As Joe Biden has gone from political afterthought to Democratic frontrunner practically overnight, the corporate media has largely failed to scrutinize him.
Instead of digging into Biden’s 50-year record in public life — which he has frequently misrepresented on the campaign trail — they’re rushing to coronate him and move on to the general election.
The Intercept’s politics team has been investigating Biden’s record for months, along with that of other candidates, but now that the race has winnowed, we need to fill the reporting vacuum.
Our team is already pursuing new leads — but cultivating sources, traveling to primary states, and poring over decades of records are time-consuming and expensive. And right now we’re not sure of our budget for additional expenses. Can you chip in?
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As the Democratic Party establishment has coalesced around Biden, he has benefited from uncritical coverage that’s created an aura of inevitability. But the democratic process works best when voters are fully informed. The media shouldn’t put its thumb on the scale by keeping the public in the dark.
By contrast, here’s what The Intercept has reported about Joe Biden:
Despite his claims to the contrary, “Joe Biden has advocated cuts to Social Security for 40 years.”
“Ahead of South Carolina vote, Joe Biden faces questions over claims of civil rights activism.”
“Joe Biden’s chief strategist lobbied to undermine Barack and Michelle Obama’s signature initiatives.”
The Intercept’s political reporting is different because we don’t cheerlead for those already in power — we ask what they’ve done with it and who’s benefited as a result.
Voters deserve to hear the truth about all the presidential candidates’ records, not just frenzied horse-race narration of who’s up and who’s down. The Intercept depends on your support to keep telling these stories.:
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Ryan Grim
D.C. Bureau Chief
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