A recent episode of MSNBC’s Morning Joe had quite the spectacle as Donald Trump suggested that Biden should take a cognitive test. And the icing on the cake? Trump got his own former White House Doctor’s name wrong, leaving the liberal anchors with no option but to have a field day.
Morning Joe’s host, Joe Scarborough, and co-host Mika Brzezinski took the opportunity to play around with names, much like Trump. However, the real drama started when Scarborough lashed out at Trump supporters accusing them of spreading misinformation about Biden’s mental state. Scarborough’s frustration seems unjust. He’s quick to label Trump supporters as “right-wing stooges,” yet appears blindsided by the idea that he himself may be a stooge for Biden.
Scarborough continued his accusations by asserting that the Trump campaign has been fabricating stories about Biden. But Biden’s gaffes are no secret. Rather than address this, Scarborough points fingers at Trump, dismissing his behavior as typical.
The show took an amusing spin when Scarborough expressed fear at the idea of having Trump as president with impending “World War II” chaos – evidently referencing Trump’s recent verbal error about Biden potentially leading the country into World War II, not III. Co-host Mika, perhaps not catching the subtle mockery, simply agreed.
Whether it’s Trump getting a name wrong or Biden losing track of thoughts mid-speech, it’s easy to see how these debates can devolve into endless mockery, losing sight of the issues at hand.
As this Morning Joe episode proves, media bias is not just harbored within the conservative sphere. It exists on both sides of the fence. We should be encouraging open dialogue, not stifling criticism with name-calling. The truth is, there’s plenty of room for improvement in the political arena, regardless of party affiliation.
Trump’s detractors may find amusement in his gaffes, yet they turn a blind eye to Biden’s cognitive missteps. Each verbal snafu should not devolve into a bout of childish ridicule, but rather serve as an echo of the urgency to focus on sound leadership, clear communication and factual representation. Now more than ever, America deserves a no-nonsense dialogue that goes past pointing fingers and dives into the heart of the matter.
