Shortly after the House on Wednesday passed President Barack Obama's $825 billion “stimulus” package, ABC and CBS commiserated with Obama over his unsuccessful efforts to woo Republican votes. “Not one Republican voted for it,” ABC anchor Charles Gibson announced on World News with “Rescue Plan” as the on-screen heading, “turning a cold shoulder to the President's appeal for bipartisan support.” Reporter Jonathan Karl fretted: “So much for the President's charm offensive. Today it was all partisan rancor and name-calling.”
CBS reporter Chip Reid related how “the White House says this is a victory for the President, but certainly there is also some disappointment that he worked so hard to get bipartisan support and couldn't get a single Republican vote.” Reid soon chafed over how “Republicans relentlessly attacked the bill despite the President's extraordinary efforts to get bipartisan support.” Katie Couric noted how “the President went up to the Hill to personally appeal to Republicans already,” so, she pleaded, “what more can he do?”
The MRC's Brad Wilmouth corrected the closed-captioning against the video to provide these transcripts of the Wednesday, January 28 stories:
ABC's World News:
CHARLES GIBSON: President Obama's giant $825 billion economic stimulus package cleared its first hurdle today. The House of Representatives passed it – 244 in favor, 188 opposed. Not one Republican voted for it, turning a cold shoulder to the President's appeal for bipartisan support. Jonathan Karl reports from the Capitol tonight.
JONATHAN KARL: So much for the President's charm offensive. Today it was all partisan rancor and name-calling.
REP. DAVID DREIER (R-CA): It is 627 pages long, and that totals $1.18 billion for every single page in this bill.
REP. DAVID OBEY (D-WI): -many members behaving like mosquitoes.REP. JERRY LEWIS (R-CA): Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate you recognizing this mosquito.
REP. MIKE PENCE (R-IN): It's merely a wish list of long-standing liberal Democrat priorities.
KARL: One after another, Republicans lined up in opposition. But Democrats are in charge now, able to pass the largest bill of its kind in history – $825 billion, including $275 billion in tax cuts; $550 billion in new spending, including $43 billion on transportation projects, more than $160 billion on health care, and $150 billion on education, double the entire budget of the Department of Education.
NANCY PELOSI, HOUSE SPEAKER: We are moving the ship of state in a new direction.
KARL: But Republicans say the bill is filled with old-fashioned big-government spending that won't stimulate the economy. For example, $335 million for sexually transmitted disease prevention, $600 million to buy new cars for government employees, and $1 billion to follow up on the 2010 Census, which, of course, hasn't happened yet. The Senate is expected to pass its own more costly version of this bill next week. That would put Congress on track to meet President Obama's deadline of getting a final bill to his desk by President's Day. But, Charlie, in the Senate, it is expected that the overwhelming majority of Democrats will oppose this as well.
CBS Evening News:
KATIE COURIC: Good evening, everyone. President Obama made an in-person appeal to House Republicans to vote for his economic stimulus plan, but it didn't work. Not a single Republican joined the majority Democrats tonight as the House passed the more than $800 billion package. The final tally, 244 yeas and 188 nays. Twelve Democrats also voted no. Chip Reid is our chief White House correspondent, and, Chip, the President gets a victory, but not the bipartisan one he had hoped for.
CHIP REID: That's right, Katie. The White House says this is a victory for the President, but certainly there is also some disappointment that he worked so hard to get bipartisan support and couldn't get a single Republican vote. As the House of Representatives prepared to vote on the economic stimulus bill today, President Obama made one last plea for bold action, on behalf of American workers.
BARACK OBAMA: -the workers who are returning home to tell their husbands and wives and children that they no longer have a job. And all those who live in fear that their job will be next on the cutting blocks, they need help now.
REID: House Democrats voted overwhelmingly for the bill, which they say will create three to four million jobs.
REP. DAVID OBEY (D-WI) Every week that we delay is another 100,000 or more people unemployed.
REID: But Republicans relentlessly attacked the bill despite the President's extraordinary efforts to get bipartisan support.
REP. MIKE PENCE (R-IN): It's merely a wish list of long-standing liberal Democrat priorities that have little to do with putting our economy back on its feet.
