All three networks on Tuesday rang in the new year by hyping “contentious” confirmation battles for Donald Trump’s cabinet and touted Democrats as “ready to battle.” On CBS This Morning, analyst Frank Luntz suggested liberals target just a few of Trump’s nominees. On NBC’s Today, Hallie Jackson warned of “a possibly contentious fight for the President-elect's top cabinet picks. Expected to be among the most controversial confirmations, Rex Tillerson up for Secretary of State.”
Jackson added, “Hearings have already been set for Senator Jeff Sessions, hoping to become attorney general. He will probably be asked to address accusations of racism that derailed his 1986 bid to become a federal judge.” Accusations Sessions has denied.”
On CBS This Morning, Luntz strategized:
FRANK LUNTZ: You have about ten Democrats that are willing to work with President Trump, not just on the nominee, but on other issues. But they're nervous that they're going to be attacked by the base, that they're going to be attacked by Bernie Sanders and his supporters. So if I were advising them, I'd tell them to pick one or two of these Trump nominees to focus on. And don't just simply oppose. Because the American people won't appreciate it. When you're elected president, you get to have your cabinet, but if there are one or two people who aren't qualified or capable or have conflicts of interest, hold them accountable. Not the entire cabinet of nominees.
On ABC’s Good Morning America, reporter Mary Bruce announced: “Democrats are ready to go to battle over those confirmation hearings. They're specifically targeting eight of Donald Trump's picks.”
A partial transcript of the Today segment, which aired at 7:10am ET on January 3, is below:
Today
1/3/17
7:10
HALLIE JACKSON: The second big item on the congressional agenda? A possibly contentious fight for the President-elect's top cabinet picks. Expected to be among the most controversial confirmations, Rex Tillerson up for Secretary of State. The ExxonMobil CEO will likely face questions about his business ties to Russia.
REP. NANCY PELOSI [D-HOUSE MINORITY LEADER]: The coziness with Vladimir Putin is very alarming and should have eliminated him, frankly.
JACKSON: Hearings have already been set for Senator Jeff Sessions, hoping to become attorney general. He will probably be asked to address accusations of racism that derailed his 1986 bid to become a federal judge. Accusations Sessions has denied. Still, if Senate Republicans stay unified, Trump will get the cabinet he wants.
