Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden’s first virtual town hall on Friday was denounced as “an absolute technical nightmare.”
Biden had been scheduled to hold a traditional campaign event in Illinois on Friday.
However, in light of restrictions on gatherings that are being put in place in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the campaign decided to make the event a virtual town hall.
As CNN reported, the event was pushed back by two hours from its original start time, and then still started 15 minutes late.
Makena Kelly, who dissected the event for The Verge, explained what greeted her when she clicked in.
“When I logged onto Joe Biden’s first-ever virtual town hall, I was greeted with one Illinois senator adjusting the angle of her webcam and another showing off an adorable (but screaming) baby in an oddly intimate video call before the former vice president even appeared onscreen,” she wrote in her piece, which was titled simply, “Joe Biden’s first virtual town hall was an absolute technical nightmare.”
“What was at first an awkwardly silent video conference evolved into a complete technical nightmare that resulted in Biden sounding as if he was screaming in TV static for the first few minutes of the event,” she wrote.
Three more alleged antifa cell members indicted on terrorism charges over Texas ICE attack
ALERT: Massive B-52 Stratofortress Has Crashed at Edwards Air Force Base – Video
Judge dismisses xAI lawsuit accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets
Same-name candidate disqualified from key Senate race over alleged Dem scheme to confuse voters
Mainstream Media Deceptively Twists the Truth About World Cup Star’s Jesus-Honoring Celebration
US won’t move troops despite ‘signed’ Iran deal, as doubts linger over Tehran’s next move
Austin Metcalf’s father rips former Frisco schools chief as ‘spineless’ over Karmelo Anthony graduation
Trump plans to ‘focus’ on ending Russia-Ukraine war following peace deal with Iran
Ivy League student investigated after alleged antisemitic internship rejection: ‘Not working for a Jew’
Left-wing distraction of Trump’s UFC event falls flat as bitter celebrities mocked online
Christian Players for SF Giants Take Bold, Visible Stand Against ‘Pride Month’ and the LGBT Crowd’s Theft of the Rainbow
WATCH: Shane Gillis rejects UFC fighter’s crude Michelle Obama jab after White House win
Watch: UFC Winner Says ‘Michelle Obama Is a Man!’ at White House Following Victory
Jim Acosta ruthlessly mocked for comparing removal of Trump’s name from Kennedy Center to fall of Berlin Wall
Haitian fraudster’s eye-popping taxpayer-backed drug scam puts Congress on the hunt
Those attending the event pointed out the problems.
In fact, the first question was actually a critique from a viewer who noted, “Mr. Biden’s speech was garbly the entire time.”
Biden also seemed flummoxed by the technology.
“Am I live?” he said when the third questioner of the evening was speaking.
“Am I on camera?” he said as the fourth person asked a question.
Near the end of the town hall event, Biden wandered off screen.
At one point, only the back half of his head was visible.
While he soon came back, the campaign eventually decided that was enough. The video stream was cut, and the rest of the event was audio only:
Three more alleged antifa cell members indicted on terrorism charges over Texas ICE attack
ALERT: Massive B-52 Stratofortress Has Crashed at Edwards Air Force Base – Video
Judge dismisses xAI lawsuit accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets
Same-name candidate disqualified from key Senate race over alleged Dem scheme to confuse voters
Mainstream Media Deceptively Twists the Truth About World Cup Star’s Jesus-Honoring Celebration
US won’t move troops despite ‘signed’ Iran deal, as doubts linger over Tehran’s next move
Austin Metcalf’s father rips former Frisco schools chief as ‘spineless’ over Karmelo Anthony graduation
Trump plans to ‘focus’ on ending Russia-Ukraine war following peace deal with Iran
Ivy League student investigated after alleged antisemitic internship rejection: ‘Not working for a Jew’
Left-wing distraction of Trump’s UFC event falls flat as bitter celebrities mocked online
Christian Players for SF Giants Take Bold, Visible Stand Against ‘Pride Month’ and the LGBT Crowd’s Theft of the Rainbow
WATCH: Shane Gillis rejects UFC fighter’s crude Michelle Obama jab after White House win
Watch: UFC Winner Says ‘Michelle Obama Is a Man!’ at White House Following Victory
Jim Acosta ruthlessly mocked for comparing removal of Trump’s name from Kennedy Center to fall of Berlin Wall
Haitian fraudster’s eye-popping taxpayer-backed drug scam puts Congress on the hunt
Before Biden signed off, he made a comment that summed up the evening, according to Breitbart.
“I’m sorry this is such a disjointed effort here,” Biden said.
Twitter was not kind to the event:
What’s he talking about? Wow.
— Scott Sheridan (@SSheridan74) March 14, 2020
This is part of the virtual town hall the Biden campaign wouldn't post
Garbled/cut out audio, blank screens, randomly going live to unsuspecting participants
A complete disaster pic.twitter.com/eLGgHyPm91
— Zach Parkinson (@AZachParkinson) March 14, 2020
Three more alleged antifa cell members indicted on terrorism charges over Texas ICE attack
ALERT: Massive B-52 Stratofortress Has Crashed at Edwards Air Force Base – Video
Judge dismisses xAI lawsuit accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets
Same-name candidate disqualified from key Senate race over alleged Dem scheme to confuse voters
Mainstream Media Deceptively Twists the Truth About World Cup Star’s Jesus-Honoring Celebration
US won’t move troops despite ‘signed’ Iran deal, as doubts linger over Tehran’s next move
Austin Metcalf’s father rips former Frisco schools chief as ‘spineless’ over Karmelo Anthony graduation
Trump plans to ‘focus’ on ending Russia-Ukraine war following peace deal with Iran
Ivy League student investigated after alleged antisemitic internship rejection: ‘Not working for a Jew’
Left-wing distraction of Trump’s UFC event falls flat as bitter celebrities mocked online
Christian Players for SF Giants Take Bold, Visible Stand Against ‘Pride Month’ and the LGBT Crowd’s Theft of the Rainbow
WATCH: Shane Gillis rejects UFC fighter’s crude Michelle Obama jab after White House win
Watch: UFC Winner Says ‘Michelle Obama Is a Man!’ at White House Following Victory
Jim Acosta ruthlessly mocked for comparing removal of Trump’s name from Kennedy Center to fall of Berlin Wall
Haitian fraudster’s eye-popping taxpayer-backed drug scam puts Congress on the hunt
Joe Biden is the worst presidential candidate of all-time.pic.twitter.com/rEVyjBy7hu
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) March 14, 2020
“Biden’s first-ever virtual town hall was a sorry first sign for the future of digital campaigning, something that will become ever more important as the presidential race heats up and coronavirus spreads across the country,” Kelly wrote.
“Hopefully the Biden campaign and others can get it together before November, or at least until the pandemic fades.”
Story cited here.