REID: Some examples, they say, a billion dollars for Amtrak, $41 billion for local school districts, $127 billion for health care for the poor and unemployed.
REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI): Spending, just plain old spending
REID: Earlier, the President met with a group of CEOs who told him the bill will create jobs, lots of them. Around the table, long-time pillars of the economy whose work forces are now taking it on the chin – IBM, 2,800 layoffs, Xerox, 3,000; Motorola, 6,100; and Corning, 3,500 layoffs announced just yesterday.
DAVID COTE, HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC., CLIP #1: -needs to get done fast.
COTE CLIP #2: Thank God you are not a timid man.
REID: And White House officials say this is just the beginning. Next week, the bill goes to the Senate, and the President is going to work very hard, they say, to get Republican support. As Press Secretary Robert Gibbs put it today, they're in the third inning of a nine-inning game, and a lot can change. Katie?
COURIC: And, Chip, as you mentioned, I mean, the President went up to the Hill to personally appeal to Republicans already, so what more can he do?
REID: Well, he can do a couple of things, Katie. Number one, they can make more changes in the bill, and they are prepared to do that. And number two, they are going to continue this charm offensive, essentially. They're going to have a cocktail party here tonight – 11 Republicans, 11 Democrats. That's part of the new bipartisan way of looking at Congress.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
I see
January 29, 2009 - 09:15 ET by Long Island PeteI see how they are going to spin this. Once this welfare package, I mean stimulus package fails and brings America to it's knees, the Dims and MSM will blame the Republicans for it because the Republicans didnt get behind it.
Excellent prophecy, Pete
January 29, 2009 - 10:01 ET by dborschjr68Let's face it, no matter what happens, even IF the Republicans DID back this "plan", the Conservatives would still take the heat round when it fails. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. If the GOP signed off on this, when it fails (and it will!), the Dems would be, "Well, the GOP said it would work, too! They backed it, too!"
sigh...what a wonderful life it must be to be able to vilify your enemies with the help of the media, without ANY actual detection of bias.
You hit this one right on the head, Pete.
"Liberate tutume ex inferis, liberal puppets." Me.
Once this welfare package,
January 29, 2009 - 10:37 ET by NewsbusterbrownOnce this welfare package, I mean stimulus package fails and brings America to it's knees, the Dims and MSM will blame the Republicans for it because the Republicans didnt get behind it.
Except that the Republicans can point to the bills and amendments that they tried to pass instead. Besides, the GOP did the right thing for once.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
There's no doubt that obama
January 29, 2009 - 09:18 ET by pitter43There's no doubt that obama wanted bipartisan support. As long as republicans agreed with everything he demanded.
What's the difference?
January 29, 2009 - 09:52 ET by KC MulvilleWhat's the difference between harshly saying No, and politely saying No? The answer is still No.
We are SO screwed.
Typical hustlers.
January 29, 2009 - 09:18 ET by mizflame98"Today it was all partisan
January 29, 2009 - 09:18 ET by notonmywatch"Today it was all partisan rancor and name-calling"
A trillion dollars up the wazoo. And a media that only reports one way.
The 2nd American Revolution is needed.
ABCNBCMSNBC have always
January 29, 2009 - 12:37 ET by kgABCNBCMSNBC have always looked out for the office of President. It is a tradition. They have been doing for many months now, well a couple anyway.
For the last decade it has been all partisan rancor and name calling. Did they really just now notice" Hard to notice when they have been willing participants. Even now!
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Folks we need to jam the
January 29, 2009 - 09:23 ET by taterFolks we need to jam the phone lines and emails of our senators to stop this BS stimulus plan. The good news at least in the state I'm in both senators have indicated suspensions about it, but I still made my concern known (especially to the Democrat one). If not one single Sentate Republican votes for it (which I don't think will happen unless they get an earful from their constituants)...then when this fails, it's all on the Democrats.
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
And how many times over
January 29, 2009 - 09:20 ET by ThisnThatAnd how many times over the past 8 years did CBS and ABC chide Democrats for opposing President Bush?
