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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBiden was not looking at his watch. He was looking at his son.
Last edited Mon Sep 6, 2021, 03:57 PM - Edit history (2)
If we're going to win the information war against the right-wing noise machine, we need to have the political courage to say that certain Gold Star families are full of shit.
Do you see the picture? Biden was clearly wearing the rosary beads that belonged to his deceased son Beau. He was probably saying a silent prayer as he witnessed the coffin being conveyed by the soldiers
Biden always carries Beau's rosary on his left wrist. This is public knowledge, yet the right wing media and traditional media has decided to air these lies without pushback.
Here is the video of one Gold Star father, Darin Hoover, who did NOT even attend the ceremony, saying that Biden looked at his watch "for every single one that came out of that airplane."
Timestamp 5:01
Of course Biden looked at his left wrist every single time. Every single one of those service members reminded him of his son.
Of course, Biden is too decent of a man to use his son for political cover from this blowback he's getting, and potentially put grieving Gold Star families on blast. Biden tried to call the other Gold Star father, Mark Schmitz, to personally reach out to him and clear up any misconceptions privately, but Schmitz pointedly rejected that call.
https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/04/us/politics/biden-beau-afghanistan.html
When Biden tried to make a connection with Schmitz by talking about his own son Beau, Schmitz didn't want to hear it.
Mark Schmitz did not vote for Biden, according to the Washington Post. That should tell you the motivations behind sliming the president on Fox News without hearing his side of the story.
https://12ft.io/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-meeting-fallen-americans-families/2021/08/30/07ecff7c-09ac-11ec-a6dd-296ba7fb2dce_story.html
People grieve in their own ways. But that is no excuse to damage a man already wounded by the loss of his son. Everyone who criticized Biden for "checking his watch" owes him an apology. Until they do that, I will not stop calling them out.
ARPad95
(1,671 posts)the office he holds. Thank goodness he has Dr. Biden to soothe his suffering heart.
MrModerate
(9,753 posts)Doesn't convert you into a saint or even a paragon of virtue.
Demsrule86
(68,352 posts)TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)we have been in has had grieving parents. I don't remember many of them pissing and moaning about FDR or Truman not paying proper respect to their dead sons and daughters. Nor Nixon or Reagan, or either Bush.
This time a President attended to arrival of the dead, and for that he is criticized. Looking at his watch my ass. Saying he's out of line mentioning that he lost a son, too.
These parents don't deserve the sons who made the ultimate sacrifice. And Hannity doesn't deserve to live on the same planet as they do.
marie999
(3,334 posts)ClimateHawk
(198 posts)Evolve Dammit
(16,632 posts)ClimateHawk
(198 posts)Just don't post much.
Evolve Dammit
(16,632 posts)Moebym
(989 posts)With my anger at a few of them for going to the media to spread the lie that Biden was distracted and disrespectful. It's not easy.
They are allowed to do this with no push-back because no one in the media or outside wants to be seen criticizing grieving parents for fear they will be tagged as insensitive themselves. We're still only days past this attack, so it's understandable, but my question is, will they be given this cover indefinitely to lie about the president - a cover Biden is no longer afforded even though his grief over his son's death is as raw as it was six years ago?
PortTack
(32,606 posts)wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/09/01/fact-check-biden-checked-watch-after-ceremony-dover-air-force-base/5663427001/
It should have been Biden appeared to have checked his watch multiple times during the ceremony. What he was actually doing was looking at Beau's rosary.
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)But it was clear he was looking at his watch.
LakeArenal
(28,729 posts)Gives credence to FUXers claims.
Now its several times he viewed his watch
Next it will be he was checking the race at Belmont or some stupid claim.
kcr
(15,300 posts)They don't deal in facts, whether they are making their own claims or claiming ours are fake.
JohnnyRingo
(18,581 posts)Instead of waning each time it gets louder and more absurd.
hello
hello fox
hello fox news
HELLO FOX NEWS YOU SUCK
HELLO FOX NEWS YOU SUCK AND GFY
See how that works?
Susan Calvin
(1,644 posts)I would if I knew how.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/biden-check-watch-13/
Susan Calvin
(1,644 posts)Apparently it was a Fox reporter, believe it or not, that originally questioned the looking at the watch narrative. Although anybody who knows Biden should have immediately wondered about it and thought that cannot possibly be what he's doing, there must be some other explanation.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/crooksandliars.com/2021/09/fox-bret-baier-says-biden-may-have-been/amp
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)demigoddess
(6,640 posts)markpkessinger
(8,381 posts). . . but in the photo where he is looking towards his wrist, the rosary bracelet appears to be tucked under his cuff of his shirt sleeve. Not a very convincing argument.
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)Refusing to see what is right in front of us is pointless.
