One of the oddities about Republican efforts to define Barack Obama is that the party never seemed to settle on a specific message. As regular readers might recall, Americans were told the Democratic president was both a ruthless Chicago thug and a weak pushover. He was a bystander who golfed too much and an activist president who engaged too much. He was a passive leader, afraid to step up, and an out-of-control tyrant, determined to seize power.
Even after two full terms, it was never altogether clear what it was Republicans wanted us to believe about Obama. Years later, the party seems similarly unsure what it wants to say about the latest Democratic president.
This, for example, was how Fox News’ Sean Hannity went after President Joe Biden on the air this week:
“Now, Joe Biden’s cognitive ability is not good. Anyone with eyes can see, you can see it. Every week it gets worse and, and it’s getting worse by the day. Now keep in mind, Biden is also dealing with very real and serious corruption and bribery allegations, along with a very real impeachment inquiry.”
For now, let’s brush past some of the relevant details — there’s nothing wrong with the president’s cognitive abilities, there’s nothing “serious” about GOP’s anti-Biden allegations, etc. — and instead focus on the competing stories the Republican anchor seemed eager to tell.
Over the course of about 18 seconds, viewers were effectively told that Biden is both a doddering and deteriorating old man, and a criminal mastermind.
In reality, he’s neither, but for Hannity, the president is both.
These contradictions first came to the fore during the 2020 race. In early March, for example, Donald Trump held a campaign rally where the then-president called Biden a “moderate.” Four days later, Trump told reporters that Biden is “left wing.” The Democratic candidate obviously couldn’t be both.
A couple of months later, the Trump campaign sent a message to supporters labeling the…
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