In the lead-up to Congress passing the Republican tax cut plan, various CNN shows on Tuesday played up a CNN poll finding that 55 percent of Americans oppose the proposal. Such public opposition is hardly shocking given that dominant left-leaning media outlets like CNN have pushed negative spin against the tax cut proposal -- a fact noted by Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy just this morning on CNN's New Day show.
Early in the morning, shortly after 6:00 a.m. ET, CNN political director David Chalian appeared on New Day and referred to the Republican case in favor of the tax cut as "talking points," while he labeled the Democratic position merely as their "argument" as he introduced the survey's findings.
Here's Chalian: "This issue that Democrats have been hounding, that this favors the wealthy more than the middle class despite the Republican talking points, it seems the American public is buying that argument, Alisyn. it is -- 66 percent of Americans -- nearly two-thirds -- say that the wealthy will benefit from this -- 27 percent say that it will be the middle class."
At 9:00 a.m. ET, introducing CNN Newsroom, host John Berman snarked: "So this isn't what America had on its Christmas list after all. New this morning, signs that the Christmas present that the President promised the country, a tax bill, is not what the country actually wants. The House is expected to pass the bill this afternoon, but it is a bill that is getting less popular, it seems, by the day."
CNN's Chris Cilizza came aboard and called the bill a "gigantic gamble" for Republicans to pass.
Additionally, later on, CNN host Erica Hill also called the plan a "gamble" for the GOP, and CNN presidential historian Douglas Brinkley dubbed it a "sweetheart deal for rich people." Host Wolf Blitzer even trashed it as "wildly unpopular."
Below are transcripts of relevant portions of CNN from Tuesday, December 19:
6:10 a.m. ET
DAVID CHALIAN: This issue that Democrats have been hounding, that this favors the wealthy more than the middle class despite the Republican talking points, it seems the American public is buying that argument, Alisyn. it is -- 66 percent of Americans -- nearly two-thirds -- say that the wealthy will benefit from this -- 27 percent say that it will be the middle class.
(...)
9:00 a.m. ET
JOHN BERMAN: So this isn't what America had on its Christmas list after all. New this morning, signs that the Christmas present that the President promised the country, a tax bill, is not what the country actually wants. The House is expected to pass the bill this afternoon, but it is a bill that is getting less popular, it seems, by the day.
POPPY HARLOW: That's right. A brand-new CNN poll this morning shows 55 percent of you out there oppose it. That is an increase of 10 points of negativity from just last month.
(...)
9:04 a.m. ET
BERMAN: We're not done talking about this -- not even close. Joining us now, CNN's politics reporter and editor at large Chris Cilizza. Chris, 55 percent of Americans say they oppose this tax bill in our latest polling. That is greater opposition than it was just a month ago, and, as Poppy was noting before, that opposition growing across all groups. What does that tell you?
CHRIS CILIZZA: It tells you you're making a gigantic gamble if you're the Republican party.
(...)
11:00 a.m. ET
ERICA HILL: But we begin with what President Trump calls a big, beautiful Christmas present for America -- the tax cut bill that most Americans don't approve of.
(...)
HILL: There's this new CNN polling which we've seen. Only 33 percent favor this Republican tax bill. Is there any sense -- any discussion there at the White House or, rather, by the Republicans that this may be a gamble?
SUNLEN SERFATY: lt certainly is. And that's certainly a discussion that's being had in the halls of Capitol Hill.
(...)
11:41 a.m. ET
HILL: But a new CNN poll shows most Americans are not -- in fact, they don't believe that. Two-thirds see the bill as doing more to benefit the wealthy than the middle class.
(...)
1:02 p.m. ET
WOLF BLITZER: We also asked who benefits the most from this legislation. Two-thirds of Americans -- 66 percent -- say the wealthy gets the most out of this bill. Only 27 percent say it will help the middle class the most. But House Speaker Paul Ryan says it's just a matter of time until people come around.
(...)
2:01 p.m. ET
BROOKE BALDWIN: Here's the "but." This 575-page tax law hailed by the President and his party has been panned by the people. A new CNN poll shows 55 percent of Americans oppose it.
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4:06 p.m. ET
JAKE TAPPER: Can you recall a less popular major piece of legislation headed to victory?
DOUGLAS BRINKLEY: No, and the fact of the matter is, it's being jammed in and done right before Christmas, so there's something desperate about it.
(...)
BRINKLEY: Donald Trump isn't transparent. He isn't showing people his taxes. It seems to be a sweetheart deal for rich people.
(...)
5:00 p.m. ET
WOLF BLITZER: This widely-criticized bill could give Republicans a much-needed victory, but should they be careful what they wish for? Wildly unpopular: The tax vote comes as CNN's new poll shows both the President and the GOP tax plan are wildly unpopular.
