August 22, 2020
It's time for Joe Biden to start taking questions
by WashingtonExaminer.com
Now that Joe Biden emerged from his basement to accept his party’s nomination for president, it’s well past time for him to remain out of hiding and open himself up to questions as the campaign enters its final stretch.
Whatever one might say about President Trump, it cannot be said that he’s afraid to engage with the media. Trump, in addition to frequent speeches and other public appearances, has repeatedly offered himself up to the media to take questions, even as they remain largely hostile to his candidacy. Whether it’s in press conferences, informal gaggles from in front of the White House, or tough one-on-one sessions, Trump has made himself available.
Biden, in contrast, has run the most stealth presidential campaign in modern history. It was one thing, early on, for Biden to try and remain in his basement during the initial phases of the coronavirus pandemic. But since then, he has used the virus as an excuse to avoid scrutiny.
We now know enough about the virus to know that outdoor appearances, with proper physical distancing, pose little COVID-19 transmission risk. Even if he did want to remain in isolation, however, he could still submit himself to tougher interviews. If he has time to chat with rapper Cardi B, he certainly has time to sit down for a virtual interview with Fox’s Chris Wallace — or any other journalist who would ask him tough questions. And there are certainly ways to do press conferences in a safe way.
It’s debatable whether his hide-and-seek strategy can be effective politically through November. On the one hand, stepping to the side allows Trump to hog all of the attention and do things that remind voters why they’re looking for somebody else. Hiding allows Biden to make sure that the race remains a referendum on Trump without allowing the ability to consider his own weaknesses. And so far, it seems to have paid off in polls.
On the other hand, as time goes on, voters may wonder whether Biden is prepared to withstand the rigors of the presidency if he’s unable to even campaign. Trump will continue to sow doubts about his mental acuity, and an out-of-practice Biden could find himself rusty and unprepared for the debates, proving his point.
Whatever the political arguments for or against Biden coming out of hiding, it is undoubtedly that the public deserves more from Biden. If voters are being asked to entrust somebody with the presidency who is pushing 80 years old, they should be able to assess whether he’s up to the job. They deserve to hear more about his policy prescriptions and to hear him answer critical questions about them.
For instance, in his convention speech, he reiterated his call for a national mask mandate. Previously, he explained, "Every single American should be wearing a mask when they're outside for the next three months, at a minimum.” He claimed such a requirement would save 40,000 lives.
At no point, however, has he had to answer basic questions about the plan. To start, by what constitutional authority could the president mandate that every person wear a face covering? Even putting aside the very real legal issues, why would masks be required outdoors? The science has been pretty clear that the risk of outdoor transmission of the coronavirus where social distancing is possible is negligible to nonexistent. Even Anthony Fauci conceded that he pulls his mask down to his chin when he goes jogging outside. How will any sort of national mask mandate be enforced? As we’re having a national conversation about overpolicing, do we want to get police officers involved in ensuring compliance, leading to more interactions that could cause potential conflict? What will he do to make sure there isn’t racial bias in imposing the mandate? What if people cannot afford masks, will there be a fund to finance them and a system for distribution? And where did Biden come up with his estimate that 40,000 lives would be saved were this draconian mask requirement imposed?
This, of course, is just one of many ideas Biden has put forward that could lend itself to the type of follow-up that is normal for candidates seeking the presidency. It’s long past time for him to start taking questions.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/its-time-for-joe-biden-to-start-taking-questions
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