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.
Republican sounds alarm on rising Dem star: ‘This guy’s going to be a problem’
Zohran Mamdani urged to skip New York City’s 9/11 memorial: ‘Vile antisemite’
Houthis seize port city in offensive aimed toward Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Richard Hudson’s three keys to holding the House, and why midterm conventions are here to stay
Illegal Alien Charged with Kidnapping 6-Year-Old Girl From Her Home and Sexually Assaulting Her
Charlie Kirk’s Death Was a Singular Tragedy, But Part of a Wider Surge in Leftist Violence
9/11 hero Welles Crowther’s firehouse president reveals what shaped the ‘man in the red bandana’
Lone holdout in Lindsay Clancy trial demonstrated the killings during deliberations, fellow juror says
Trump dangles $5,000 checks as debt surges — but only if GOP can clear major midterm hurdle
Republican convention attendees share heartfelt tributes to late Charlie Kirk on assassination anniversary
Before One of Charlie Kirk’s Final Speeches, He Was Warned Not to Talk About Christianity – That Was All the Motivation He Needed
False Moderates, Part 4: AOC’s Presidential Ambitions Could Threaten American Liberty
Newsom says Biden, Clinton, and Harris were too insulated; urges Democrats to get out of their bubble
9/11 Museum unveils exhibition for generation too young to remember the attacks: ‘Called everybody to lead’
America’s reddest state chases billion-dollar boom as others sour on massive emerging industry
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:
Republican sounds alarm on rising Dem star: ‘This guy’s going to be a problem’
Zohran Mamdani urged to skip New York City’s 9/11 memorial: ‘Vile antisemite’
Houthis seize port city in offensive aimed toward Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Richard Hudson’s three keys to holding the House, and why midterm conventions are here to stay
Illegal Alien Charged with Kidnapping 6-Year-Old Girl From Her Home and Sexually Assaulting Her
Charlie Kirk’s Death Was a Singular Tragedy, But Part of a Wider Surge in Leftist Violence
9/11 hero Welles Crowther’s firehouse president reveals what shaped the ‘man in the red bandana’
Lone holdout in Lindsay Clancy trial demonstrated the killings during deliberations, fellow juror says
Trump dangles $5,000 checks as debt surges — but only if GOP can clear major midterm hurdle
Republican convention attendees share heartfelt tributes to late Charlie Kirk on assassination anniversary
Before One of Charlie Kirk’s Final Speeches, He Was Warned Not to Talk About Christianity – That Was All the Motivation He Needed
False Moderates, Part 4: AOC’s Presidential Ambitions Could Threaten American Liberty
Newsom says Biden, Clinton, and Harris were too insulated; urges Democrats to get out of their bubble
9/11 Museum unveils exhibition for generation too young to remember the attacks: ‘Called everybody to lead’
America’s reddest state chases billion-dollar boom as others sour on massive emerging industry
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
Republican sounds alarm on rising Dem star: ‘This guy’s going to be a problem’
Zohran Mamdani urged to skip New York City’s 9/11 memorial: ‘Vile antisemite’
Houthis seize port city in offensive aimed toward Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Richard Hudson’s three keys to holding the House, and why midterm conventions are here to stay
Illegal Alien Charged with Kidnapping 6-Year-Old Girl From Her Home and Sexually Assaulting Her
Charlie Kirk’s Death Was a Singular Tragedy, But Part of a Wider Surge in Leftist Violence
9/11 hero Welles Crowther’s firehouse president reveals what shaped the ‘man in the red bandana’
Lone holdout in Lindsay Clancy trial demonstrated the killings during deliberations, fellow juror says
Trump dangles $5,000 checks as debt surges — but only if GOP can clear major midterm hurdle
Republican convention attendees share heartfelt tributes to late Charlie Kirk on assassination anniversary
Before One of Charlie Kirk’s Final Speeches, He Was Warned Not to Talk About Christianity – That Was All the Motivation He Needed
False Moderates, Part 4: AOC’s Presidential Ambitions Could Threaten American Liberty
Newsom says Biden, Clinton, and Harris were too insulated; urges Democrats to get out of their bubble
9/11 Museum unveils exhibition for generation too young to remember the attacks: ‘Called everybody to lead’
America’s reddest state chases billion-dollar boom as others sour on massive emerging industry
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.
