When discussing such serious and complicated things such as the law, the future of the Supreme Court, and the country, one would hope MSNBC's Geoff Bennett would think to interview someone well informed on the subject but instead, on Wednesday's Andrea Mitchell Reports, he chose to exploit 10 and 13-year-old children.
Bennett was outside the Supreme Court where a line of mourners were gathered to pay respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and decided to interview one New Jersey family, the Beckers, about why they were there.
It started off well enough with Bennett asking mom Meredith, "Why was it so important for you to be here, to bring your kids to participate in this?"
But after Becker responded, "And I thought it was only responsible as a parent to be respectful and pay respect to her for all of the amenities that she has allowed us, particularly as women, particularly as Jewish women, and also men too, have afforded us opportunities in fights that we will never know from," Bennett moved to the children.
First, Becker asked 13-year-old Sam, "What does her passing mean to you, what is her legacy as you see it?" Sam replied, "So, first off, it's really, really sad that she had to go, especially right before the election. She's done so many great things for this country with equal rights and all. So just really, it's tragic altogether."
As if interviewing a middle schooler wasn't bad enough, Bennett then turned to an elementary schooler, 10-year-old Alana, "And 10-year-old Alana Becker, question to you: how are you feeling about all this?"
Certainly young kids can have opinions on politics and it's great for them to be interested in their world. But as a 10 year old Alana might not be up to date on law, history, or politics, but she provided MSNBC with the soundbite they wanted, "This is going to be the beginning of an absolute nightmare, because she is no longer here to help the world."
Bennett then tossed things back to Andrea Mitchell in the studio by admitting that progressives want the Court, not to be a guardian of the law, but to be a third legislative body that exists to enact their agenda, "These are perspectives that we've been hearing all morning as we've talked to people paying tribute to the late justice as a trailblazer, and icon, a defender of human rights, women's rights, and a defender of liberal ideas, a protector of Progressive policies, Andrea."
This segment was sponsored by Chevrolet.
Here is a transcript of the September 23 show:
MSNBC
Andrea Mitchell Reports12:07 PM ET
GEOFF BENNET: Hey, Andrea. We're just south of where you are, in the line where hundreds of people are here to pay their respects to the public portion for the late justice, including, Meredith Becker, who drove down here with her two kids from New Jersey. You have a mask on that says “women belong in all places where decisions are being made,” a famous quote from the late justice. Why was it so important for you to be here, to bring your kids to participate in this?
MEREDITH BECKER: Sure, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an absolute living legend. She did so much in her time here on this Earth. And I thought it was only responsible as a parent to be respectful and pay respect to her for all of the amenities that she has allowed us, particularly as women, particularly as Jewish women, and also men too, have afforded us opportunities in fights that we will never know from.
BENNETT: And Sam, 13 going on 14 years old, your mom pointed to you when she talked about the importance of men paying tribute to the late justice. What does her passing mean to you, what is her legacy as you see it?
SAM BECKER [13 YEARS OLD]: So, first off, it's really, really sad that she had to go, especially right before the election. She's done so many great things for this country with equal rights and all. So just really, it's tragic altogether.
BENNETT: You brought some clay with you, what's that about?
SAM BECKER: So this clay is actually from Israel. Usually we bring rocks when people pass. But this is the closest thing we have to rocks. And yeah, we got these pieces of pottery on an archeological dig in Israel. So we’re here to place with RBG.
BENNETT: And ten-year-old Alana Becker, question to you: how are you feeling about all this?
ALANA BECKER [10 YEARS OLD]: This is going to be the beginning of an absolute nightmare, because she is no longer here to help the world.
BENNETT: Thank you, thanks to your mom and your brother for your time this morning, I really appreciate it. These are perspectives that we've been hearing all morning as we've talked to people paying tribute to the late justice as a trailblazer, and icon, a defender of human rights, women's rights, and a defender of liberal ideas, a protector of Progressive policies, Andrea.
