During an NBC News special report moments after House Republicans passed legislation repealing and replacing ObamaCare, Nightly News anchor Lester Holt drew viewers’ attention to left-wing protesters assembled outside the Capitol Building and touted: “And as we just took that camera, you saw it pan off of the park grounds next to the Capitol there, where protestors had been gathered. We thought we heard them shouting, ‘Shame! Shame!’ a moment ago as members – as Republican members of the House made their way out the east front of the Capitol...”
Initially he asked correspondent Kristen Welker if she could make out what was being shouted: “Kristen, I'm hearing some shouting, is that coming from your location or from the Capitol?” Welker, who was actually stationed at the White House, replied: “I believe that shouting is coming from the Capitol, Lester. Remember, there’s going to be a lot of opposition to this. The reason being, you still have a lot of Americans who are concerned about what this means.”
Correspondent Peter Alexander chimed in: “Be clear, this has a long way to go until it becomes law....And are the people, cancer survivors, patients, parents like Jimmy Kimmel, individuals who may be affected by some disorder or disability, how are they affected by this, what will it cost them?”
Later in exchange, the reporter heralded unfavorable polling for the Republican health care plan: “And to be clear, Lester, 50% – according to polls, 50% of Americans right now, they don’t support this idea. They do not have – they have little or no confidence that Republicans are going to be able to make what was ObamaCare better.” He added: “That’s a real challenge for the Republicans right now as they take ownership of what was ObamaCare. And you hear the Democrats already calling it TrumpCare. That’s something you’re probably going to hear a lot more.”
Here are excerpts of the May 4 special coverage:
2:21 PM ET
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LESTER HOLT: Kristen, on the left side of the screen we’re looking at members – Republicans who are now leaving the Capitol, expected to take a bus over to the White House. Kristen, I'm hearing some shouting, is that coming from your location or from the Capitol?
KRISTEN WELKER: I believe that shouting is coming from the Capitol, Lester. Remember, there’s going to be a lot of opposition to this. The reason being, you still have a lot of Americans who are concerned about what this means. This is a bill that hasn’t been scored yet, so we don't know how many people may or may not lose coverage. We don't know how much it’s effectively going to cost. So you are going to see not only a robust debate on both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue, but you’re going to see the public get very engaged in this as it moves to the Senate, Lester.
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2:23 PM ET
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PETER ALEXANDER: Be clear, this has a long way to go until it becomes law. Already we’re hearing from senators that they were going to let the House do what it had to do, they want to make some changes. The House is likely to see this again. They may have to vote on this thing again. But at the end of the day, the question is going to be how does it affect average Americans? The real winners and losers out there. And are the people, cancer survivors, patients, parents like Jimmy Kimmel, individuals who may be affected by some disorder or disability, how are they affected by this, what will it cost them? At the end of the day, that’s what a lot of people are going to be asking.
(...)
2:24 PM ET
LESTER HOLT: And as we just took that camera, you saw it pan off of the park grounds next to the Capitol there, where protestors had been gathered. We thought we heard them shouting, “Shame! Shame!” a moment ago as members – as Republican members of the House made their way out the east front of the Capitol and onto that bus, where they are going to go to the White House.
(...)
2:26 PM ET
ALEXANDER: And to be clear, Lester, 50% – according to polls, 50% of Americans right now, they don’t support this idea. They do not have – they have little or no confidence that Republicans are going to be able to make what was ObamaCare better. That’s a real challenge for the Republicans right now as they take ownership of what was ObamaCare. And you hear the Democrats already calling it TrumpCare. That’s something you’re probably going to hear a lot more. But remember some of the promises the President made. He said he’ll give insurance for everybody, nobody would lose their coverage, and that nobody would be worse off financially. Now all of a sudden, the same way that they get upset at President Obama for saying – which proved not to be true – that “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor,” the President has his own promises he’s going to have to defend at this point.
(...)
