As the congressional impeachment testimony hearing took a short recess mid-Wednesday, the liberal networks jumped in with their own reflections, but seemingly one takeaway: William Taylor was impressive, definitely not partisan, and wow, he sounds just like us!
On ABC, political analyst Matthew Dowd raved over the former ambassador to Ukraine, touting his military and government service and proclaiming the Democrats’ star thirdhand “witness,” (who didn’t actually witness anything) was not a “partisan” like Trump: “I think just the presence of these public servants, the weight of what they did, you now understand why the Democrats picked these two men to go first in these hearings,” he gushed.
Anchor George Stephanopoulos couldn’t help but point out how Taylor’s voice reminded him of one of the left’s favorite journalists, Walter Cronkite: “Down to the voice of William Taylor. I'm sure I'm not the only one who noticed the echoes of Walter Cronkite. I guess i’m old enough to remember Walter Cronkite right there, in his voice."
Of course, Stephanopoulos and others would think comparing Taylor to a journalist who used his anchor position to become a liberal activist, railing against the Vietnam War and touting climate alarmism, would be a compliment. After all, isn’t that the example journalists follow today?
He wasn’t the only journalist making the comparison.
Great voices have that rare combination of authoritativeness/believeability and comfort (see: Walter Cronkite on Vietnam, JFK assassination and Nixon impeachment). That's what we're hearing now in Amb Taylor
— Chris Jansing (@ChrisJansing) November 13, 2019
Bill Taylor sounds so much like Walter Cronkite that I expect his testimony to conclude with, "And that's the way it is."
— Matt Viser (@mviser) November 13, 2019
Over on MSNBC, disgraced anchor Brian Williams also gave Taylor the highest praise any journalists can think to offer: saying he sounds like a journalist. After liberal guest Michael McFaul praised Taylor’s “great voice for television,” Williams responded:
“And a huge tip of the hat, he's been roundly described on Twitter as having a Frontline quality voice. So here's to you, PBS, for setting the standard,” he proclaimed.
Read the two transcripts below:
ABC Special Impeachment Hearings Coverage
11/13/2019
12:32:44-12:33:19 PM EST
MATTHEW DOWD: It's really important for the American public the presence of these American servants. These are not wild-eyed partisans. These are people that have served the country. They are just providing this in a calm, cool matter without drama. I think that’s such a contrast from what people hear from the president. That i think just the presence of these public servants, the weight of what they did, you now understand why the Democrats picked these two men to go first in these hearings.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Down to the voice of William Taylor. I'm sure I'm not the only one who noticed the echoes of Walter Cronkite. I guess i’m old enough to remember Walter Cronkite right there, in his voice.
...
MSNBC
11/13/19
12:32 PM EST
MICHAEL MCFAUL (former Ambassador to Russia): By the way, I told you he was going to have a great voice for television, and he does. I just hope both of those individuals listen to this closely and do the right thing and just tell the truth and come clean.
BRIAN WILLIAMS: And a huge tip of the hat, he's been roundly described on Twitter as having a Frontline quality voice. So here's to you, PBS, for setting the standard.
