A couple of the broadcast networks had a serious case of the sads Friday morning as Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced she was ditching the Democratic Party label and becoming an independent. This was much to the chagrin of ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS Mornings as they lamented the Democratic Party majority in the Senate unexpectedly shrink after initially securing 51 seats earlier this week.
ABC congressional correspondent Rachel Scott called it a “massive shake-up here on Capitol Hill” and framed Sinema’s decision as the latest headache she’s caused the party and President Biden. “She has been a major swing vote for Democrats, a key hold-out on parts of President Biden's domestic agenda,” she noted.
“The timing on this is notable. It comes just right after Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock won that critical runoff in Georgia handing Democrats an outright majority in the Senate,” she rhetorically groaned.
Scott also predicted more hassles for Democrats:
Now, Sinema insists nothing about her values or beliefs changed; that she'll continue to serve on committees, but she declined to say whether or not she will continue to caucus with Democrats. So even if the balance of power is not changing in the Senate, this could give Democrats a whole lot less breathing room that they were hoping for and, of course, she's up for re-election in 2024.
"And no doubt a big blow for them," added co-anchor Eva Pilgrim.
Over on CBS, chief election & campaign correspondent Robert Costa openly bemoaned what Sinema’s defection would mean for the left. “This is a significant development as we approach the coming year where there will be a divided Washington … And now just days after winning a Senate seat in Georgia with Senator Raphael Warnock winning that runoff, the Democrats are losing a Senate seat…” he told co-anchor Tony Dokoupil
Costa went on to add that Sinema was supposedly taking the extra step of leaving the Democratic caucus, unlike other independent senators, becoming a serious issue for the party:
And she will not be an independent like the two current independents who currently caucus with the Democratic Party. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Senator Angus King of Maine. She wants to be a true independent in the sense she won't attend Democratic caucus meetings. That means she will be a swing vote on things like the budget, the debt limit negotiations coming up in just a few months, and it's disappointing for many in her party who I've spoken with in the last hour.
Dokoupil wanted Costa to expand on “how it will impact, practically, the way power is welded in Washington.” To this, Costa warned that Sinema had been getting chummy with Republicans:
In some ways, this was not a surprising development for those in Washington who know Senator Sinema. She has built a relationship with many Republicans in recent years including the House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, who she has known in Congress for nearly a decade. And with senators like Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader.
“She is someone who has been crucial to Republicans as they think their own deal-making strategy, and she will continue to have that role,” he cautioned.
This lamenting for Democrats was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships Kohl’s on ABC and Comcast on CBS. Their contact information is linked.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s Good Morning America
December 9, 2022
7:14:42 a.m. EasternEVA PILGRIM: Now to that breaking news, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema announcing she is leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent. Congressional correspondent Rachel Scott is on Capitol Hill with these details. Good morning, to you, Rachel.
RACHEL SCOTT: Eva, good morning. And this news is just coming in. A massive shake-up here on Capitol Hill. Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has officially announced that she is leaving the Democratic Party, registering as an independent in the state of Arizona.
She has been a major swing vote for Democrats, a key hold-out on parts of President Biden's domestic agenda. And she announced this via tweet, just moments ago, saying, “I have joined the growing numbers of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my Independence from the broken partisan system in Washington.” I'm told she did inform Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer just last night.
The timing on this is notable. It comes just right after Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock won that critical runoff in Georgia handing Democrats an outright majority in the Senate.
Now, Sinema insists nothing about her values or beliefs changed; that she'll continue to serve on committees, but she declined to say whether or not she will continue to caucus with Democrats. So even if the balance of power is not changing in the Senate, this could give Democrats a whole lot less breathing room that they were hoping for and, of course, she's up for re-election in 2024. Eva.
PILGRIM: And no doubt a big blow for them. Rachel Scott, for us there. Thank you, Rachel.
CBS Mornings
December 9, 2022
7:04:28 a.m. Eastern(…)
ROBERT COSTA: This is a significant development as we approach the coming year where there will be a divided Washington; Republicans taking over the House. And now just days after winning a Senate seat in Georgia with Senator Raphael Warnock winning that runoff, the Democrats are losing a Senate seat in the sense that Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat, is now deciding to be an independent.
And she will not be an independent like the two current independents who currently caucus with the Democratic Party. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Senator Angus King of Maine. She wants to be a true independent in the sense she won't attend Democratic caucus meetings. That means she will be a swing vote on things like the budget, the debt limit negotiations coming up in just a few months, and it's disappointing for many in her party who I've spoken with in the last hour.
TONY DOKOUPIL: So, it's a change to the little letter next to her name. She's no longer a Democrat. She's going to be an independent. But, if you could say a bit more because it's complicated for people, how it will impact, practically, the way power is welded in Washington.
COSTA: In some ways this was not a surprising development for those in Washington who know Senator Sinema. She has built a relationship with many Republicans in recent years including the House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, who she has known in Congress for nearly a decade. And with senators like Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader.
She is someone who has been crucial to Republicans as they think their own deal-making strategy, and she will continue to have that role.
But she believes the Democratic Party in several interviews over the past day has drifted away from her position, the more centrist position. That is something that angers some Democrats who believe President Biden has pulled the party toward a more appealing direction that can win over swing voters, suburban voters.
But she has been an independent personality since she arrived in Washington, and she wants to underscore that as she moves ahead.
