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.
Trump electrifies his base, but the nosebleeds are empty. Is it enough to win the midterms?
Trump makes convention pitch for Paxton: You may not like his looks, but he’s the best AG in Texas history
US forces obliterate suspected ‘narco-terrorist’ vessel in lethal Eastern Pacific strike, killing 3
Military Base Guards Cleared to Say ‘Have a Blessed Day’ After Pete Hegseth Steps in to Oppose ‘Radical Anti-Christian’ Group
Dem senator delivers surprise video at Republican convention backing McCormick
Jim Jordan to relinquish House Oversight and Judiciary gavels, stirring leadership speculation
HSI agent who investigated child exploitation cases indicted on rape and child abuse charges
Pastor Dies from Injury Suffered While Celebrating Son’s Wedding
Dem incumbent becomes first sitting governor to lose primary since 2018
Internet Demands Probe After Mitch McConnell’s Wife Reportedly Revealed to Have CCP Ties
Kentucky Ostrich Farm Offers Alternative for People Allergic to Red Meat After Tick Bites: ‘Similar to Steak’
Beauty school moms caught in accreditation crossfire as Trump admin weighs consequential decision
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces distribution of more than 7 million free eggs statewide
Amy Acton cried on the job, once found ‘curled up’ on floor before COVID meeting during tenure as Ohio health official: Staffers
RNC leaves convention seat empty for Charlie Kirk one year after assassination
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:
Trump electrifies his base, but the nosebleeds are empty. Is it enough to win the midterms?
Trump makes convention pitch for Paxton: You may not like his looks, but he’s the best AG in Texas history
US forces obliterate suspected ‘narco-terrorist’ vessel in lethal Eastern Pacific strike, killing 3
Military Base Guards Cleared to Say ‘Have a Blessed Day’ After Pete Hegseth Steps in to Oppose ‘Radical Anti-Christian’ Group
Dem senator delivers surprise video at Republican convention backing McCormick
Jim Jordan to relinquish House Oversight and Judiciary gavels, stirring leadership speculation
HSI agent who investigated child exploitation cases indicted on rape and child abuse charges
Pastor Dies from Injury Suffered While Celebrating Son’s Wedding
Dem incumbent becomes first sitting governor to lose primary since 2018
Internet Demands Probe After Mitch McConnell’s Wife Reportedly Revealed to Have CCP Ties
Kentucky Ostrich Farm Offers Alternative for People Allergic to Red Meat After Tick Bites: ‘Similar to Steak’
Beauty school moms caught in accreditation crossfire as Trump admin weighs consequential decision
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces distribution of more than 7 million free eggs statewide
Amy Acton cried on the job, once found ‘curled up’ on floor before COVID meeting during tenure as Ohio health official: Staffers
RNC leaves convention seat empty for Charlie Kirk one year after assassination
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
Trump electrifies his base, but the nosebleeds are empty. Is it enough to win the midterms?
Trump makes convention pitch for Paxton: You may not like his looks, but he’s the best AG in Texas history
US forces obliterate suspected ‘narco-terrorist’ vessel in lethal Eastern Pacific strike, killing 3
Military Base Guards Cleared to Say ‘Have a Blessed Day’ After Pete Hegseth Steps in to Oppose ‘Radical Anti-Christian’ Group
Dem senator delivers surprise video at Republican convention backing McCormick
Jim Jordan to relinquish House Oversight and Judiciary gavels, stirring leadership speculation
HSI agent who investigated child exploitation cases indicted on rape and child abuse charges
Pastor Dies from Injury Suffered While Celebrating Son’s Wedding
Dem incumbent becomes first sitting governor to lose primary since 2018
Internet Demands Probe After Mitch McConnell’s Wife Reportedly Revealed to Have CCP Ties
Kentucky Ostrich Farm Offers Alternative for People Allergic to Red Meat After Tick Bites: ‘Similar to Steak’
Beauty school moms caught in accreditation crossfire as Trump admin weighs consequential decision
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces distribution of more than 7 million free eggs statewide
Amy Acton cried on the job, once found ‘curled up’ on floor before COVID meeting during tenure as Ohio health official: Staffers
RNC leaves convention seat empty for Charlie Kirk one year after assassination
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.
