.

8. The debate offered CNN a chance to bolster its standing as a reliable news provider; however, it wasn’t a good showing for President Biden.

9. Many considered the debate a chance for CNN to build its reputation as a trusted news outlet. Regrettably, it was not a successful event for President Biden.

10. It seemed that the debate could help enhance CNN’s image as a credible news source; unfortunately, it didn’t go well for President Biden.

During June 2024, a comprehensive report about President Biden’s apparent weaknesses and memory issues was published by Siobhan Hughes and Annie Linskey of the Wall Street Journal. This report, titled “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping,” received significant backlash from progressive commentators due to its reliance on unnamed sources. CNN’s Reliable Sources newsletter criticized the piece, stating, “The Wall Street Journal could have provided a more credible account for its readers and the public.

According to Tapper, Hughes and Linskey deserve recognition as heroes, and he concurred that the Washington media fell short in not vigorously pursuing the Biden health issue. Unfortunately, their allegiance to Biden also managed to prevent potential leak sources from coming forward.

In simpler terms, Tapper stated that it’s likely that those who lied or were too afraid to speak up might have been able to prevent the disaster more effectively compared to us in the media. However, we journalists are dependent on the quality of our sources for information.

In their book “Original Sin,” Tapper and Thompson heavily rely on confidential sources. Among the 200 individuals they interviewed are Democratic Party insiders and four former cabinet members. Although many Democrats have been hesitant to speak openly about Biden’s past, numerous anecdotes have surfaced following the election.

In Tapper’s own words, he had never before had the opportunity to delve into so many varied settings as he did while writing this book. He expressed that individuals seemed compelled to share their stories, almost as if they were releasing a burden from their shoulders.

A significant number of the resources shared their feelings of remorse for not voicing their opinions earlier. Tapper mentioned that they, along with their collaborator, consistently applied a high standard when selecting their data.

He stated, “If we weren’t completely certain about something, we chose not to include it in the book.” He also mentioned, “There are fascinating tales, truly remarkable ones, which had only a single source, and we decided they didn’t meet our standards.

World & Nation

During his tenure as president, Joe Biden has now moved on, however, the question of his age and cognitive abilities persists among future leaders within the Democratic Party.

To date, the Biden team has countered by stating that the previous president’s health did not hinder his capacity to perform his responsibilities within the White House.

We’re still waiting for instances that demonstrate a situation where President Joe Biden needed to make a crucial decision, or instances where national security was compromised, or situations where he struggled in performing his duties. On the contrary, the evidence seems to suggest that he was an exceptionally effective president.

According to Tapper and Thompson’s book, they didn’t discover any situations in which President Biden struggled to carry out his responsibilities. Remarkably, many of his critics who were interviewed for the book confirmed his capacity to make wise decisions, albeit at his own pace.

According to Tapper, it’s suspected that the attempts by Biden’s family and long-term staff to conceal his health issues potentially prevented the Democratic Party from evaluating whether they might have fared better with another candidate. This undisclosed candidate could have used additional time to build a strong campaign against Trump.

Tapper stated that President Biden is well aware of the challenges he’s facing, as is Jill Biden. Remarkably, it’s astounding to him that people were debating whether Biden could perform his duties effectively for another four years, given what they’ve been through.

Tapper expressed, “I’m proud of the book we authored with Alex, and I take pride in our reporting. However, I wish this event had never occurred.

Inquired about whether Biden’s actions were similar to a medical version of the Watergate scandal, Tapper replied by stating that “there was indeed a cover-up, much like Watergate. However, this cover-up involved something that wasn’t technically illegal, but one could debate whether it was morally justifiable.

Read More

2025-05-20 13:32

Previous post Top gainers and losers
Next post Error during authentication for model o1: Rate limited by Puter.js API. Try again after 60 seconds.