When we say that MSNBC is DNC TV, we aren’t kidding. MSNBC’s Craig Melvin “interviewed” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday and allowed her to speak for 85 percent of the discussion. During a 12 minute and 40 second interview, the Democrat talked for 10 minutes and 54 seconds. One answer went for 3 minutes and 46 seconds!
This is quite a contrast to the massive amount of interruptions the network provided during the Republican National Convention. During the nearly 13 minute segment, Melvin only actually asked four questions. One of them was a total softball, dismissing concerns about mail-in voter fraud as “unsubstantiated":
The President, as you know, has made a number of unsubstantiated claims of mail-in voter fraud. In fact, it's been a bit of a centerpiece at a number of his rally speeches. Just this weekend, he said the Democrats are rigging the election because it's the only way your party could win. How do you counter this messaging from the President?
During the four nights of prime-time coverage of the Democratic Convention, MSNBC interrupted for a scant 21 seconds. For the Republicans, it was 3 hours and 21 minutes, 600 times more.
When Jonathan Capehart on Saturday interviewed Rudy Giuliani, he constantly interrupted, demanding, “Answer the question!” and lecturing his guest: “I’m not covering conspiracy theories, I’m not covering lies.” You can be assured, there were no four minute-long answers.
As for the inference by Melvin that mail-in voting is problem-free, this wasn’t what CBS found. In July, the network did an experiment, having a journalist mail 100 ballots to himself. After four days, fully 21 percent hadn’t materialized. That number eventually improved, but concluded with a shocking three percent failure rate. That number is terrible in a close election.
Here is another example: In one New York primary in 2020, mail-in voting resulted in a six week delay to call an election. Of course, Melvin never mentioned any of this. He was too busy sitting quietly and not interrupting Pelosi.
This Democratic infomercial posing as an “interview” was sponsored by Chevrolet and Carvana.
A transcript of the questions can be found below. Click “expand” to read more.
MSNBC Live With Craig Melvin
9/14/2020
11:07:26 to 11:20:06
TOTAL TIME: 12 minutes and 40 seconds
PELOSI SPEAKING: 10 minutes and 54 seconds
CRAIG MELVIN: I want to bring in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now, a Democrat who represents San Francisco. Madame speaker, let's start in California with the wildfires racing. First of all, have you talked with the president directly about getting your district and state some additional relief?
...
NANCY PELOSI: I understand he had an anti-science rally, is what the press reported. It was an anti-science rally in Nevada.
...
MELVIN: Madame Speaker, let's talk about the pandemic that continues to grip this country. Specifically, another relief bill. The Senate not taking up the house's bill. The Senate couldn't even pass its own bill. Here we are approaching some 200,000 deaths. Millions of Americans are unemployed, underemployed, as well. Will we have another round of negotiations before the election?
[Pelosi speaks for 3 minutes and 46 secvonds.]
...
PELOSI: Where they are in all of this is an insult to the intelligence of the American people and an anti-science, anti-fight against the coronavirus.
MELVIN: Madame Speaker, you just eluded to the election. We are 50 days away now. The President, as you know, has made a number of unsubstantiated claims of mail-in voter fraud. In fact, it's been a bit of a centerpiece at a number of his rally speeches. Just this weekend, he said the Democrats are rigging the election because it's the only way your party could win. How do you counter this messaging from the President?
...
MELVIN: Madame Speaker, with all due respect, you just said, "Forget him."
PELOSI: Forget him.
MELVIN: Talking about the President. You haven't talked to him about the wildfires. I get the impression you probably haven't talked to him about the coronavirus relief bill. Have you and the President just stopped talking? Is that where we are?
...
MELVIN: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, we’ll have to leave it there. Speaker, thank you for your time this morning.
PELOSI: Always my pleasure. Thank you, Craig. Thank you.
