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.
Drunk wrong-way driver killed Mass. trooper after 9 drinks at bar, DA report says
Retired math professor charged after wife, an airline meteorologist, found shot dead: cops
House Democrats fracture badly over Massie amendment to cut $3.3B in US aid to Israel
Harris calls for ICE probe after Maine shooting amid renewed ‘border czar’ criticism
Fetterman downplays GOP fundraising partnership and dodges reelection plans
Not a Single Democrat Showed Up to Wednesday’s Senate Hearing on Taxpayers Being Defrauded
Todd Blanche confirmation hearing turns to Smith bombshells: ‘Did Jack Smith read my emails?’
Even Under Trump, FBI Fights FOIAs That Would Show How Much Agency Paid Big Tech to Censor Conservatives
Powerful LGBTQ+ group’s endorsements could tank vulnerable Dems over radical youth trans agenda
Canadian woman accused of slapping Trump-supporting teen turned over to ICE
Lib Outlets Fall for Troll Jacob Wohl Again, Tout Nonexistent ‘MAGA Mess’ Because Rapper Wanting a Pardon Allegedly Got Scammed
Police say Canadian woman slapped teen over Trump and ICE clothing before ICE detained her
Alabama sheriff details gruesome murders of veteran and wife inside their own home
Biden book launch backfires as critics mock ‘autopen’ president into oblivion
Tim Walz becomes GOP punchline in sweeping new war on welfare fraud
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:
Drunk wrong-way driver killed Mass. trooper after 9 drinks at bar, DA report says
Retired math professor charged after wife, an airline meteorologist, found shot dead: cops
House Democrats fracture badly over Massie amendment to cut $3.3B in US aid to Israel
Harris calls for ICE probe after Maine shooting amid renewed ‘border czar’ criticism
Fetterman downplays GOP fundraising partnership and dodges reelection plans
Not a Single Democrat Showed Up to Wednesday’s Senate Hearing on Taxpayers Being Defrauded
Todd Blanche confirmation hearing turns to Smith bombshells: ‘Did Jack Smith read my emails?’
Even Under Trump, FBI Fights FOIAs That Would Show How Much Agency Paid Big Tech to Censor Conservatives
Powerful LGBTQ+ group’s endorsements could tank vulnerable Dems over radical youth trans agenda
Canadian woman accused of slapping Trump-supporting teen turned over to ICE
Lib Outlets Fall for Troll Jacob Wohl Again, Tout Nonexistent ‘MAGA Mess’ Because Rapper Wanting a Pardon Allegedly Got Scammed
Police say Canadian woman slapped teen over Trump and ICE clothing before ICE detained her
Alabama sheriff details gruesome murders of veteran and wife inside their own home
Biden book launch backfires as critics mock ‘autopen’ president into oblivion
Tim Walz becomes GOP punchline in sweeping new war on welfare fraud
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
Drunk wrong-way driver killed Mass. trooper after 9 drinks at bar, DA report says
Retired math professor charged after wife, an airline meteorologist, found shot dead: cops
House Democrats fracture badly over Massie amendment to cut $3.3B in US aid to Israel
Harris calls for ICE probe after Maine shooting amid renewed ‘border czar’ criticism
Fetterman downplays GOP fundraising partnership and dodges reelection plans
Not a Single Democrat Showed Up to Wednesday’s Senate Hearing on Taxpayers Being Defrauded
Todd Blanche confirmation hearing turns to Smith bombshells: ‘Did Jack Smith read my emails?’
Even Under Trump, FBI Fights FOIAs That Would Show How Much Agency Paid Big Tech to Censor Conservatives
Powerful LGBTQ+ group’s endorsements could tank vulnerable Dems over radical youth trans agenda
Canadian woman accused of slapping Trump-supporting teen turned over to ICE
Lib Outlets Fall for Troll Jacob Wohl Again, Tout Nonexistent ‘MAGA Mess’ Because Rapper Wanting a Pardon Allegedly Got Scammed
Police say Canadian woman slapped teen over Trump and ICE clothing before ICE detained her
Alabama sheriff details gruesome murders of veteran and wife inside their own home
Biden book launch backfires as critics mock ‘autopen’ president into oblivion
Tim Walz becomes GOP punchline in sweeping new war on welfare fraud
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.
