[FACTS DON'T CHANGE JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE OFFENDED]
Indianapolis talk show host Tony Katz criticized for 'stuttering' Joe Biden comments
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/20/tony-katz-criticized-stuttering-comments-fox-friends/5989204002/
https://archive.vn/zz4BF
WIBC-FM (93.1) talk show host Tony Katz drew complaints that he made fun of former Vice President Joe Biden's stutter during an appearance Tuesday on Fox & Friends.
The Indianapolis radio host told IndyStar that he was not attempting to mock or insult the Democratic nominee.
The controversy arose during a discussion of debate rules. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Monday it plans to mute the microphones of Trump and Biden as the other gives two-minute opening statements at the beginning of each of six topics during the debate in Nashville.
But the microphones of both candidates will be on during the "open discussion" portion of the 90-minute debate, the commission said.
In the Fox & Friends clip, which has been viewed more than 449,000 times, Katz is asked if he thinks the new format will run smoothly.
Katz began by joking that the candidates should be fitted with shock collars. On a more serious note, he pointed out that while Trump's microphone may be muted for the audience, Biden will be able to hear him in person.
"So now you have Vice President Biden with Donald Trump disagreeing with him or interrupting him possibly, and all you'll hear is a stuttering Vice President Joe Biden," Katz said. "Haven't we heard enough stuttering Vice President Joe Biden? Is this really the imagery the Democratic party wants to put out there? It's a mistake on their part more than anything."
Biden has discussed working to overcome his stutter and has mentored young people who deal with the issue.
Katz told IndyStar his comments were meant in context of Trump interrupting Biden during the debate.
"So you'll have Joe Biden trying to answer questions with Trump interrupting him, and he'll be stammering and he'll be stuttering," Katz said. Stammering was probably a better use of the word than stuttering. But I'm not trying to insult the man for a stutter.
"That wasn't the objective. I gain nothing by insulting the man and the way he speaks."
He said he appeared on Fox News at 4:30 a.m. and 6:35 a.m. to discuss topics like Kirstie Alley being a Trump supporter, where the Midwest voter currently stands, the impact the Midwest will have in the election, the idea of the silent Trump voter and more.