Sunday’s edition of the NBC Nightly News Democratic-propaganda campaign featured the so-called “Big Idea” from Montana Governor Steve Bullock, despite the fact he failed to meet the requirements to make it onto the first primary debate stage.
Bullock’s “Big Idea” was “ending dark money spending in our elections” and to crack down on the First Amendment right to free speech via political donations.
Correspondent Harry Smith dutifully parroted Bullock’s apparent campaign line that “he is the only candidate in the field who won office in a Trump state.” “He tells voters that as he introduces himself,” Smith added. How sad is that?
“As president, Bullock would sign an executive order requiring corporations to disclose money spent toward elections and he wants a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United, the Supreme Court ruling that allows for nearly unlimited spending in politics,” Smith boasted on Bullock’s behalf.
Smith’s reporting there used the standard issue, liberal spin against the Citizens United ruling. What he failed to mention was that the ruling reaffirmed that political contributions were, in fact, an exercise of free speech. Bullock’s desired “constitutional amendment” would essentially gut the First Amendment.
The other part of Bullock’s plan, which was praised by NBC, was the “requiring corporations to disclose money spent toward elections.” Umm. They’re pretty much already required to do that. Anyone can go to OpenSecrets.org and use their Donor Lookup tool to discover who’s donating to who.
Interestingly enough, the Media Research Center used the tool back in 2016 to document who the liberal media was donating to. And to no one’s surprise, they were donating heavily to Democrats.
Compiling the donation history from ABC, CBS, NBC, The New York Time, and The Washington Post, NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham exposed how donations to Democrats outweighed donations to Republicans, 115 to 7. NBC donated to Democrats seven times compared to ZERO Republicans.
“The standout name on the short NBC list is Mary Murray, who lists herself as the network’s ‘Regional Director, Southern US, Latin America & Caribbean.’ Murray donated $250 to Obama for President in 2008 and $250 to Kentucky congressional candidate John Waltz in 2010, who was defeated by Republican Rep. Geoff Davis,” Graham wrote.
OpenSecret.org even wrote up their own analysis of political donations from media folks in October, 2016 with the blunt headline: “Journalists shower Hillary Clinton with campaign cash.”
Towards the end of Smith’s report, the NBC reporter allowed Bullock to make the bonkers claim that a restaurant’s bussing staff paid more taxes than some big businesses because of the Trump tax cuts.
“They care about that the economy isn't working for them. They see it rigged and then they look at the political system for relief and it's overwrought with undisclosed money and corporate spending,” Bullock decried as if the GOP was the only party with big donators.
“Getting rid of dark money. That's Steve Bullock's big idea,” Smith touted as he signed off.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
June 23, 2019
6:38:39 p.m. EasternKATE SNOW: Harry Smith has been talking with a lot of the Democratic contenders about the one issue that really motivates them, and tonight he talks with Montana Governor Steve Bullock for our series My Big Idea.
[Cuts to video]
HARRY SMITH: What's your big idea?
GOV. STEVE BULLOCK: My big idea is ending dark money spending in our elections.
SMITH: If there’s one thing Montana Governor Steve Bullock wants Democrats to know it's that he is the only candidate in the field who won office in a Trump state.
BULLOCK: Bullock.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Good, nice to see you.
SMITH: He tells voters that as he introduces himself. We met the Governor in Chicago.
BULLOCK: I want a combo.
SMITH: Taking time to grab lunch at the landmark Manny's deli.
BULLOCK: You know, I have been ten years in public office. I’ve been traveling as a candidate for president. No one has ever come up to me in a place like this or anywhere else and said, “you know what, I don't think there's enough money in our elections” or “I don't think there's enough spending.”
SMITH: As president, Bullock would sign an executive order requiring corporations to disclose money spent toward elections and he wants a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United. The Supreme Court ruling that allows for nearly unlimited spending in politics. [TO BULLOCK] Is this differentiator enough for you?
BULLOCK: Most folks if you walked around Manny’s, they don't care about campaign spending. But they care about the fact, like last year's tax cuts, whoever cleans up this place tonight paid more in taxes last year than 60 of the fortune 500 companies did. They care about that the economy isn't working for them. They see it rigged and then they look at the political system for relief and it's overwrought with undisclosed money and corporate spending.
SMITH: Getting rid of dark money. That's Steve Bullock's big idea. Harry Smith, NBC News, Chicago.
