Over the course of the day on Monday, MSNBC repeatedly warned that Republicans may “seize” on left-wing calls to defund police departments across the country in an effort to “demonize” Democrats. There was less concern that the radical policy proposal was outside of the mainstream and could endanger public safety.
“The phrase, ‘defund the police,’ Madam Speaker, as you probably know by now, it’s a phrase that has already been seized upon by those on the other end of the political spectrum,” anchor Craig Melvin fretted to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a softball interview late in the 11:00 a.m. ET hour. He further bemoaned: “They’re using the phrase to paint you and some others as radical.”
Pelosi responded in part: “Well, what it means is let us – the resources that we have, let them spend it – let us spend it in a way that gives the most protection to the American people. Protection for their safety, protection for their rights.” Melvin never followed up to press her on whether the anti-police slogan was actually, in fact, “radical.”
In the 12:00 p.m. ET hour, anchor Andrea Mitchell similarly worried to Democratic Senator Cory Booker about how Republicans would use the issue to criticize Democrats: “Let me ask you about a political backlash, potentially, to the whole protest demand of defunding police....defunding could be used by opponents, by the President, to demonize Democrats in this election year, both in the Senate and of course the national campaign.”
Booker jumped at the chance to bash President Trump:
Well, anytime you hear a slogan being articulated by activists who are seeking an end that could probably inspire a lot of common folks. You can be sure that Donald Trump is going to try to weaponize that slogan. He tried to weaponize “Black Lives Matter,” he tried to weaponize a “Green New Deal,” and he’s trying to weaponize these. But, again, listen to the activists, the spirit of what they’re calling to – a society that invests in human well-being. Therefore, not necessitating as much of an investment in police departments.
In the 1:00 p..m ET hour, while reporting on policing reform legislation being proposed by congressional Democrats, correspondent Leanne Caldwell joined the chorus of scolding Republicans for daring to point out how extreme the defund police movement was:
And so, but where it goes from here is a huge topic of discussion because it is not yet seeing any support from Republicans. And especially since the President tweeted just before Democrats unveiled this legislation, talking about defunding the police and tying Democrats to that movement, calling them crazy radicals and he is the president of law and order. So he is trying to create this as a wedge issue, making it more difficult up here on Capitol Hill for anything to get done.
Only the liberal media could look at a radical position promoted by the left-wing base of the Democratic Party and preemptively decry Republicans “seizing” on the issue.
Here are excerpts of the June 8 coverage:
MSNBC Live
11:47 AM(...)
CRAIG MELVIN: The phrase, “defund the police,” Madam Speaker, as you probably know by now, it’s a phrase that has already been seized upon by those on the other end of the political spectrum. They’re using the phrase to paint you and some others as radical. The phrase, “defund the police,” what does that mean to you?
NANCY PELOSI: Well, what it means is let us – the resources that we have, let them spend it – let us spend it in a way that gives the most protection to the American people. Protection for their safety, protection for their rights. Funding of police is a local matter, as you know. From the standpoint of our legislation, we’re not going to that place. What we’re doing is talking about how we change policy to make our policing more just and that. There’s some issues that we ask police to do, mental health issues or policing in schools, and all the rest, that perhaps we can shuffle some of that money around. But those are local decisions. We take an oath to protect and defend the American people. Their safety is our top priority. And so, again, respectful of those in law enforcement who take pride in their work, disrespectful of those who do not. We want to work together as to how we go forward.
(...)
Andrea Mitchell Reports
12:15 PM(...)
ANDREA MITCHELL: Let me ask you about a political backlash, potentially, to the whole protest demand of defunding police. Now, I know it’s, in many cities, such as, or beginning in Los Angeles and New York, to be reallocating money for other kinds of enforcement or other kinds of community work, but defunding could be used by opponents, by the President, to demonize Democrats in this election year, both in the Senate and of course the national campaign. And do you have any, as a former mayor, do you have any sympathy for what Mayor Frey in Minneapolis experienced where he was, he’s a police reformer elected on police reform, and he was shouted out of a rally, out of a protest rally this weekend.
SEN. CORY BOOKER [D-NJ]: Well, anytime you hear a slogan being articulated by activists who are seeking an end that could probably inspire a lot of common folks. You can be sure that Donald Trump is going to try to weaponize that slogan. He tried to weaponize “Black Lives Matter,” he tried to weaponize a “Green New Deal,” and he’s trying to weaponize these. But, again, listen to the activists, the spirit of what they’re calling to – a society that invests in human well-being. Therefore, not necessitating as much of an investment in police departments.
(...)
MSNBC Live
1:05 PMCHRIS JANSING: So what about this bill? Does it have bipartisan support in the House and what about in the Senate?
LEANNE CALDWELL: Not yet, Chris. The bipartisanship is not yet there. And what this bill, it’s a direct response to the most recent killings at the hands of African-Americans – at the hands of police of African-Americans, at the hands of the police. You know, it bans choke holds, which is how George Floyd died. It bans no-knock entries for drug cases, which is how Breonna Taylor died. And so, but where it goes from here is a huge topic of discussion because it is not yet seeing any support from Republicans. And especially since the President tweeted just before Democrats unveiled this legislation, talking about defunding the police and tying Democrats to that movement, calling them crazy radicals and he is the president of law and order. So he is trying to create this as a wedge issue, making it more difficult up here on Capitol Hill for anything to get done.
(...)
