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.
Ex-Trump ally MTG slams both sides of the political aisle: ‘Nothing ever changes’
Dem hopeful who co-founded Joe Rogan’s favorite jeans under fire for ‘Made in America’ claim
What to watch as Virginia voters decide high-stakes redistricting referendum
Trump pleads with Virginians to ‘just vote no’ on redistricting measure in telerally call
Another Democrat exits California’s crowded gubernatorial race weeks before the June 2 primary election
Chinese national arrested at JFK after allegedly photographing US military aircraft at Nebraska base
Louisiana Mass Murderer Who Killed 8 Children Previously Got Probation for Firing Gun Toward a School: Report
Mom, pregnant teen and 12-year-old found bound and murdered as police hunt multiple suspects
Cory Booker Calls for ‘Foot Soldiers’ to Take to the Streets to ‘Stand Up’ Against ‘Darkness’ in Bizarre Rant
Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder of young girl allegedly found dismembered, decomposing in his car
IDF Takes Quick Action After Soldier Caught Smashing Statue of Jesus in Lebanon
NASA coordinating with relevant agencies in missing scientists probe
Soros-linked dark money network fuels Virginia redistricting push backed by national Democrats
Republicans Are Banking on ‘October Surprise’ to Keep Senate Majority: Report
GOP blasts Virginia amendment as maps could swing delegation to 10-1 Democratic advantage
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:
Ex-Trump ally MTG slams both sides of the political aisle: ‘Nothing ever changes’
Dem hopeful who co-founded Joe Rogan’s favorite jeans under fire for ‘Made in America’ claim
What to watch as Virginia voters decide high-stakes redistricting referendum
Trump pleads with Virginians to ‘just vote no’ on redistricting measure in telerally call
Another Democrat exits California’s crowded gubernatorial race weeks before the June 2 primary election
Chinese national arrested at JFK after allegedly photographing US military aircraft at Nebraska base
Louisiana Mass Murderer Who Killed 8 Children Previously Got Probation for Firing Gun Toward a School: Report
Mom, pregnant teen and 12-year-old found bound and murdered as police hunt multiple suspects
Cory Booker Calls for ‘Foot Soldiers’ to Take to the Streets to ‘Stand Up’ Against ‘Darkness’ in Bizarre Rant
Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder of young girl allegedly found dismembered, decomposing in his car
IDF Takes Quick Action After Soldier Caught Smashing Statue of Jesus in Lebanon
NASA coordinating with relevant agencies in missing scientists probe
Soros-linked dark money network fuels Virginia redistricting push backed by national Democrats
Republicans Are Banking on ‘October Surprise’ to Keep Senate Majority: Report
GOP blasts Virginia amendment as maps could swing delegation to 10-1 Democratic advantage
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
Ex-Trump ally MTG slams both sides of the political aisle: ‘Nothing ever changes’
Dem hopeful who co-founded Joe Rogan’s favorite jeans under fire for ‘Made in America’ claim
What to watch as Virginia voters decide high-stakes redistricting referendum
Trump pleads with Virginians to ‘just vote no’ on redistricting measure in telerally call
Another Democrat exits California’s crowded gubernatorial race weeks before the June 2 primary election
Chinese national arrested at JFK after allegedly photographing US military aircraft at Nebraska base
Louisiana Mass Murderer Who Killed 8 Children Previously Got Probation for Firing Gun Toward a School: Report
Mom, pregnant teen and 12-year-old found bound and murdered as police hunt multiple suspects
Cory Booker Calls for ‘Foot Soldiers’ to Take to the Streets to ‘Stand Up’ Against ‘Darkness’ in Bizarre Rant
Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder of young girl allegedly found dismembered, decomposing in his car
IDF Takes Quick Action After Soldier Caught Smashing Statue of Jesus in Lebanon
NASA coordinating with relevant agencies in missing scientists probe
Soros-linked dark money network fuels Virginia redistricting push backed by national Democrats
Republicans Are Banking on ‘October Surprise’ to Keep Senate Majority: Report
GOP blasts Virginia amendment as maps could swing delegation to 10-1 Democratic advantage
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.