Susan Calvin
(1,644 posts)And I find it very difficult to believe that Joe Biden would repeatedly check his watch. I do think that it was a mistake on his part not to refrain from looking where the rosary beads were in this case, or not to make sure the rosary beads were visible. It's a shame to have to say that, I feel like I'm telling him to politicize his son's death. But other people are sure going to do that.
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)But he was clearly looking at his watch.
No doubt he was tired from standing so long. I know I would be and Im much younger.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)See? Beads are completely visible, above the watch.
This smear campaign is out of line.
markpkessinger
(8,381 posts). . . And his arm is positioned such that he would be looking at the top of his wrist. That part hanging down wouldn't even be in his line of sight.
I'm sorry, but you're really stretching here.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)they're misunderstood.
Every time, someone else decides to comment or explain those things to someone else, there is ALWAYS misunderstanding.
And every, time they comment, those same people are operating in the realm of
NONE OF YOUR DAMNED BUSINESS.
It's apalling that so many people, especially current and former service members and their families have no sense of decorum and relentlessly disrespect the President of the United States.
It's the symptom of a sick society.
doc03
(35,148 posts)they all have that bitter brainwashed look.
Evolve Dammit
(16,632 posts)ClimateHawk
(198 posts)Snackshack
(2,540 posts)Its how it looks and if the look allows for a twisting of perception into an alternate fact thats what they will do.
I dont know if Biden uses PR people or handlers but if so they should have warned him before hand. To be mindful and not cause any self inflicted wounds.
Susan Calvin
(1,644 posts)lame54
(35,141 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)There would probably be complaints about him looking at his right wrist. If he taped it to his forehead where he couldn't see it without a mirror, someone else would complain.
It's none of my business what and why he does what he does or what he needs to do.
I'm just thankful, he's our President.
The Unmitigated Gall
(3,720 posts)The former guy, who called Americas war dead suckers and losers, who went to Arlington and told a general he just couldnt understand what would lead a person to give his life for his country.
Fuck them.
LetMyPeopleVote
(144,005 posts)Moebym
(989 posts)Because those don't sell.
niyad
(112,435 posts)Jon King
(1,910 posts)It is what it is, these people are pure evil, whether they lost a son or not.
The Unmitigated Gall
(3,720 posts)To score political points. Beyond sickening.
mountain grammy
(26,571 posts)no? what? oh yeah, he calls dead soldiers "losers."
Sogo
(4,967 posts)Last edited Mon Sep 6, 2021, 05:28 PM - Edit history (2)
Having said all that, I would have preferred that he didn't "check his watch" (if that's what he was doing) or make an overt gesture "in remembrance of his son" at the time he was there as Commander in Chief to show respect to these fallen soldiers and to support their families. Just my feeling and humble opinion....
Moebym
(989 posts)to demonstrate that he understands all too well what it's like to lose an adult child, and one who served his country so admirably at that, just as the 13 deceased soldiers had.
Biden wasn't at all trying to make that event all about his own loss - and most people know this - but that's how it's been played in the media.
Who knew that his attempts at finding common ground, as empaths tend to do, would blow up in his face like this?
SergeStorms
(18,903 posts)at his watch. Christ on a cracker, the President of the United States of America's time is always at a premium. Every day a real president has precious few minutes to spare between his tightly scheduled appointments.
Does anyone actually believe Trump would have attended this ceremony at all? Dragging him away from one of his precious golf courses was next to impossible!
He would have sent the overly holy Mike Pence and "Mother" in his place, and the fucking media wouldnt have mentioned a word about it.
The media is once again making a mountain out of a mole hill, because they feel guilty about reporting all of Trump's actual transgressions, so they feel they have to manufacture some for Biden.
This shit pisses me off. I'm sorry these relatives lost loved ones in the troop withdrawal Donald Trump manufactured, but just because they happen to be right-wing reactionaries themselves, doesn't mean they get to insult the President for something so small and petty, that it strains the boundaries of reality. And the media plays right along, and magnifies it 1000 times the actual attention it deserves.
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)Perception is important.
The President doesn't have to show up at Dover... they can care just as much about our fallen soldiers from Washington.
But when they go, they go to send a message. To the families, to the country, whatever. It's all a "perception" moment. Everything from your body language to tears in your eyes sends a message. In some sense, it's theater... but that doesn't mean that it isn't also real.
This is almost certainly a story where the "real" is exactly what we would want it to be... but the "theater" aspects were slightly mishandled in a way that harms the message. A political advisor on her game would have recommended that he not wear his watch. It would have been a touching story without it (so there was no question that it was the rosary that he was looking at).
Susan Calvin
(1,644 posts)I don't say he was looking at it, I actually think he wasn't. But if you have a watch on your wrist, it can be very hard to restrain yourself from looking at it.
Walleye
(30,724 posts)Orrex
(63,086 posts)But a Democrat is crucified for using the wrong fork at a luncheon they attended in 1994.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,539 posts)It's in their DNA -- which they don't believe in because, y'know, it's science.
