Wednesday's NBC Today decided that the interior design of a Republican Congressman's office was an important national news story, as co-host Savannah Guthrie informed viewers: "Let's start with the latest intrigue involving my favorite show, Downton Abby....Bright red walls and carpeting, pheasant feather displays and gold-colored sconces....This is the Downton-inspired office of this guy, Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock."
Guthrie declared: "...the redesign could get him in trouble....a D.C. watchdog is filing a complaint against the Congressman, saying he used campaign funds to pay for the furniture, which would be a violation of House rules if it happened. So far no comment from the Congressman."
The supposed "D.C. watchdog" group, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), has routinely gone after Republicans and was recently taken over by left-wing activist and Democratic operative David Brock.
The story on Today was prompted by a Tuesday Washington Post article. CREW's interim executive director Anne Weismann told the Post: "Rep. Schock may wish he could escape to an earlier era, but the Office of Congressional Ethics needs to ensure he doesn't outrun the rules of this one."
Here is a full transcript of the February 4 segment:
8:14 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Let's start with the latest intrigue involving my favorite show, Downton Abby. Don't worry, no spoilers here, okay. But look at these photos, they look familiar? Bright red walls and carpeting, pheasant feather displays and gold-colored sconces. Looks like a Downton set doesn't it?
CARSON DALY: Sure does.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Downton Decor; Inside Congressman's "Abbey"-Inspired Office]
GUHTRIE: The only thing missing is Matthew Crawley. Guess what though? This is the Downton-inspired office of this guy, Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock. Now, his office says he has actually never seen Downton Abby, this isn't him being obsessed with the show.
Nevertheless, the redesign could get him in trouble. Apparently it's an interior designer who came up with the concept, she worked for free according to the [Washington] Post, she must be the fan of Downton. Anyway, now a D.C. watchdog is filing a complaint against the Congressman, saying he used campaign funds to pay for the furniture, which would be a violation of House rules if it happened. So far no comment from the Congressman.
CARSON DALY: It's a good thing he's not a fan of The Walking Dead.
[LAUGHTER]
DALY: It would have made for an interesting-
GUTHRIE: Yeah, real interesting office, yeah. Very inviting.
DALY: Wow, interesting.
