On Wednesday, NBC’s Today show rushed to defend socialist Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her proposed Green New Deal legislation from common sense criticism offered by First Daughter Ivanka Trump. The broadcast touted leftists on social media attacking Trump for daring to dissent to Ocasio-Cortez’s radical policy ideas by simply saying that Americans “want to work” for financial success rather than “be given something” by the government.
“There’s a growing war of words over jobs and paychecks in America between Ivanka Trump and a headline-making Democrat on Capitol Hill,” co-host Craig Melvin hyped as he introduced the segment. In the report that followed, correspondent Morgan Radford touted how “Ocasio-Cortez’s bold new legislation, known as the Green New Deal, aims to provide guarantee jobs to all Americans” but that objections voiced by Trump in a recent Fox News interview were “taking the internet by storm.”
Continuing to push the idea that Trump was caught “in the midst of a social media firestorm,” Radford breathlessly fretted over Trump simply telling Fox News host Steve Hilton: “I don’t think most Americans, in their heart, want to be given something.”
The reporter took that mild critique and framed this way: “In an explosive new interview, the First Daughter taking on freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over her Green New Deal.” Radford promoted some of the plan’s socialist goals: “The proposal seeks to eliminate carbon emissions by 2030, provide universal health care, and guarantee jobs and a family-sustaining minimum wage for all Americans.”
Another “explosive” soundbite ran of Trump arguing: “People want to work for what they get. So I think this idea of a guaranteed minimum is not something most people want.”
Radford was aghast: “The reaction to Trump’s remarks was swift and fierce on social media, with some calling the First Daughter ‘entitled,’ ‘tone deaf,’ and ‘out of touch.’ One user tweeting, ‘You, a lady that has been given everything, have no right to speak about most Americans.’”
Amazingly, Radford found no criticism of Ocasio-Cortez on social media to quote for the slanted report.
Instead, the correspondent hailed the Democrat “not backing down”:
...responding to the First Daughter’s comments on Twitter, writing, “As a person who actually worked for tips and hourly wages in my life, instead of having to learn about it second hand, I can tell you people want to be paid enough to live. A living wage isn’t a gift, it’s a right. Workers are often paid far less than the value they create.”
Brief attention was given to Trump “responding to the backlash with a tweet of her own, saying, ‘I support a minimum wage. I do not, however, believe in a minimum guarantee for people ‘unwilling to work,’ which was the question asked of me.’”
Wrapping up the segment, Radford noted that “President Trump is also no fan of the plan. While Republican leaders say it’s unrealistic and too expensive.” A clip ran of Wyoming Senator John Barrasso declaring: “The Green New Deal drives a stake into the heart of our strong and healthy and growing economy.”
The lopsided story barely focused on such legitimate criticisms of the Green New Deal, instead preferring to hype the President’s daughter under fire from Ocasio-Cortez supporters for raising concerns.
Here is a full transcript of the February 27 report:
7:15 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And we turn to Craig now, following a little dust-up on Capitol Hill?
CRAIG MELVIN: Yeah, back here. Hoda, Savannah, good morning. Good morning to you. There’s a growing war of words over jobs and paychecks in America between Ivanka Trump and a headline-making Democrat on Capitol Hill. NBC’s Morgan Radford is following that one for us. Good morning, Morgan.
MORGAN RADFORD: Good morning, guys. That’s right, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s bold new legislation, known as the Green New Deal, aims to provide guarantee jobs to all Americans. And it’s fired up lawmakers and voters on both sides of the aisle. But this morning, it’s comments from the President’s daughter and White House senior adviser that are taking the internet by storm.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Ivanka Trump’s War of Words; Takes On Ocasio-Cortez Over Controversial “Green Deal”]
This morning, White House Senior Adviser Ivanka Trump in the midst of a social media firestorm for these comments to Fox News.
STEVE HILTON [THE NEXT REVOLUTION, FOX NEWS]: You’ve got people who will see that offer from the Democrats, from the progressive Democrats, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, “Here’s the Green New Deal, here’s the guarantee of a job,” and think, “Yeah, that’s what I want, that’s simple.” What do you say to those people?
IVANKA TRUMP: I don’t think most Americans, in their heart, want to be given something.
RADFORD: In an explosive new interview, the First Daughter taking on freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over her Green New Deal.
REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ [D-NY]: Today is a big day for people who have been left behind.
RADFORD: The proposal seeks to eliminate carbon emissions by 2030, provide universal health care, and guarantee jobs and a family-sustaining minimum wage for all Americans.
IVANKA TRUMP: I’ve spent a lot of time traveling around this country over the last four years. People want to work for what they get. So I think this idea of a guaranteed minimum is not something most people want.
RADFORD: The reaction to Trump’s remarks was swift and fierce on social media, with some calling the First Daughter “entitled,” “tone deaf,” and “out of touch.” One user tweeting, “You, a lady that has been given everything, have no right to speak about most Americans.”
Cortez herself not backing down, responding to the First Daughter’s comments on Twitter, writing, “As a person who actually worked for tips and hourly wages in my life, instead of having to learn about it second hand, I can tell you people want to be paid enough to live. A living wage isn’t a gift, it’s a right. Workers are often paid far less than the value they create.”
Ivanka responding to the backlash with a tweet of her own, saying, “I support a minimum wage. I do not, however, believe in a minimum guarantee for people ‘unwilling to work,’ which was the question asked of me.”
DONALD TRUMP: The so-called Green New Deal. [Crowd booing]
RADFORD: President Trump is also no fan of the plan. While Republican leaders say it’s unrealistic and too expensive.
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO [R-WY]: The Green New Deal drives a stake into the heart of our strong and healthy and growing economy.
RADFORD: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to put the Green New Deal to a vote before the Senate’s August recess, which is scheduled to begin on August 5th.
CRAIG MELVIN: Alright, Morgan Radford. Morgan, thank you.
