For weeks, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Democratic candidate Rita Hart had been plotting to steal Iowa's second congressional district from Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who rightfully won the election back in 2020. But on Wednesday, Hart called it quits on her dubious efforts and NewsBusters couldn’t help but notice that the likes of ABC, CBS, and NBC refused to give airtime to the scheme at any point from start to finish.
As NewsBusters previously reported, the evening newscasts from these networks refused to cover the Democratic plot to undo the results of an election certified by a bipartisan panel of Iowa election officials.
Later, they also refused to tell viewers about how Pelosi had claimed it was her “right” to erroneously ignore the will of the voters in the district and supplant Miller-Meeks with a Democrat of her choosing, in this case, Hart. And at the time, Iowa Republican leaders were calling it a “coup.”
Luckily, Hart called it quits, but didn’t leave the scene quietly.
“Breaking tonight, the partisan battle over disputed congressional seat in Iowa is over tonight. The Democrat challenging the election of her Republican opponent by just six votes last November says she's done, finished,” announced Fox News anchor Bret Baier during Special Report.
The report was delivered by congressional correspondent Chad Pergram, who pointed out how Hart was still bellyaching as she flamed out:
In a statement, Hart called the outcome of the race “a stain on democracy.” She added: “the truth has not prevailed.” Hart said there was a toxic campaign of political disinformation. Iowa election officials certified Miller-Meeks is the winner by six votes. The closest House race in a century.
“Well, Democrat Rita Hurt said conversations with people she trusts prompted her to withdraw her challenge to GOP Iowa Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks,” he noted.
Pergram also noted that Hart backed off after “Miller-Meeks got backup from the top. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy parachuted into Iowa after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that the House could unseat Miller-Meeks.” NBC Nightly News used a soundbite from McCarthy's trip to Iowa, but only showed his comments about Rep. Matt Gaetz's (R-FL) alleged sex trafficking scandal.
According to Pergram, Democrats were looking to leverage their failed seat-stealing plot to bolster their assault on democracy in their efforts to weaken election integrity. “Democrats are making a big push for Congress to pass voting rights bills. Democrats hope to use a disputed race like this to make a point,” he reported.
As they were wrapping up the segment, Baier wanted to remind folks that while Hart had called it quits, Pelosi was ready to fight on:
BAIER: Chad, just to be clear, while the Democrat Rita Hart pulled out, stop going forward, Speaker Pelosi was ready to move forward, right?
PERGRAM: That’s right. She said she could see a scenario – and I asked her – that they would remove Miller-Meeks and maybe seat Rita Hart. But, you know, it takes a two-thirds vote to kick something out of the House. That's only happened five times. And several of those expulsions were during the Civil War.
Instead of telling their viewers about how their friends in the Democratic Party had tried and failed to unseat a duly elected Republican, ABC’s World News Tonight, the CBS Evening News, and NBC Nightly News were busy helping President Biden sell his infrastructure bill loaded with liberal pet projects.
The network blackout of Speaker Pelosi’s efforts to steal a House seat from a Republican was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from WeatherTech on ABC, Ford Motor Company on CBS, and Consumer Cellular on NBC.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
March 31, 2021
6:20:07 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Breaking tonight, the partisan battle over disputed congressional seat in Iowa is over tonight. The Democrat challenging the election of her Republican opponent by just six votes last November says she's done, finished. Congressional correspondent Chad Pergram is live on Capitol Hill tonight. Chad, what prompted the move?
CHAD PERGRAM: Good evening, Bret. Well, Democrat Rita Hurt said conversations with people she trusts prompted her to withdraw her challenge to GOP Iowa Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks. This came as Miller-Meeks got backup from the top. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy parachuted into Iowa after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that the House could unseat Miller-Meeks.
[Cuts to video]
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): It is the people's House, not Pelosi's house. And the idea that Democrats want to turn over an election after it's been counted, recounted, and a bipartisan election board had voted. It's time to move on.
[Cuts back to live]
PERGRAM: Hart agreed. In a statement, Hart called the outcome of the race “a stain on democracy.” She added: “the truth has not prevailed.” Hart said there was a toxic campaign of political disinformation. Iowa election officials certified Miller-Meeks is the winner by six votes. The closest House race in a century. Democrats contend election officials never counted 22 ballots.
[Cuts to video]
ROSS WILBURN (Iowa Democratic Party chair): It's about following the democratic process and making sure that all Iowans have their voice heard. And their voice is their vote.
[Cuts back to live]
PERGRAM: Democrats are making a big push for Congress to pass voting rights bills. Democrats hope to use a disputed race like this to make a point. But the House is still probing another race. Republican Jim Oberweis lost to Illinois Democrat Laura Underwood. Oberweis appealed to the House, but McCarthy doesn't back that challenge either. Bret.
BAIER: Chad, just to be clear, while the Democrat Rita Hart pulled out, stop going forward, Speaker Pelosi was ready to move forward, right?
PERGRAM: That’s right. She said she could see a scenario – and I asked her – that they would remove Miller-Meeks and maybe seat Rita Hart. But, you know, it takes a two-thirds vote to kick something out of the House. That's only happened five times. And several of those expulsions were during the Civil War.
BAIER: Chad Pergram, the man with all the facts up on Capitol Hill. Chad, thanks.
