The latest pettiness in American politics was Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Wednesday suggestions to President Trump that since the government was shut down, he should postpone his State of the Union address or find another venue. Being the Democratic Party cheerleaders that they were, ABC’s World News Tonight praised it as Pelosi’s “bold power play” against a Republican President.
Of course, ABC senior congressional and anti-GOP correspondent Mary Bruce was the one to file this Pelosi love letter of a report. “In a bold power play, the Speaker of the House tonight is sending a pointed message to President Trump, suggesting no deal to reopen the government, no State of the Union,” she boasted.
“In her surprise letter, the Speaker writing: ‘Dear Mr. President, … Sadly, given the security concerns, and unless government reopens this week, I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date,’” Bruce gushed. “Pelosi's other suggestion, ‘Consider delivering your State of the Union address in writing.’”
Bruce touted Pelosi’s brilliance by noting that by rejecting Trump’s SOTU it “would deny the President a powerful platform to make the case for his border wall.” She also boosted Pelosi’s flimsy assertion that “this isn't about politics, but a matter of security. With the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security suffering from the shutdown.”
The ABC reporter didn’t care much about what Republicans thought about Pelosi’s move nor the DHS Secretary’s contradiction of the Democratic Speaker:
Tonight, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy calls Pelosi's move "Unbecoming of a speaker." Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen tweeting, "The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Secret Service are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union." And tonight, no word yet from President Trump.
As ABC was wrapping up the segment, sensationalist anchor David Muir flashed his ignorance in this ridiculous question to Bruce: “Mary, bottom line, does Speaker Pelosi really have the power to disinvite the President from the State of the Union?”
“Yes, David. The speaker of the House does have the power to block the president from delivering the State of the Union from the House chamber,” Bruce responded (putting emphasis on the House chamber for her anchor). “[B]ut he could deliver it elsewhere, possibly even from the Republican-controlled Senate. And tonight, we're told Republicans are weighing their options.”
The liberal media lost their minds when a Republican shouted “you lie” at President Obama during one of his SOTU addresses. Now, they’re championing Democrats barring a Republican president from the House floor.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
January 16, 2019
6:40:38 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: No response yet from the White House to that suggestion from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that President Trump postpone his State of the Union Address. But this question tonight, does she have the power to make that happen? Mary Bruce on the hill.
[Cuts to video]
MARY BRUCE: In a bold power play, the Speaker of the House tonight is sending a pointed message to President Trump, suggesting no deal to reopen the government, no State of the Union.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Madam speaker, is the 29th off the calendar as of now?
NANCY PELOSI: I'm waiting to hear back from the President.
BRUCE: In her surprise letter, the Speaker writing: "Dear Mr. President, … Sadly, given the security concerns, and unless government reopens this week, I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date." Pelosi's other suggestion, "Consider delivering your State of the Union address in writing."
(…)
BRUCE: Postponing the annual address would deny the President a powerful platform to make the case for his border wall. Still, the Speaker insists this isn't about politics, but a matter of security. With the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security suffering from the shutdown.
PELOSI: This is a housekeeping matter in the Congress of the United States so we can honor the responsibility of the invitation we extended to the President. He can make it from the Oval Office.
BRUCE: Tonight, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy calls Pelosi's move "Unbecoming of a speaker." Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen tweeting, "The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Secret Service are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union." And tonight, no word yet from President Trump.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: So, let's get to Mary, she’s live up on the hill again tonight for us. Mary, bottom line, does Speaker Pelosi really have the power to disinvite the President from the State of the Union?
BRUCE: Yes, David. The speaker of the House does have the power to block the president from delivering the State of the Union from the House chamber, but he could deliver it elsewhere, possibly even from the Republican-controlled Senate. And tonight, we're told Republicans are weighing their options. David?
MUIR: Mary Bruce with us again tonight. Thank you, Mary.
