During MSNBC’s 1:00 p.m. ET hour on Tuesday, correspondent Jacob Soboroff actually grilled Democratic Pennsylvania congressional candidate John Morganelli on his policy positions, but did so from the left, accusing the pro-life politician of being “too conservative.” The interview came just moments after a fawning report in which the reporter went campaigning door to door with Morganelli’s more liberal primary opponent.
Noting that Morganelli, a longtime local district attorney, was the frontrunner in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, Soboroff immediately began interrogating him for not being sufficiently liberal:
But your critics say you’re too conservative. They you’re conservative on immigration, you’re conservative on abortion, you’re pro-life. And you reached out to the Trump administration, asking for a position in the transition on Twitter after he was elected. So why are you the Democrat that can win in November?
Morganelli offered his left-leaning credentials on other issues, but ultimately explained: “I am tough on illegal immigration, I believe we have to enforce our immigration laws. And I’m a pro-life Democrat. But I believe this district is a centrist district. It has been historically.”
In a follow-up question, Soboroff referred back to his glowing puff piece with the other Democrat vying for the congressional seat: “Greg Edwards, who we just me in the piece, is an unabashed progressive. Are you a progressive, sir?”
Knowing that left-wing politics would not sell in the district, Morganelli flatly rejected the label: “No, I would not call myself a progressive. I’m a moderate Democrat and I’m reaching out to the middle because I believe that’s how we solve problems.”
The exchanges with both candidates were featured as part of a segment trumpeting the redrawing of Pennsylvania’s congressional districts in a manner much more favorable to Democrats.
Back in February, another Democratic congressional candidate in California actually scolded Soboroff and the rest of the media for being too focused on the Russia investigation, explaining that voters did not care about the favorite liberal talking point.
Here is a transcript of Soboroff’s May 15 interview with Morganelli:
1:36 PM ET
(...)
JACOB SOBOROFF: So we’ve met up here in the shade of the relatively quiet polling place with John Morganelli. Sir, you are the D.A. of North Hampton County, you’ve been in this position since 1992. By many accounts, you are the frontrunner for the congressional seat here in the Democratic primary.
But your critics say you’re too conservative. They you’re conservative on immigration, you’re conservative on abortion, you’re pro-life. And you reached out to the Trump administration, asking for a position in the transition on Twitter after he was elected. So why are you the Democrat that can win in November?
JOHN MORGANELLI [D-PA, CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE]: Well, first of all, I don’t think I’m as conservative as folks say. I mean, I have a very strong pro-labor record. Very big on public education, pro-public education, health care, on a whole array of issues. But I’m a law enforcement officer, and yes, I am tough on illegal immigration, I believe we have to enforce our immigration laws. And I’m a pro-life Democrat.
But I believe this district is a centrist district. It has been historically. All of our representatives over the years, including Charlie Dent, has been a moderate. And I’m hopeful that the moderate Democrats will come out today and support me.
SOBOROFF: Would you vote to fund President Trump’s border wall?
MORGANELLI: No, I don’t necessarily think we need a wall the size that the President’s talking about. But I know that a while ago the Democrats supported the Secure Fence Act. I think there’s areas of the border that we need some secure fence, but the cost tag and the elaborate wall plans, I think, are probably not something we should be spending money on.
SOBOROFF: And just a one-word answer here, because we gotta go. Greg Edwards, who we just me in the piece, is an unabashed progressive. Are you a progressive, sir?
MORGANELLI: No, I would not call myself a progressive. I’m a moderate Democrat and I’m reaching out to the middle because I believe that’s how we solve problems.
SOBOROFF: Alright, well, good luck today. We’ll see what the election results say tonight and hopefully we’ll be talking to you soon.
(...)
