During live MSNBC coverage prior to the arrival of Pope Francis on Tuesday, ex-NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams returned to television and asked Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd: “We try not to make everything political. What is the political angle in your shop of this visit by the leader of Catholics worldwide?”
Todd replied: “Democrats, Democratic Catholics who are elected officials, have never been more excited about this Pope coming....there’s an excitement among Democrats about this visit that I have not seen in previous papal visits.”
He observed: “Usually they’re very nervous when a pope visits because they're like, oh, they’re gonna make them uncomfortable on the abortion issue or on social issues. This time they think this pope is gonna lead on things like the environment or income inequality.”
Turning to the other side of the aisle, Todd declared:
Republicans, it’s just the opposite. They're a little nervous. Is he going to put them in a box on climate change? Is he going to make them feel uncomfortable on some economic issues? They're nervous that – is he not – is he going to de-emphasize social issues, including same-sex marriage or abortion?
On Sunday’s Meet the Press, Todd similarly argued that Pope would make Republicans feel “uncomfortable” on certain political issues.
On Tuesday, Todd ultimately concluded that the Pope would “make everybody feel uncomfortable” and “make the politicians on both sides of the aisle uncomfortable a little bit with their own views.”
Williams noted: “Now, so far, we have one member of Congress, Republican from Arizona, sitting out because he disagrees with what the Pope has said on climate change?”
Todd responded: “That is right. And I’ve been stunned. I mean, look, George Will...the conservative columnist, not somebody – he really basically decided to treat Pope Francis as an elected official and went after him in that way.”
Here is a transcript of the September 22 exchange:
3:09 PM ET
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BRIAN WILLIAMS: Chuck Todd, we try not to make everything political.
CHUCK TODD: Right.
WILLIAMS: What is the political angle in your shop of this visit by the leader of Catholics worldwide?
TODD: Well, he is speaking to a joint session of Congress.
WILLIAMS: Yes.
TODD: And when you do that, this is a political event and he is going to have a political statement. But it’s not – you know, we're going to – we try so hard in this country sometimes to put him in left or right positions. I can tell you this, what’s been fascinating is to watch the politicians react to the Pope’s visit.
Democrats, Democratic Catholics who are elected officials, have never been more excited about this pope coming. Usually they’re very nervous when a pope visits because they're like, oh, they’re gonna make them uncomfortable on the abortion issue or on social issues. This time they think this pope is gonna lead on things like the environment or income inequality. So there’s an excitement among Democrats about this visit that I have not seen in previous papal visits.
Republicans, it’s just the opposite. They're a little nervous. Is he going to put them in a box on climate change? Is he going to make them feel uncomfortable on some economic issues? They're nervous that – is he not – is he going to de-emphasize social issues, including same-sex marriage or abortion?
I think what’s gonna happen, and what a lot of people who know this pope better than I do, is that he's going to make everybody feel uncomfortable. That, that actually – that’s going to be part of his job in this trip to make the politicians on both sides of the aisle uncomfortable a little bit with their own views and he’s going to challenge them.
WILLIAMS: Now, so far, we have one member of Congress, Republican from Arizona, sitting out because he disagrees with what the Pope has said on climate change?
TODD: That is right. And I’ve been stunned. I mean, look, George Will, okay, the sort of – I mean, the conservative columnist, not somebody – he really basically decided to treat Pope Francis as an elected official and went after him in that way. And you're hearing some commentary. I think for the most part, though, conservative Catholics, while they may not be happy about what he’s going to say on climate change, for the most part, I’ve seen them – whether it’s Rick Santorum or others – go out of their way to not criticize the Pope. I think that is – that's walking a line that could find you trouble politically.
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