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
Whine, whine, whine
January 29, 2009 - 09:20 ET by MichelleCGive me a break! He didn't need Republican support for this spending bill. Everyone knows it. He just wanted some cover for his backside, but now the Dems OWN this when it fails and it's going to be a huge FAIL.
Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July. Democrats believe every day is April 15th ~ Ronald Reagan
Gee, what more could Mr.
January 29, 2009 - 09:22 ET by eaglewingz08Gee, what more could Mr. Obama have done? Maybe cut out the pork and have a REAL stimulus bill with REAL tax breaks and get rid of the Dem wish list of the last thirty years? Just saying.
Absolutely
January 29, 2009 - 12:53 ET by MichelleCEagle,
That's exactly what you do IF your goal is to actually stimulate the economy. The One and the libtards have no intention of stimulating the economy - only feeding their little piggies back home.
Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July. Democrats believe every day is April 15th ~ Ronald Reagan
Thank You Republicans...
January 29, 2009 - 09:22 ET by JTPIf ONE of you had voted for it the story would have been about Obamas success in bringing sides together. But why not more mention of the 11(?) Democrats that did not vote for it?
"I need more cowbell!" SNL
No mention at all
January 29, 2009 - 10:12 ET by KateinCO..of the 11 Dems-and people who actually watch these "news" shows might never hear it either. I'm now stuck with 2 Dem senators in Colorado who are surely Obama lapdogs who won't even think of opposing him. My former red state is now, at best, purple. Hope it turns back as people realize the Dem monopoly at the state & federal level is completely screwing us.
Once again, I'm confused...
January 29, 2009 - 09:24 ET by BKeyserThis is becoming a problem for me, I fear.
So Gibson and Couric are complaining that Republicans did not support this mess, correct? This was not some symbolic vote with no tangible consequences, right? This bill lays the groundwork for the Senate bill to determine how much taxpayer money is to be spent and on what, for the sole purpose of reviving a struggling economy. At least thats what I thought it was supposed to do. And Gibson is upset that the GOP didn't support, according to J.Karl:
Of course, Obama did ask nicely. He even said (and I'm paraphrasing, of course) "Okay, um, Republicans. I'll listen to your, uh, ideas, but, uh, I don't plan on changing any of this. I won, you know."
Shouldn't they be discussing the substance of the proposal, and not cocktail parties and unprecidented condescention? Nice to see things have changed so drastically under The One's "leadership."
I thought the "I won"
January 29, 2009 - 09:44 ET by SeashellI thought the "I won" comment was arrogant. He goes to the republicans to "listen" to them but basically tells them "I'm here to show bipartisanship but only for the photo op, I won, so we are going to do it my way."
I agree
January 29, 2009 - 10:10 ET by BKeyserEqually as discouraging would be if Republicans participated in a staged opposition to the bill solely for partisan purposes. However, I don't think that was the case- galvanizing all 177 for partisan politics would be, I think, difficult. Too many are actually worried about being re-elected to take that tone. Therefore, I think in this case, the GOP stood up for fiscal responsibility; hopefully the Senate will as well.
“turning a cold shoulder
January 29, 2009 - 09:27 ET by motherbelt“turning a cold shoulder to the President's appeal for bipartisan support,"
Wait a minute!! Isn't it usually the Victor's place to reach out in reconciliation to the defeated?
Isn't that what they all said about Bush...that he had to "reach out" to the Democrats?????
For once the Republicans didn't fold...YAY!!!!
They wanted no part of this "Generational Theft Act" as Michelle Malkin brilliantly calls it!
They basically said "You pass it....you own it!!"
Ahhh!!! Let me get my hanky out.
January 29, 2009 - 09:25 ET by The Smokin FrogGibson accused the Republicans of “turning a cold shoulder to the President's appeal for bipartisan support."
Ahhh!!! Let me get my hanky out. Those Republicans are sooo mean.
How come the Democrats and Obama are never accused of being partisan and engaging in politics? It's always their way or the highway.
