On Thursday afternoon, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper offered Joe Biden a series of what-say-you softballs. That's not what Team Trump gets.
Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh went on CNN Newsroom on Thursday morning for a lengthy interview with host Jim Sciutto, and Sciutto constantly interrupted and made faces and talked over Murtaugh, and tried to get him to accept blame for COVID deaths and related job losses.
After Murtaugh touted pre-pandemic unemployment numbers, Sciutto switched to the administration's handling of the pandemic, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait. We had another million people, first time unemployment benefits. I mean, during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 the highest in a single week was 800-some-thousand. We've had a million a week for several weeks now. Where -- who does the president blame for that loss of jobs? I mean, the math is simple here."
Sciutto and CNN can't have it both ways. They can't condemn Republicans for being to careless in re-opening and blame Trump for the job losses that came as a result of the shutdowns they fully supported.
After some crosstalk as Murtaugh persistently touted the administration's record and pointing out that every country on earth has been dealing with the economic ramifications of the virus, Sciutto shifted to deaths, "Why does the U.S. have so many more deaths than most countries then?"
Due to being interrupted, Murtaugh was still talking about job numbers and declared, "9.3 million jobs created in just the last three months. That is a record period of job creation in the history of this country."
Sciutto, after just arguing that it is reasonable to compare the 2008 recession with present day, declared Murtaugh's argument to be unfair, "That's because 25 million some odd jobs disappeared. The bottom line is still in the red. The bottom line is still in the red."
Reversing course yet again, Sciutto returned to deaths, "Who do you -- who does the president hold responsible for nearly 180,000 Americans who lost their lives to the pandemic? Who does he hold responsible?"
Murtaugh talked about China and Joe Biden's unwillingness to consider a travel ban back in January, Sciutto went to bat for the Democratic nominee:
MURTAUGH: At that time Joe Biden said it was fear-mongering and xenophobic, so we know that Joe Biden would not have restricted travel from China.
SCIUTTO: We don't know that. Just a very simple question.
MURTAUGH: Yes, we do know that because he said so, Jim.
SCIUTTO: Does he accept responsibility for any of this loss of life?
Sciutto continued to interrupt Murtaugh as he claimed that the country would be in a worse position if Biden were president, wondering if Trump accept responsibility for COVID deaths, something that is beyond any president's ability to control.
When Murtaugh again touted the administration's response, Sciutto concluded by answering his own question, "I'll take that as a no."
Sciutto's constant interruptions and badgering of Murtaugh was supported by the advertising budget of AT&T.
Here is a transcript for the August 27 show:
CNN
CNN Newsroom with Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto
10:33 AM ET
JIM SCIUTTO: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait. We had another million people, first time unemployment benefits. I mean, during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 the highest in a single week was 800-some-thousand. We've had a million a week for several weeks now. Where -- who does the president blame for that loss of jobs? I mean, the math is simple here.
TIM MURTAUGH: Uh Jim, I think what would be blamed for the loss of the jobs is the global pandemic that is affecting every single nation on Earth. I feel like you guys --
SCIUTTO: The U.S., worst than most. The U.S., worst than most
MURTAUGH: In fact, the president has led an unprecedented, unprecedented response. The private sector and the federal government joining together in really an unprecedented response to the coronavirus crises --
SCIUTTO: Why does the U.S. have so many more deaths than most countries then?
MURTAUGH: 9.3 million jobs created in just the last three months. That is a record period of job creation in the history of this country.
SCIUTTO: That's because 25 million some odd jobs disappeared. The bottom line is still in the red. The bottom line is still in the red. The that -- but let's talk about the pandemic because you're claiming a successful response there. Who do you -- who does the president hold responsible for nearly 180,000 Americans who lost their lives to the pandemic? Who does he hold responsible?
MURTAUGH: I think it's very important to pinpoint where this virus came from, and that is China. It's also important to know that while the president has been leading the country through the coronavirus crisis Joe Biden has been doing nothing on the sidelines but criticize—SCIUTTO: Does the president take any responsibility?
MURTAUGH: -- and we know Joe Biden would not have restricted travel from China --
SCIUTTO: Does he accept any responsibility for the loss of lives here? Does he take any responsibility, he’s been in charge for four years. He’s promised to be a wartime president.
MURTAUGH: Jim, I will answer.
SCIUTTO: I'm just asking, does he accept any responsibility for the loss of those lives?
MURTAUGH: The president has been doing his job. Remember the projections were that in more than -- more than 2 million people could die as a result of the coronavirus and the president has been mounting at the most -- the most aggressive response in American history.
SCIUTTO: At the far end, the president said it would disappear months ago.
MURTAUGH: Jim, early on, the coronavirus task force has been meeting since January. The president restricted travel from China in January.SCIUTTO: I’m aware
MURTAUGH: At that time Joe Biden said it was fear-mongering and xenophobic, so we know that Joe Biden would not have restricted travel from China.
SCIUTTO: We don't know that. Just a very simple question.
MURTAUGH: Yes, we do know that because he said so, Jim.
SCIUTTO: Does he accept responsibility for any of this loss of life?
MURTAUGH: If Joe Biden were president we'd be worse off. If Joe Biden had been president in January, we would be worse off.
SCIUTTO: Simple question, just before we go, does the president accept any responsibility for the loss of life from the pandemic, anything he would have changed?
MURTAUGH: The president has accepted responsibility for being the one who is in charge of the unprecedented American response to this. We have never seen such a combination of the private sector and the government responding to a crisis of this nature as we have seen under President Trump's leadership.
SCIUTTO: I'll take that as a no. Tim Murtaugh, good to have you on the program. Thanks for joining us.
MURTAUGH: Thank you, Jim.
