While describing how John McCain returned to the Senate with a “hero’s homecoming” following his cancer diagnosis, on Wednesday’s NBC Today, correspondent Hallie Jackson also seized on nasty online attacks against the Arizona Republican by left-wing activists upset that he voted to open up ObamaCare repeal legislation to debate in Congress.
After spending much of her report labeling McCain an “institution” who was welcomed back with a “bipartisan embrace,” Jackson took a harsh turn: “And it’s that vote to start debate that has critics condemning the Senator’s cross-country trip. With reaction online like, ‘McCain came back to the Senate to take away from his own constituents the kind of healthcare that’s keeping him alive.’” She left out the word “atrocious” that was featured at the end of the tweet.
In addition, four other vicious Twitter tirades were displayed on screen:
Jackson also touted “protests at the Capitol” against the health care vote.
On Tuesday’s NBC Nightly News, correspondent Peter Alexander similarly parroted liberal attack lines targeting McCain: “Still, McCain’s move met by resistance. Protesters attacking his vote as an effort to take health care away from millions of Americans, just as he benefits from first-class care.”
Ahead of the Senate vote, various journalists took to Twitter and sounded identical to the left-wing trolls.
The Today show report was brought to viewers by StateFarm, Cheerios, and Trivago.
Here is a full transcript of Jackson’s July 26 report:
7:06 AM ET
CARSON DALY: Senator McCain’s return to the Senate chamber began with a bipartisan standing ovation. A short time later, he delivered a powerful speech with very candid messages for both his colleagues and President Trump. NBC’s chief White House correspondent Hallie Jackson is on Capitol Hill with more. Hallie, good morning.
HALLIE JACKSON: Hey there, Carson, good morning to you. And today we do expect Senator McCain to be back on the Hill. And just to give you a sense of the mood here, it’s been kind of a hero’s homecoming for him. Even with scars still visible from that recent surgery, he’s been in the hallways joking with senators from both parties after lashing out in a lecture from the Senate floor. An extraordinary moment in an unusual day.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: John McCain’s Emotional Return; Delivers Impassioned Speech on Senate Floor]
On a day packed with drama, it was the maverick delivering most of it. John McCain arriving in Washington with his wife, creating split-screen suspense.
CHRIS JANSING [MSNBC]: This is a tremendous fight that he is in.
JACKSON: In the Senate mid-vote, the wait, then the welcome, followed by one of the most memorable moments in the Senator’s 30-year career.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN [R-AZ]: But I stand here today looking a little worse for wear I’m sure.
JACKSON: After the surgery that led to his brain cancer diagnosis, some bruising by his eye, but his focus sharp, his words too.
MCCAIN: Stop listening to the bombastic loud mouths on the radio and television and the internet. To hell with them.
JACKSON: Himself an institution, McCain pushed his colleagues to remember they serve one, the Senate, sometimes called the world’s greatest deliberative body.
MCCAIN: I’m not sure we can claim that distinction with a straight face today. We're getting nothing done, my friends. We’re getting nothing done.
JACKSON: His own declaration of independence.
MCCAIN: Whether or not we are of the same party, we are not the president’s subordinates. We are his equal.
JACKSON: After, a bipartisan embrace.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER: It was great to see him back, strong as he was. And if anyone thought that he had lost any integrity, all they had to do was listen to that speech.
JACKSON: And it’s that vote to start debate that has critics condemning the Senator’s cross-country trip. With reaction online like, “McCain came back to the Senate to take away from his own constituents the kind of healthcare that’s keeping him alive. [Atrocious.]”
[OTHER TWEETS SHOWN ON SCREEN: “John McCain please don’t let your legacy be that you voted to take health care away from millions of Americans #KillTheBill #McCain”
“There’s something deeply disturbing about a man battling brain cancer flying across the country to vote to repeal healthcare... #McCain”
“Imagine rising from your government paid sick bed to vote to take health care away from your constituents. Amazing. #McCain”
“Shameful Sen. #McCain. Days after being saved by taxpayer funded health care, he voted to strip it away from millions. #Senate #Obamacare”]
Protests at the Capitol, but not at the White House, where the President’s no longer disparaging the former Vietnam P.O.W., but hailing him as an American hero.
DONALD TRUMP: I want to thank Senator John McCain. A very brave man, he made a tough trip to get here and vote.
JACKSON: Now some of the praise from the President could be a little bit premature. While McCain was not one of the Republican “no” votes in that first bill overnight, he still has not committed to supporting whatever the Senate ultimately comes up with on health care. Carson?
CARSON DALY: Hallie Jackson on the Hill for us this morning. Thanks, Hallie.