Hooray for the Republicans! They finally found a backbone. If they had behaved as Republicans, Conservatives, for the last number of years instead of Democrats-lite, they wouldn't have lost the last election. But better late than never. Let's hope the Senate Republicans can at least give the facade of real Republicanism. Let's hope the Republicans use the microphone more often and tell the American people exactly what they are for. Let's hope they challenge relentlessly the false charges and character assassinations from the Democrats. They must speak out to us regularly. They can't just assume the American people will just know. Clearly the last election showed us that the electorate is a tad low on the cerebral scale.
TSF Protests!
Minor Kudos to Katie Couric
January 29, 2009 - 09:28 ET by motherbeltMinor Kudos to Katie Couric for at least mentioning that 12 Democrats also voted against it....that's more than Gibson did!
Why the concern for the Republicans?
January 29, 2009 - 09:29 ET by Red JeepSo no Republicans voted for this bill? Why the concern by the Dems and the MSM for the Republicans?
If this stimulus package is so great, and the Dems passed it, they should be celebrating that none of the Republicans voted for it. Then when it overwhelmingly succeeds the Dems get all the credit.
Why should the Dems care if the vote was not bipartisan. the Dems are the saviors of the US economic system, no?
so they keep telling us....
January 29, 2009 - 09:58 ET by connmanthat the bulk of the "stimulus" is tax cuts for the middle class.
KARL: One after another, Republicans lined up in opposition. But
Democrats are in charge now, able to pass the largest bill of its kind
in history – $825 billion, including $275 billion in tax cuts;
You know I'm no math wiz but that aint close to "most" is it?
They basically said "You pass it....you own it!!"
Bingo Motherbelt! Let them suck on that boondoogle come 2010!
Pssssst <whispers> Emperor Barry isn't wearing any clothes!
How is spending $275 billion
January 29, 2009 - 10:12 ET by ThatDudeHow is spending $275 billion a tax cut? If they're spending taxpayer's money, they had to get it from taxes in the first place. The only way spending more money can be disingenuously called a cut is if the money is redistributed. If they want bipartisan support they should be calling for less government spending so that taxes can be lowered and free up more capital in the market. How many people are actually falling for this farce?
This is part and parcel of
January 29, 2009 - 10:32 ET by motherbeltThis is part and parcel of the Democrats' insistence that tax cuts are "paid for."
They should not even be included as a "cost" of this bill. It should call for $825 billion in spending. Period.
The tax cut is a separate issue altogether, and shouldn't be counted as "spending."
Katie Couric asked what more
January 29, 2009 - 09:53 ET by AcrosKatie Couric asked what more can the President do. First thing he can do is lower that EGO of his."I Won" isn't the best way to listen to the other side for opinions. Also I think you must LEAD by example and I've never seen this President yet be bipartism.
another thing, for a media bunch that loves Poll numbers...
January 29, 2009 - 10:01 ET by connman...has anyone noticed the lack of poll numbers relating to public support of this giant turd?
Pssssst <whispers> Emperor Barry isn't wearing any clothes!
Cue the Violins
January 29, 2009 - 11:11 ET by Mike76Things are tough, but not THAT tough. According to the liberals, everyone in America is standing around in alleys, keeping their hands warm over trash can fires. In the morning, we'll all get in line at the Salvation Army to get a cup of soup and a piece of day old bread.
They should have gotten some grainy old black and white pictures of mass graves and cue some violin music. A picture of a hungry child looking plaintively at the camara would have been a nice touch.
Of course, the only thing that can "save" us is Obama's "Rescue Plan" (a "Rescue Plan," lol, meaning a Marxist theft program). But who wants to let children starve to death? Why, it's those mean ol' Republicans.
That's the underlying message I get from this piece of so-called "journalism." It's not "journalism" anyway, it's just left wing propaganda, that's for sure.
Party Time!
January 29, 2009 - 10:10 ET by jaywlWhat a show. Obama did everything he could to change conservative Republicans into liberal Democrats. He went up the hill, boozed it up, got down at the mansion, round and round he went! Still they would not be friends. I reckon the MSM believe Pres Bush should have started drinking and partying. Had he done so, the Democrats would have supported him and his agenda.
katie"what more can he do"?
