NBC's Today Show Depicts GOP as a Party Divided
NBC's Today show, on Wednesday, used the occasion of two responses to Barack Obama's State of the Union speech, by Republicans Paul Ryan and Michele Bachmann, as an opportunity to portray the GOP as a party divided. Despite a historic victory by Republicans in last year's midterm elections NBC anchors, past and present, on this morning's Today show, took pains to portray the Republican Party in dire trouble with co-anchor Matt Lauer questioning if the party was "split" and "heading in different directions" and Meredith Vieira wondering if there was "a divide." Even former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw got into the act as he claimed the GOP was locked in a "two front war" against Democrats and the Tea Party.
NBC's White House correspondent Savannah Guthrie kicked off the GOP "divide" theme when she declared "Republicans had what amounted to dueling responses" in her set-up piece to a Lauer interview with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In that segment Lauer pressed Giuliani "Do you worry...that as we approach the next election in 2012...that the Republican Party is split and heading in different directions," as seen in the following exchange:
MATT LAUER: There were, there were two responses to the President's speech. One from Paul Ryan, the other from Michele Bachmann. Do you worry, at all, Rudy that, that in the wake or as we approach the next election in 2012, some 20 months away that the Republican Party is split and heading in different directions?
RUDY GIULIANI: Not yet, but you know primaries do that. I went through a primary in '08. Every, every year we have an election, we have these primaries. And I think we are gonna have certain differences, differences of opinion. But I thought Michele Bachmann and Paul Ryan their theme was pretty similar. I mean it really didn't diverge on policy from each other. Maybe a little on style. I thought Paul Ryan and Michele Bachmann did a good job. I thought - it's very tough. I would hate to have to do that.
Then in the ensuing segment, on the January 26 show, it was Vieira and Brokaw's turn to explore a possible split in the GOP.
MEREDITH VIEIRA: Two GOP responses to the President's speech. Does it suggest a divide in the party? Rudy Giuliani was a little vague about that.
TOM BROKAW: I think there is a real divide in the party. It's very much of concern to what I would call mainstream or establishment Republicans. Dick Armey of Freedom Works, who's one of the Tea Party founders said, "Our objective is to take over the Republican Party." Dick Armey, the former Texas congressman, has said we ought to eliminate NASA, and the Department of Urban Affairs, the Department of Education, wipe out a lot of the federal government, in an effort to get this back in balance. One of his acolytes is Michele Bachmann, last night who spoke for that wing of the party. So the Republican leaders and the Congress have to have the President in front of them and the Tea Party people right behind them. And they're fighting a two front war.
After Brokaw speculated the Tea Party could break the GOP apart, he did express fondness for Republicans sitting with Democrats at the State of the Union Address because this allowed him to extrapolate on his theory that "life is junior high." Brokaw, commenting on the act of superficial bipartisanship, was clearly pleased by the seating arrangements as he pontificated:
"I believe that all life is junior high, by the way. And these kinds of ceremonies have been a reflection of that. They've been more like a junior high pep rally with people standing up and acting like they are adolescents again. Last night everyone in the chamber acted as if they were an adult. And the country longs for some adult leadership."
—Geoffrey Dickens is the Senior News Analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here
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Comments
They have a point
Submitted by shawn. on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:52pm.
Look at what hapenned after Karl Rove criticized Christine Oddonnel. All of a sudden he was enemy number one.Not really...When Rove...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:34pm.
criticized O'Donnell, it certainly didn't sit well with many in the party, but the "issue" was minor an was forgotten about quickly.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Maybe so
Submitted by shawn. on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:48pm.
But it does not change the fact that some establishment Republicans are not fond of Tea Party candidates and vice versa.Whatever issues those in the Repub Party...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:33pm.
may have with the Tea Party, I can assure you that they are all in agreement on the basics...Less governmental spending and taxes, smaller government, and reducing the deficit. During this next election, when the rubber hits the road, I don't believe that there will be much if any daylight between the Repubs and the Tea Party, because the over-riding goal for both entities is to defeat Obama and the Dems.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Well,
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:47pm.
I can assure you that they are all in agreement on the basics.
I think that is the problem, some in the GOP should be dimwits. If I ran the GOP, there would be basic principals to follow, and if you didnt, we kill your funding. The GOP backs to many rino's.
