Joe Biden, who constantly talks about how we need to tone down the political rhetoric in this country, showed anything but civility on Friday, toward a reporter who had the temerity to ask him a question about Russia and Vladimir Putin:
Reporter: Mr. President, what do you say to Vladimir Putin’s threat?
Biden [with a snarl]: I say you be quiet till I speak, ok? That’s what I say. Good idea?
Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared to snicker at watching a president attempt to humiliate a journalist. Despite this pugnacious, unstatesmanlike response, though, the reporter wasn’t giving up:
REPORTER: What do you say to Vladimir Putin’s threat of war, sir? It’s a serious threat.
BIDEN: You gotta be quiet and I’m gonna make a statement, OK?
The reporter was referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threat that he would consider the Russian Federation to be “at war” with…