January 29, 2009 - 10:14 ET by east tennessee johnWell Perkie, if you read anything lately, his own economic advisor, Romer, says tax cuts provide a bigger bang for the buck, moron. He could cut the non stimulus spending from the bill, the pork HE himself siad had to go. He didn't need Repulicians or conservatives before, he only needs us now the same way the Dems needed cover over the Fanny/Freddie debacle, just enough to share the blame when this doesn't work, otherwise we could all freeze in Hell for all he cares. What's next, the vote was racist? Where was all this concern in support of Bush? As I recall, he was blasted before even entering office by y'all. Bitch.
Lou Dobbs CNN This is Fearmongering This isn't Change
January 29, 2009 - 10:27 ET by lareehttp://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-fav-lou-dobbs-fellow-americansthe-sky.html
Lou Dobbs, turns out the Sky wasn’t falling when George W Bush was
in office, and it still isn’t falling..He calls for a stop to the Fear
mongering.
Katie wants to know "What more can he do?"
January 29, 2009 - 10:29 ET by yobobbybHow about resign? That would make my day. And take that prissy little bitch (Katie) with him. What more can he do?? Hell Katie, he's the messiah! He can walk on water, heal the sick, wipe his ass with one sheet, and all the rest. So what's he going to do.... why, he'll host a cocktail party and try to buy votes in exchange for cocktail weenies. There you go NEO, you have all this supposed power and all you have up your sleeve is a plate of nachos. Bravo!
This is a crap sandwich and the libutards should take all the credit for it.
"You Knucklehead" - Moe Howard
Reject Obammunism
January 29, 2009 - 10:43 ET by 10ksnookerSupport the Presidency.
Ain't gonna happen but...
January 29, 2009 - 10:44 ET by Ole_SargeI'd love to see ALL the Republican and Conservative (there are a few in the Democrat Party) at a joint session of Congress just get up, turn their backs and walk out enmass in protest.
I am sure that before August, "something" PBO wants to do will get all of us upset to that point. Roadblocks, deadlocks and all legal means to slow the process (lawsuits???) just like the Democrats do to Conservatives.
'Rescue Plan' my butt
January 29, 2009 - 10:46 ET by SickofLibs'Porkamania 09' is more like it.
Just like a crackhead, they just can't help themselves.
We'll be lucky to see 100 potholes fixed nationwide.
Time for Ridicule
January 29, 2009 - 10:48 ET by slickwillie2001It appears that 'The One' thinks bipartisan support means when both sides of an argument agree to see it his way. It appears that he thinks 'reaching out to the other side' means reaching out to your opponents and dragging them kicking and screaming onto your side. Someone needs to send this doofus a dictionary of politics. And the liberal media swallows it up and passes it on.
pete hit the nail on the head
January 29, 2009 - 10:56 ET by candanceI've personally talked to people who blame Republicans for Democrat failures because our side "talked it down" and "refused to buy into it" and "sabotaged" the program. That will be the eventual spin on this - it would have worked with all hands on deck.
Apparently Gibson and Couric fail to understand the simple concept of holding true to beliefs. You can't just throw your values out the window because some charming man was nice to you.
Dissent is the truest voice of patriotism until it hinders a Democrat.
What exactly are these
January 29, 2009 - 11:02 ET by fitzfongWhat exactly are these people whining about? Last I heard Obama and Pelosi were bragging about how they "won". This is what they wanted...they have all the power to institute this economy-finishing crap bill...so why worry about getting Republican support? You won, you own this now. We're the opposition party, and it's about time we stood for something. By the way, with the new haircut and fancy duds, Katie Couric is looking more and more like Disco Stu every day.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Little Katie
January 29, 2009 - 14:01 ET by jaywlYou're right, I get older every passing season. She gets younger every new season. I saw a clip of her somewhere and remember being amazed, as in "Is that Couric? Now, or years ago? No, I guess that's now." Don't these people know that we know?
I was so scared
January 29, 2009 - 11:14 ET by Karinmy RINO congressman would vote yes, because I looked at his recent voting record. Seemed like a laydown kind of guy to me. I wrote him, anyway. He voted no. At least I'm grateful for this.
“So much for the
January 29, 2009 - 11:53 ET by Jack BauerAs Mark Levin correctly pointed out, the NO VOTE was the bipartisan vote as it included Democrats.
