All three network morning shows on Monday ignored the revelation that Jonathan Gruber, an ObamaCare architect who called Americans "stupid," had closer ties than the administration previously let on. According to the Wall Street Journal, there were 20,000 pages of e-mails. Writer Stephanie Armour expalined, "The emails show frequent consultations between Mr. Gruber and top Obama administration staffers and advisers in the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services on the Affordable Care Act."
She added, "[The e-mails] show he informed HHS about interviews with reporters and discussions with lawmakers, and he consulted with HHS about how to publicly describe his role."
The Journal writer recounted:
The administration has sought to distance itself from the economist in the wake of his controversial statements in a 2013 video, where he said the health law passed because of the “huge political advantage” of the legislation’s lacking transparency. He also referred to the “stupidity of the American voter.”
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The White House has described Mr. Gruber as having a limited role in crafting the law. President Barack Obama in 2014 said Mr. Gruber was “some adviser who never worked on our staff.” Mr. Gruber told Congress last year he disagreed with the widespread characterization of his role as the “architect” of Mr. Obama’s health-care plan.
Fox News on Monday extensively covered the latest revelation, as did Morning Joe on MSNBC. But ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's Today and CBS This Morning skipped the development. Considering the combined eight hours of air time, there certainly was opportunity.
Instead, GMA devoted five minutes and 12 seconds to the strip club comedy Magic Mike XXL. Today highlighted the movie Ted 2 for five minutes and 35 seconds. CBS This Morning looked at the future of digital entertainment for four minutes and 43 seconds.
Back in November, it took nine days for ABC and NBC to finally acknowledge the existence of the Gruber videos.