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)But those two pictures you post are obviously from different times.
I wish he hadnt checked his watch, but he did.
Hes the President, so it makes sense. Hes on a schedule.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)And I posted the third photo so that you can see the beads he was wearing on a different occasion.
Biden was NOT looking at his watch. I hope this clears it up.
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)You can see them from the camera angle, but you can also see that the wearer wouldn't be able to see them.
If the President said that's what he was doing, it would be different. But there's no reason to assume it from the photos.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)I refuse to believe that my president would be that callous, especially when he is wearing Beau's rosary beads.
Sogo
(4,967 posts)Has President Biden responded at all to this criticism?
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Sogo
(4,967 posts)The pictures in the OP do, in fact, look as if he is checking his watch.
Not that he isn't entitled to check his watch or look at his rosary in memory of Beau, but that moment in time, however fleeting, is captured for an eternity in a picture. Don't forget, GHWB lost a major Presidential debate over checking his watch. It stayed with him for his entire campaign....
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)It's not something that needs to be explained.
He's already caught crap for talking about Beau. Why validate and signal boost the attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill?
I don't think the comments need legitimizing by comments from the debase, ignorant people who think it's news.
Maybe he should tell us his shoe size, his pants size or (__fill in the blank__) so someone else can complain about and ruminate on that.
Where are the grown-ups?
Have we all become rude busy bodies?
Have we nothing better to do with our brief time here on earth?
I'm doing laundry and that's more important to me than anyone looking at their watch and multitudes writing about it and complaining.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)He privately tried to reach out to Schmitz, but that man refused his call.
But as you can see, the rosary was right next to the watch. The evidence was right there for the mainstream media to verify, but they refuse to do so.
Blue Owl
(49,934 posts)ZonkerHarris
(24,156 posts)WarGamer
(12,106 posts)But the twist of the wrist to align the face of the watch to a 90* angle to his face doesn't help...
If one were to look down to glance at a bracelet, or a rosary in this case the most common gesture would be to turn the wrist IN and look down with your palms up.
But obviously... the RW are going to focus on this like they do every tiny thing that they exaggerate.
Although... that's politics, right?
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)That is what the goops and the M$M want from us, and I refuse to play their game.
Biden would not disrespect the troops like that. If he did those gestures, it was for a damn good reason.
And the damn good reason is that he wears Beau's rosary on his left wrist.
WarGamer
(12,106 posts)All I said was flipping the wrist BACK towards the face to align the eyes to the face of the watch at a 90* angle isn't helpful.
Me personally, I don't get worked up by crap like this... just like I didn't care if TFG had 2 scoops of ice cream or 12 scoops.
rockfordfile
(8,682 posts)fescuerescue
(4,448 posts)Personally I doubt it.
Presidents make gaffes. ALL of them. The ones we like. The ones we don't.
Biden would tell you that.
But I doubt he would use his dead son to cover for a silly gaffe.
Unless Biden comes out and makes a statement, I think this is best ignored and he really doesn't need one of us trying to speak for him.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)And maybe he regrets how the optics played out.
Then that's on the rest of us to push back against the lies.
Don't leave the lies standing there, or the goops win.
fescuerescue
(4,448 posts)rockfordfile
(8,682 posts)fescuerescue
(4,448 posts)And that won't change anytime soon.
But I think we are getting off on a tangent.
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)Their guy said the most awful shit about veterans and fallen soldiers. These aren't good-faith criticisms they're making here. Fuck 'em.
JI7
(89,182 posts)Biden's record and history is out there. People who WANT to believe this will do so regardless of anything else. The same ones that will ignore all the things Trump said .
JohnnyRingo
(18,581 posts)But what kind of petty whine ass moron would give a flying fuck if he was? I don't.
People glance at their watch all the time. At funerals, at church, at the ball game, and even at weddings.
This isn't about Biden showing disrespect, it's all about partisan outrage that should elicit an eye roll and nothing more. Trump could have been there shooting texts to a porn star and these assholes would have thanked him for giving up his time for his country.
Jakes Progress
(11,121 posts)that worship at the Fox altar, even hear about this?
No. They don't read the Post or the Times. Hell they don't read. And Fox is determined to make more money by playing the anger and fear card to these ignorant sheep. That's all the "news" they get.
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)Thanks Koch and Murdoch families.
May you both rot in hell for eternity and your offspring suffer the slings and arrows of history in perpetuity.
(We really need a finger smilie.)
sammythecat
(3,568 posts)and we were asked, "What is this man doing?" all of us, every single one of us, would say this man is looking at his watch. Then we'd likely say something like, "So what?".
I fully share the anger and disgust at those self-righteous hypocrites using this nothing-burger to smear the character of Joe Biden, but all the effort here trying to contort the obvious into something it plainly is not is just dismaying and embarrassing.