It was the YES VOTE that was the partisan, because it was ALL DEMOCRAT.
Mark also correctly predicted that the Obama Media would completely misrepresent this.
You see, to Democrats, bipartisan means voting for them.
Bi-partisanship is NOT telling the other side to
January 29, 2009 - 11:58 ET by katiejaneSTFU and swallow whatever Obama and the Dems want. As others have said - he didn't need the Rep support - he's just looking for CYA in case this accomplishes nothing.
But let's be honest - there is no way the Republicans can come out on top of this. If the bill passes and suceeds - the Dems will claim all the credit and tout how Obama dug us out of the terrible situation Pres Bush put us in. If the bill passes and doesn't suceed, the Dems will still blame Republicans for not helping more and whine about how could anyone expect him to quickly save the world from the terrible situation Pres Bush put us in.
What is the meaning of success
January 29, 2009 - 12:41 ET by StarAZIf the final bill is like this one (go, senators!), some people will get $15 in their paycheck each week, some groundskeepers will get govt jobs, and some construction people may segue to ditch digging and highway road bed prep. But the bleeding of jobs is not going to abate, even from companies that get bailouts, and if the lost jobs are replaced somehow through this and growth that occurs in the economy (hey--this will happen), then it won't be dramatic enough for someone to claim bragging rights. Oh, what do I know--I do know this bill is not really targeted and won't do much. So--Star--what about a psychological boost? Best we can hope for. Didn't happen after the Inaug.
I agree. Has anyone figured
January 29, 2009 - 13:25 ET by Roger the ShrubberI agree. Has anyone figured out what exactly the Obama team were giving up for the sake of "bipartisanship"?
The crap they wrote out of this crap bill were only removed after the Dems were embarrassed to have their douchebaggery uncovered.
Abandon Ship of State, women and Democrats first
January 29, 2009 - 12:11 ET by Jack BauerSure. Unfortunately it's the SS TITANIC -- and that new direction is straight into the ICEBERG.
And then The Californian is going to steam right into the wreck with Captain Schwartznegger at the helm.
You gotta laugh. Though it's a very nervous laugh. Doesn't Captain Obama usually go down with the ship?
partisan
January 29, 2009 - 13:11 ET by m1xramGive me a G, G
Give me an R, R
Give me an I, I
Give me a D, D
Give me an L, L
Give me an O, O
Give me a C, C
Give me a K, K
What does that spell??!! GRIDLOCK, GRIDLOCK
GO REPUBLICANS!!!
[scene fades to fan in the crowd with cheerleaders in background]
REPORTER: Do you want our elected president to successfully destroy our nation?
FAN: No, of course not! Who would want that?
REPORTER: Well, there you have it. Final Republican score Gridlock: 188, Irresponsibles: 0.
Hey Charlie, Katie!
January 29, 2009 - 13:27 ET by JeffWeimerMaybe there could have been bipartisan support if there was actually bipartisan input to the bill. It was almost wholly written by the Speaker's office, and no Republicans were allowed to help.
Once you realize "bipartisanship" is a two way street and not my-way-or-the-highway, then I'll pay attention to you.
Is this bill the "more bipartisan" Congress Nancy was talking about if she got a bigger majority?
Love how they try to frame it on CBS
January 29, 2009 - 13:36 ET by mvfreeman"REID: Some examples, they say, a billion dollars for Amtrak, $41 billion for local school districts, $127 billion for health care for the poor and unemployed.
REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI): Spending, just plain old spending"
I'm pretty sure the repubs didn't single out health care for the poor.
The media is just picking things from the bill to make it seem as though only a heartless repub wouldn't vote for it.
What they mentioned accounts for only 167 billion of an over 800 billion package.
The republicans called it wasteful spending as a whole and the media types cherry picked it for items to spin it their way.
And also no mention of the fact that as large as the bill is only a fraction is going to be spent this year and very little on actual infrastructure.
So
ABC and CBS are way off the
January 29, 2009 - 23:50 ET by TN MomABC and CBS are way off the mark here!!!
Obama threw the first cold shoulder with his "I won so I trump you" remark.
Why is it that Gibson, Reid, and Couric refuse to see this?