NBC Puff Piece on Hillary’s ‘Perfect Partner’ Tim Kaine; ‘Checks All the Political Boxes’

July 27th, 2016 2:39 PM

In a fawning report on Wednesday’s NBC Today, correspondent Peter Alexander celebrated Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential running mate ahead of his address to the Democratic National Convention: “Hillary Clinton is really doubling down on the value of a political resume in this pick of Senator Tim Kaine, who's governed at almost every level....Tonight the theme is ‘Working Together,’ and Kaine's friends tell me he would make the perfect partner.”

Alexander gushed over the VP pick “already showcasing real chemistry with Hillary Clinton” and how the Virginia lawmaker “checks all the political boxes.” The reporter proceeded to recite the Democrat’s credentials: “Experience – serving at every level of elected office from mayor to U.S. Senator. Battleground credentials – representing Virginia, a key swing state. And fluency in Spanish – speaking directly to crucial Latino voters.”

Offering a syrupy personal profile, Alexander oozed: “To relax, the 58-year-old plays a mean harmonica. His band, the Jug Busters....A devout Catholic who took time away from Harvard Law School to serve as a missionary in Honduras, Kaine attends a mostly black church in a working class neighborhood.”

Kaine’s support of abortion and gay marriage being in direct opposition to Catholic teaching was completely ignored.

Alexander further touted: “Unlike the blunt-talking Republican nominee, Kaine’s better described as a kill-them-with-kindness candidate.” A soundbite ran of Georgetown Institute of Politics & Public Service executive director and DNC attendee Mo Elleithee: “I think in this day and age where everyone is just so angry in politics, Tim Kaine is the relentless optimist. And he’s the guy who’s always looking for what’s next and how to do it better.”

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Alexander did manage to find one potential flaw in Kaine: “Still, progressives complain Kaine’s too much of a centrist.” On Friday’s Today, Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd pushed the same left-wing complaint. The notion of Kaine being “too centrist” is completely disproved by his staunch liberal voting record, as detailed in a recent Media Research Center study.

The glowing introduction of Kaine to Today show viewers on Wednesday stood in stunning contrast to the hit piece that was hurled at Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence during the Republican National Convention one week earlier. At that time, correspondent Andrea Mitchell appeared on the morning broadcast and warned of the Indiana governor being a “staunch social conservative” who signed “controversial legislation” supporting religious freedom and “helped pass a strict anti-abortion bill.”

The nasty segment featured footage of left-wing protesters shouting “Fire Mike Pence!” and labeled him “conservative” several times. There were no positive soundbites from “friends” of Pence saying what a great choice he was like in Alexander’s softball promotion of Kaine.

Here is a full transcript of Alexander’s July 27 report on Kaine:

7:43 AM ET

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Welcome back to Philly. It’s day three of the Democratic National Convention, big one for Hillary Clinton’s running mate tonight, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.

MATT LAUER: He’s gonna take the stage for a very high-stakes speech. NBC national correspondent Peter Alexander is here to talk about that and preview it a bit. Hey, Peter.

PETER ALEXANDER: Good morning, nice to see both of you. Going up against the ultimate outsider in Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton is really doubling down on the value of a political resume in this pick of Senator Tim Kaine, who's governed at almost every level dating back to his time as the mayor of Richmond, Virginia. Tonight the theme is “Working Together,” and Kaine's friends tell me he would make the perfect partner.

He's with her. Tim Kaine, aides say, is already showcasing real chemistry with Hillary Clinton.

TIM KAINE: Her creed is the same as mine, do all the good you can.

ALEXANDER: Still unknown to most Americans – here enjoying one last quiet breakfast with friends Tuesday – Kaine checks all the political boxes. Experience – serving at every level of elected office from mayor to U.S. Senator. Battleground credentials – representing Virginia, a key swing state. And fluency in Spanish – speaking directly to crucial Latino voters.

To relax, the 58-year-old plays a mean harmonica. His band, the Jug Busters. Kaine and his wife Ann, who just stepped down as Virginia's secretary of education, have three children, including son Nat, a Marine. A devout Catholic who took time away from Harvard Law School to serve as a missionary in Honduras, Kaine attends a mostly black church in a working class neighborhood.

Unlike the blunt-talking Republican nominee, Kaine’s better described as a kill-them-with-kindness candidate.

MO ELLEITHEE [GEORGETOWN’S INSTITUTE OF POLITICS & PUBLIC SERVICE EXEC. DIRECTOR]: I think in this day and age where everyone is just so angry in politics, Tim Kaine is the relentless optimist. And he’s the guy who’s always looking for what’s next and how to do it better.

ALEXANDER: Still, progressives complain Kaine’s too much of a centrist. Until this week, supporting the kind of free trade deals Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump rail against. He’s already a Trump target.  

DONALD TRUMP: Tim Kaine. I never even heard of this guy, but that’s okay.

ALEXANDER: Kaine admits he's boring.

KAINE: But you know, boring is the fastest growing demographic in this country.

ALEXANDER: Tonight, his public introduction to a primetime audience, kicking off what's certain to be a wild ride.

And those people close to Tim Kaine tell me that he loves camping out, that he was thrilled when a friend gave him a gift certificate to REI several years ago. It’s a good thing, he'll be hitting the trail for the next several months. If elected next year, this child of an iron workshop owner could be camping out in the Vice President's residence.

GUTHRIE: So you need like a canteen and bug spray for the campaign trail?

ALEXANDER: Exactly, he’ll be in the tent in the backyard.

GUTHRIE: Well, you would know, you’re a road warrior.

ALEXANDER: Yeah, no doubt. We'll see you guys again soon.

LAUER: Everybody will be watching. Peter, thank you very much.