On Monday, the network morning shows mysteriously discovered a newfound respect for President Trump’s social media postings after he took to Twitter over the weekend to lay blame for the failure of health care legislation on the House Freedom Caucus and conservative activists. The hosts and correspondents on the NBC, ABC, and CBS broadcasts were gleeful as they touted the “blame game” and “recriminations” occurring within the Republican Party.
On NBC’s Today, co-host Matt Lauer was delighted by the “infighting and the intense blame game among Republicans over that failed bid to pass an ObamaCare replacement.” In the report that followed, correspondent Peter Alexander was eager to stir the pot: “More fallout after last week’s health care collapse for a president feeling a bit drained by the swamp. First the defeat, now the finger pointing.”
The reporter happily highlighted: “President Trump tweeting, ‘Democrats are smiling,’ blaming the conservative Freedom Caucus and other conservative groups for the loss, arguing, ‘They saved Planned Parenthood and ObamaCare!’”
In a follow-up story at the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, correspondent Hallie Jackson announced: “Now new fallout for the ultraconservative Freedom Caucus, whose members mostly opposed the failed health care bill. One lawmaker now leaving the voting bloc all together.”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, co-host Robin Roberts piled on: “Now to President Trump trying to move forward this morning after that stunning health care defeat. The President blaming members of his own party for the failure.” Correspondent Cecilia Vega gushed: “The blame game is in full force. The President now pointing fingers at everyone from Democrats to conservative Republicans for that blow to health care.”
She hyped the President “blasting conservatives” and recited his tweet: “Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus with the help of Club for Growth and Heritage have saved Planned Parenthood and ObamaCare!” Vega lamented: “But the chair of the Freedom Caucus unapologetic.”
On CBS This Morning, co-host Charlie Rose proclaimed:
President Trump is shifting the blame for his failed attempt to repeal and replace ObamaCare. The President yesterday criticized Republicans who did not support the GOP health care bill. He also offered to work with Democrats to push through his future policies.
Correspondent Major Garrett reveled in the GOP dissension: “So what do you have after a big conspicuous legislative defeat? Well, finger-pointing and recriminations of course. And these are bitter times for President Trump and his emerging relationship with congressional Republicans because they can't even keep the blame game straight.”
Following a soundbite of White House chief of staff Reince Priebus on Sunday voicing “the President’s disappointed in the number of people that he thought were loyal to him that weren't,” Garrett declared: “...Priebus joined President Trump in pointing the accusatory finger at the Freedom Caucus and two conservative political groups. Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter Sunday, ‘Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus, with the help of Club For Growth and Heritage, have saved Planned Parenthood and ObamaCare!’”
Here are excerpts of the March 27 coverage on the NBC, ABC, and CBS morning shows:
Today
7:03 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Let's begin this morning with infighting and the intense blame game among Republicans over that failed bid to pass an ObamaCare replacement. So where do the President and his party go from here? We're going to get perspective on that from former White House press secretary Josh Earnest. But first, NBC's Peter Alexander has the latest on all this. Peter, good morning.
PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Matt, good morning to you. I think we're going to have to work on our entrance here at the White House in days ahead. This morning, in the wake of that health care failure, top Republicans are licking their wounds. The President is trying to shake off defeat and move on. Even his budget director asked aloud, is the Republican Party is capable of governing? The party and the President only have a limited window to focus on lessons learned before looking ahead to other tricky agenda items like keeping the government funded and cutting taxes.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: White House Blame Game; Trump Points Finger at Dems, Freedom Caucus in Failed Bid]
More fallout after last week’s health care collapse for a president feeling a bit drained by the swamp. First the defeat, now the finger pointing.
MICK MULVANEY [WHITE HOUSE BUDGET DIRECTOR]: What happened is that Washington won. I think the one thing we learned this week is that Washington was a lot more broken than President Trump thought.
ALEXANDER: President Trump tweeting, “Democrats are smiling,” blaming the conservative Freedom Caucus and other conservative groups for the loss, arguing, “They saved Planned Parenthood and ObamaCare!"
(...)
Good Morning America
7:03 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: Now to President Trump trying to move forward this morning after that stunning health care defeat. The President blaming members of his own party for the failure. ABC’s senior White House correspondent Cecilia Vega has more on that for us. Good morning, Cecilia.
CECILIA VEGA: Good morning. You're right. The blame game is in full force. The President now pointing fingers at everyone from Democrats to conservative Republicans for that blow to health care. President Trump now looking to lay blame after that crushing defeat on health care. Blasting conservatives, tweeting, “Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus with the help of Club for Growth and Heritage have saved Planned Parenthood and ObamaCare!” But the chair of the Freedom Caucus unapologetic.
REP. MARK MEADOWS [FREEDOM CAUCUS CHAIRMAN]: Well, I mean at this particular point I can tell you no one has been more self-critiquing than me.
VEGA: The President and fellow Republicans saying they are now looking to turn the page to their next big challenge, tax reform. Also signaling they may be ready to reach across the aisle.
REINCE PRIEBUS: I think it's time for our folks to come together and I also think it's time to potentially get a few moderate Democrats on board as well.
VEGA: But will Democrats get on board?
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER [D-NY]: He moved so far to the hard right that is virtually impossible for us to work with him. If he changes, he could have a different presidency.
(...)
CBS This Morning
7:03 AM ET
CHARLIE ROSE: President Trump is shifting the blame for his failed attempt to repeal and replace ObamaCare. The President yesterday criticized Republicans who did not support the GOP health care bill. He also offered to work with Democrats to push through his future policies.
GAYLE KING: Now, we still don't know what Mr. Trump's next move is, but he did speak with House Speaker Paul Ryan twice over the weekend. The President also gave a shout-out to one of Ryan's critics. Major Garrett is at the White House with the fallout from the collapse of the health care plan. Major, good morning.
MAJOR GARRETT: Good morning. So what do you have after a big conspicuous legislative defeat? Well, finger-pointing and recriminations of course. And these are bitter times for President Trump and his emerging relationship with congressional Republicans because they can't even keep the blame game straight.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Blame Game; Trump Calls Out Lawmakers For Health Bill Failure]
REINCE PRIEBUS: I think it's a real shame and I think the President's disappointed in the number of people that he thought were loyal to him that weren't.
GARRETT: White House chief of staff Reince Priebus joined President Trump in pointing the accusatory finger at the Freedom Caucus and two conservative political groups. Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter Sunday, “Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus, with the help of Club For Growth and Heritage, have saved Planned Parenthood and ObamaCare!”
(...)