Agreed...One of the biggest problems...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 6:54pm.
with the GOP of late has been not so much what they believe and what they want, but how they go about getting it. There has been too much "go along to get along" with the party, and that has led to a compromising of the party's values and goals, and to the election of far too many rino's. If the Tea Party movement ends up accomplishing nothing else, it has and will lead to a weeding out of the rino's, and others who are too willing to compromise on what the American people want and believe, in order to remain in office.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
The difference
Submitted by KC Mulville on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:38pm.
He didn't stay an enemy.
When push comes to shove, i.e., when elections take place, the Tea Party and mainstream Republicans will vote similarly: against big government and liberal spending.
Meme of the week
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:59pm.
Nothing new.
Good grief, after Obama was elected, the GOP was dead!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Forty years of Democrat
Submitted by Hunter12 on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:58pm.
Forty years of Democrat dominance, as I recall.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
fingers shoved deep into their ears
Submitted by neutron on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 9:20pm.
the MSM screams over and over that the evil Republicans are the cause of all problems on earth.
Now, the drumbeat meme is "the Republicans are a house divided," only they don't know it. If the American people will just believe everything the MSM media says, then the Democrats will be very happy.
Golly! The Democrats certainly were in tune with the American people, with Obama in the White House, commanding control of the House, and a super-majority in the Senate! The 1-party rule by Dems created massively more debt than "W" ever did, the money went to Democrat cronies and didn't help the people, the govt nationalized banks and car companies, raping teachers' union pension funds, giving stock in the new carcompanies to the UAW, twisting EPA regs to force truck drivers out of Indie status so they can be extorted into becoming teamsters, passed Obamacare in the dark of night without allowing anyone to read it, et cetera.
Like an alcoholic wife beater, the MSM leaders of the Democrat Party insist that the people who fear them are confused, and all problems are due to the EVIL Republicans. The Democrats have never done anything wrong, blah blah blah.
The MSM Democrat Party are in the throws of pain caused by the forced intervention given them by the TEA Party. The majority of American are not Republican, until the extreme liberalism of the progressives, a.k.a. the MSM Democrat Party forced the American People to join with the Republicans to remove them from power.
We may have a divide
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:06pm.
But the commies have a canyon, that hopefully our divided GOP will expose.
We? Well I guess I am part of the divide, as I am not much of a fan of the current GOP.
Boudin---
Submitted by matthewdean on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 5:36pm.
I'm with you on that. That's two of us. It's a start. :o)How about a REAL divide...Harry Reid and Obama?
Submitted by gopcongress on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:06pm.
Of course, they fail to even mention about a REAL divided party. Here are Harry's words (courtesy NETSCAPE news): http://channels.isp.netscape.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ne-politics-more&id...
"On a few occasions I think he should have been more firm with those on the other side of the aisle," Reid said.
"He is a person who doesn't like confrontation. He is a peacemaker and sometimes I think you have to be a little more forceful, and sometimes I don't think he is enough with the Republicans."
Where art thou, NBC et. al?
"The news and truth are not the same thing." -Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
what I would call mainstream or establishment Republicans
Submitted by CarlosS on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:08pm.
we call 'em RINOs
Two items of note
Submitted by vyger on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:21pm.
1) "I thought-it's very tough. I would hate to have to do that."
Umm... sorry Rudy but if that's tough for you then you aren't Prezbo material.
2) I hope we divide the RINO's right out of the party. I had Connie Macks Chief of Staff call me on the phone today because I wrote an e-mail last night telling them that if he didn't do what he said he would do he would be replaced next election just like the other folks who didn't walk the walk.
We have to get this great country back on the right tracks NOW.
vyger....Connie Mack IV?
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:44pm.
What district does he live in?
Because years ago, he ran here (Broward/Palm Beach...ALLEN WEST, HOOYA)....and I always thought he was an idiot, and he never fared too well, even with an "establishment Republican" name, a la Bush.
I wonder if this is the same guy?
<edit> Yup, same dude....he was here in the early same 2000's. As I said, he didn't seem to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. Good for you, riding herd on him. Keep it up!
<edit2> Really wierd scenes inside the Gold Mine. Connie Mack is now married to Mary Bono, widow of Sonny, and a Congresscritter in her own right. That's some interesting stuff.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Today Show
Submitted by forest on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:23pm.
The Today Show? Wow. I remember that from when I was a kid. Jane Pauley isn't there anymore?
I knew it...I knew it...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:50pm.
