The broadcast networks refused to accept reality Thursday morning, as they continued to deny that there was an impending red tsunami. They treated President Biden’s Wednesday night speech and said that democracy was on the ballot if voters don’t support the Democratic Party and that “American democracy is under attack” by dangerous conservatives and Republicans.
ABC’s Good Morning America followed the lead of its evening counterpart in demonizing the right. Robin Roberts, the co-host, hyped Biden’s speech in a tease by saying that he “[laid out the stakes] that democracy is on Tuesday, calling the struggle for America w]ith hundreds denier on the ballots.”
George Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton official, was also co-host. He did not oppose Cecilia Vega as chief White House correspondent.
Vega claimed that Biden “very much…want[ed]] to give” another speech on the evils of GOP, “say[ing] that this is a struggle[ing] for the very soul[ of America].
Vega insisted that he made it clear “there is not place for political intimidation and violence” (despite refusing fully condemning the attempted Kavanaugh assassination, attacks on pro-life centers, etc.). Vega argued that Biden “[made] clear he doesn’t blame all Republicans” but instead what he called “the extrem MAGA element.”
“A political speech delivered in a telling place, just blocks from the U.S. Capitol which was under siege on January 6, 2006. She gushed, “And President Biden not mincing any words.”
After citing “nearly 3000 candidates…who have denied/questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 Election,” Vega was concerned that the Republican National Committee had the nerve to criticize Biden’s rhetoric before he even began…
Stephanopoulos, Vega only admitted that voters care more about the economy at the end of their piece (and at 8:00 a.m. Eastern).
Stephanopoulos, ABC News’ political director Rick Klein, chose to continue to look back at 2020 (click “expand”) instead of digging into it.
STEPHANOPOULOS : Rick, you’re keeping a close eye on the crucial state offices that will determine whether future elections are fair and the results are respected.
KLEIN: This is exactly what President Biden is referring to. Along with fivethirtyeight, we’ve analysed public statements. You can also see that candidates who denied the legitimacy and validity of the previous election are on every ballot. Nearly every state has someone like that running for Congress and statewide office. These are the battleground states where people deny the legitimacy and legitimacy of the election. Four states were flipped by Donald Trump last year, including Nevada, Arizona and Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Biden flipped four of these states. One more is also available. These are going to be the most close states in the country. Now you have people running for the elections who may claim that the last election was not legitimately decided. This has never happened before.
CBS Mornings also drank the Kool-Aid. Gayle King, co-host of CBS Mornings and Democratic donor, proclaimed the blue-hot rhetoric as fact: Former President Obama warns against dark forces within our democracy as he hits the trail in Arizona’s battleground state.
Tony Dokoupil, her co-host, also displayed her indifference to the issues that voters care about. She opened the discussion with “What’s at stake in Tuesday’s midterms as many GOP candidate refuse to accept the results of election if they lose”, even though “the economy” is the number one issue for voters.
Inadequate luck in trapping Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake on January 6th, correspondent Kris van Cleave shifted to 2020 but not before admitting that “[i]nflation in the Phoenix metro area is growing at the highest rate of the country” despite former President Obama joining Biden in “arguing for democracy itself being at stake.”
Van Cleave kept 2020 as the main focus of his piece. He also made sure to mention Blake Masters, Senatorial Republican candidate for 2020, and Lake’s views on 2020.
January 6-obsessed correspondent Scott MacFarlane then followed with a segment almost exactly like one from ABC’s Klein. (click “expand”)
KING: Many of these suspicions about democracy stem from the false claims made by former President Trump about the 2020 election. Scott MacFarlane is still present. He stayed for another day to discuss the impact on this year’s races. Scott, it’s always a pleasure to have you in our studio. Good morning.
MACFARLANE : Gayle, it’s good to be here. Our CBS News review of every state and federal race shows that out of nearly 590 Republican candidates, we found 308 who we consider to be election deniers. Take a look at this. It’s 238 out of 436 in the U.S. House. This is a majority. It’s again a majority in the U.S. Senate. In gubernatorial races, same number. It’s almost half in secretary of state races across the country. Secretaries of state would help to administer future elections. What does it mean to be an election denier? CBS News has a detailed and formal definition. It includes those who “question the legitimacy of Biden’s election” and those who don’t recognize that he’s the duly elected President. It includes those who claim the election was stolen and those who have “repeated disproven fraud claims.” The 308 candidates are from 48 states.
DOKOUPIL: Look at those numbers.
KING: Yeah.
DOKOUPIL – It’s quite remarkable stuff there.
NBC’s Today was less enthralled by Biden’s desperate ploy but still promoted it.
“Defining moment. “Defining moment.
Savannah Guthrie, co-host, sang a similar line: “The President using Washington to make the case for democracy itself is on our ballot.”
Kristen Welker, chief White House correspondent, followed Van Cleave’s playbook of starting and ending with reality. But she lived in a fantasy world. She began with January 6 and ended with reality at 8:00 a.m. Eastern.
Welker pointed out that Biden’s speech was actually intensifying his focus on an issue he believes can energize the Democratic base.” “With Republicans gaining momentum.”
“But Republicans and many Democrats believe that the economy is the most important issue. This means that the election is just five days away. “With Democrats on defense in the final midterm push,” she said.
Biden was promoted by Welker’s thesis “[f]ocusing upon voter intimidation, violence, and those who won’t commit to accept election results”, with “the first national elections since the January 6th attacks” days away.
Welker, unlike ABC and CBS, gave airtime to opposing views (click “expand”)
WELKER: His poll numbers are falling, so Mr. Biden has decided to stay off the campaign trail and instead focus on key issues such as the economy or abortion. Although his rhetoric changed on Wednesday, it is not clear if voters will follow suit. Many are more concerned about their pocketbooks. A poll released yesterday found that inflation is the number one issue facing the country. Mitch McConnell, the top GOP leader, tweeted, “President Biden is desperate for change from inflation, crime, and open borders. Now he claims that democracy only works when his party wins.” Other top Republicans are also ranting.
KEVIN MCCARTHY, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER (R-CA),: As they moved forward, the Democrats were dividing us. They want to distract attention from the disasters that they have caused.
KOTB However, other Democratic candidates don’t focus on this. What is their strategy?
WELKER: They aren’t, Hoda. I spoke to several Democratic sources who were working on the midterms over night. They say it’s unlikely you’ll hear many democratic candidates locked in tight races focus their message on the threat to democracy. Instead, Hoda says they will likely continue to focus on the top issues for voters, namely pocketbook issues. Not only across the country but also in key voting blocs such as suburban women, which could make all the differences in these races. Hoda, a Democrat, told me that they are very aware of the environment they face. Their chances are hindered by the President’s low poll numbers. In this final stretch, Democrats should focus on making the case for the economy and outperforming a unpopular President.
This portrayal of Republicans and conservatives as dangerous and voting red as a threat to the nation was possible because of the endorsement of advertisers like Ashley Homestore (on CBS), Carmax, and Target (on ABC). Follow these links to view their contact information on the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back webpage.
For ABC, CBS and NBC, click here for the relevant transcripts starting November 3.
