Network Snowe Job: NBC and ABC Mourn Retirement of Maine Senator, Fret Over Lack of GOP Centrists
On Wednesday's NBC Today, chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd was looking for any excuse to be an Obama spokesman as made this declaration about the announced retirement of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe: "...she's serving as a personal testimonial to the President, who says there's no more centrist coalition inside the Republican Party." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
On Tuesday, ABC World News anchor Diane Sawyer praised the liberal GOP legislator as, "The principled voice of reason in some of the most contentious debates in Washington..." and noted how fellow Maine Senator and Republican moderate Susan Collins was "absolutely devastated by this decision."
In addition to mourning the loss of Snowe's moderation, NBC and ABC simultaneously predicted doom for Republican chances of taking back the Senate in November. On Today, Todd proclaimed: "...this almost assures that it's a better than 50/50 chance Democrats hold control of the United States Senate."
On Tuesday's Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams touted Snowe's retirement as "a big blow to the GOP." Similarly, on Wednesday's Good Morning America, news anchor Josh Elliott announced that it was "a major blow to Republicans hoping to take control of the U.S. Senate in November."
All of the news briefs cited Snowe's reasons for leaving. Williams explained: "Olympia Snowe of Maine, ranked the most moderate Republican in the Senate, says the partisanship in Washington has become too much." Sawyer exclaimed: "...she's just tired of the gridlock." Elliott remarked: "She says that she's frustrated by the current climate of partisan rancor and gridlock."
Interestingly, CBS made no mention of Snowe's retirement on Tuesday's Evening News or Wednesday's This Morning.
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Comments
Centerist?
Submitted by chiefpayne on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 12:59pm.
More like a RINO!
Good riddance to reeking RINO rubbish!
Snowe fooling?
Submitted by markprice1983 on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 1:15pm.
She's a Republican?????
⇒ Hoo Gnu?
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 1:24pm.
That's the rumor.
Yes, she is. She votes with
Submitted by goldwater89 on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 2:31pm.
Yes, she is. She votes with the party 75% of the time.
http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/300091_Olympia_Snowe
And come next year, her seat will be won by a DEMOCRAT who votes with his or her part 90 something percent of the time. So yeah, keep celebrating!
Right, because the republican
Submitted by Reaver on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 6:24pm.
Right, because the republican party can’t find another rino in the entire state of Maine to run for her seat.
Awww
Submitted by BondPlainBond on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 1:38pm.
The Progressive left is losing their not-so-stealthy/clandestine "inside woman".
Adieu, Olympia. Delighted with your announcement not to seek re-election.
Snow went to the Senate to compromise
Submitted by Tiger on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 1:46pm.
not prevail
Of course, the lack...
Submitted by Sadder-but-wise... on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 1:48pm.
...of any "centrist coalition" in the Democratic Party is no news at all.
A "Voice of reason?"
Submitted by Herbster on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 2:25pm.
Of course Snowe is considered a "Voice of reason" by the state run media......she could be depended on to vote with the dumbocrats. Just check her record. Now, if only the other strange lady from Maine, Susan Collins, would "Retire" also. Let's add Mr. (I cross the aisle) McCain and his butt boy, Graham, to the list.
You can bet no Republicans
Submitted by goldwater89 on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 2:30pm.
You can bet no Republicans are happy about this, only tea partiers that simply don‘t understand that you can’t purge the party of anyone who isn’t a far-right kook. Snowe is one of the few moderates left and her seat will be easily won by a Democrat. Enthusiastic cheering for the retirement of the senator whose views probably reflect those of most independent voters more than any other member will only serve to alienate the moderate majority of voters who will decide general and statewide elections for years to come outside of the deep south. And I am certain that’s exactly why the tone-deaf tea party will cheer so enthusiastically. Obama won left leaning Maine by 17 points, running a right wing fundamentalist for her seat is giving the seat away. Shouldn’t the GOP run someone who reflects the views and philosophies of the good people of Maine, since that’s who they would be representing? Was nothing learned from running Christine O’Donnell in Delaware and Sharron Angle in Nevada?
make up your damn mind
Submitted by dmacleo on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 6:01pm.
Shouldn’t the GOP run someone who reflects the views and philosophies of the good people of Maine
why do people have trouble believing the people who actually live here?
we are done with the type of stuff her and Collins have done.
and up here Michaud seat not as solid as the pundits want you to believe. Pingree is probably safe in her area for now but we are changing up here finally.
many of us wanted her gone, she knew it, she knew she would probably lose this time, and yet people keep saying crap like you keep spewing.
and where do you get off deciding who reflects our views?
You live in Maine not UTAH.
Submitted by goldwater89 on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 7:44pm.
You live in Maine not solid red UTAH. It's a BLUE STATE! If a Republican wants to run for for the Senate or Governor in a BLUE state, he or she has to run as a moderate or they WILL NOT win. Just look at George Pataki, Scott Brown, Rudy Giuliani, Christine Todd Whitman, Chris Christie, etc, all moderate Republicans who won in solid blue states. Now show me some right-wing tea party candidate who won in a solid blue state. I'll be waiting forever because it has never happened. Nor will it ever.
You think some far-right fringe candidate reflects the views of the people of Maine? You people said the same thing in Nevada and Delaware. We had two moderate Republicans who would've won both of those seats easily.
Oh, and Snowe would've won re-relectione easily. Look at the polls buddy.
Based on past behavior
Submitted by American.Patriot on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 10:50pm.
it seems shes more of a RHINO. maybe its due to her old age and failing mind. It will be interesting to see how the mainiacs respond come election time.
Is there a centrist coalition inside the Democratic Party
Submitted by Conservator on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 3:09pm.
NO. Did Chuck Todd explain how he determined that "...this almost assures that it's a better than 50/50 chance Democrats hold control of the United States Senate." - NO. If Romney wins the nomination, I think Republicans will hold Snowe's seat. Also, based on the number of seats Democrats must hold to keep control of thew Senate bolds well for the Republican Party.