As soon as I heard that Michele Bachmann, in addition to Paul Ryan, was making a post SOTU response, I knew the MSM would try to make an issue out it, saying that this would be "divisive" and may indicate a "split" in the party...blah, blah, blah. Well, right on cue, here they are, saying precisely what I expected them to say. This won't be the last of this tactic, either...The MSM will do it's darnest during this next election, to make it seem like there is trouble inside the Repub Party, brought on by the Tea Party...It's a load of bs, but nonetheless, they will no doubt keep beating this drum in an attempt to foment discord and manufacture a story...Typical.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Yeah Yeah Yeah -
Submitted by Ashrak on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 3:48pm.
The same folks said the same thing before the November elections. They were quite mistaken then too.
They are just having a hard time understanding this thing called the free exchange of ideas......
Tomorrow
Submitted by donabernathy on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:01pm.
They will simply stick their thumbs in their ears and wag their fingers, to show us how smart they are. If they are feeling especially corrdinated they may stick their tongues out and blow raspberries.
roflmao
Oh, the MSM UNDERSTANDS it, and it scares the s**t out of them!
Submitted by TexasMom0517 on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:03pm.
They do understand it and an energetic Republican Party scares them to death. They've worked overtime since 2007 to propagandize for Obama and finally the country sees that "the king is in his alltogether, as naked as the day he was born."
So, the MSM has to find a way to sow division amongst Republicans and create a divide. Too bad they've lost all credibility (and ratings) thanks to Obama. I used to watch the "Today Show" (42 years) and NBC News (40 years), but I never turn on the MSM any more. I suspect there are a lot more folks like me- and you wonder why they're so desperate now!!!!!
Another attempt by the MSM
Submitted by Master-of-Disaster on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:18pm.
This is simply an attempt by the propaganda arm of the liberal statists to create division where there is none and start chosing the outcome of the 2012 election. Don't let them. besides, the tea party brought the Republicans to the dance and this was just their way of saying we are watching. As far as the Rove O'Donnell thing goes, Carl broke Reagan's 11th Commandment (as did the leadership by not picking TP candidates for committee chairs) and that WAS NOT cool. Notice has been served, and like vengeance, it is best served COLD. Ok obscure food reference so I could impress that girl who seems to like that:)
Wishful thinking
Submitted by Phryj1 on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:25pm.
Apparently, they are hoping the party will self-destruct, because they're worried the GOP will carry this momentum in the next 2 elections when a number of Dems' seats will be vulnerable.
Of course, from their point of view, what we call RINOs are mainstream Republicans. So, they're sort of right in that, indeed, there is a divide between the RINOs and the fiscally conservative, constitutionalist Tea Party Republicans, but it's more like the RINOs are being purged because the Tea Party ignited a new Conservative movement.
The media really hates to see RINOs replaced by Conservative Republicans, because they miss the days of the GOP rolling over and playing dead for the Democrats. Heck, even after 1994, RINOs managed to get Clinton re-elected and deprived George W. Bush of a meaningful majority (notice the distinct lack of drilling in ANWR). The lefties would really hate to lose what's left of their puppet opposition.
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.
not "divided"
Submitted by xyzzypoofs on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 5:34pm.
not "divided" ..... ENHANCED
Let's see, the Republicans
Submitted by Smartypants on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 5:45pm.
Let's see, the Republicans just cleaned house in November, less than 3 months ago, but somehow they are cast as a party divided and in disarray. Does anyone with half a brain believe Democrats would be treated this way under the same circumstances? If Republicans were all on the same page and in total lockstep agreement, the msm message would be that dissent is not allowed in their party. Republicans are never going to win with these people, and the smartest thing they could do is to stop trying to do so.
The trouble with liberals
Submitted by Richard.Halavais on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 11:05pm.
It's simple, liberals learned in school ehat the answer is what you want it to be, 2+2=5, if that's what you want it to be, or 3 if that better fits your notion. So, of course the GOP is divided because that's what linerals want. Facts be damned, they just get in the way of feelings. It's GaGa land and the inmates are running the asylum.
Republicans Are Dividied?
Submitted by Thunder Lizard on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:51am.
If they mean the conservatives in the party are not going to let the RINOs run rougshod over them any more, then yes, the party is divided. And well it should be for those cirumnstances.
It's so painfully obvious
Submitted by rbosque on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:33am.
It's so painfully obvious that these networks get their talking points from either the White house or the DNC headquarters. Man, this is so sickening and obvious since all the networks are saying the same thing...