The Hill reporter defends Trump refusing debate: Remote format will have “half the country” thinking Biden is “using an earpiece or a teleprompter”
Joe Concha: “Which I personally think is ridiculous, but that's the conclusion, that's the perception that we're going to have.”
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Citation
From the October 8, 2020, edition of Fox Business’ Varney & Co.
STUART VARNEY (HOST): But talk to me about the virtual debate. It's supposed to be a virtual debate on October the 15th. And the president told Maria [Bartiromo] this morning, he's having no part in it, he's not going to waste his time. What do you make of that?
JOE CONCHA (MEDIA REPORTER, THE HILL): Nor should he, because there is room for negotiation here. If the concern is that the president still is within the 14-day quarantine period, after he had a positive test, then move the debate out to the following week. And that will give us enough time for him to come up with three negative tests, and then it's a safe opportunity again. Then there's a third debate, you move that back a week. In others words, we have time to do this in person.
Because if you do it virtually, half the country's going to think that one candidate in Joe Biden is using an earpiece or a teleprompter — which I personally think is ridiculous, but that's the conclusion, that's the perception that we're going to have. And the moderator, by the way, Steve Scully, interned for Joe Biden at one point.
So, again, just do it on the up-and-up, and find a way to do this in person. Virtual is not going to be pleasing to anybody, particularly the Trump camp, Stuart.
VARNEY: Well said, Joe Concha, you're absolutely right. I agree 100% on this.