Once Joe Biden became president, CBS News quickly shifted from speaking truth to power to operating as a house organ for the state. On Wednesday, CBS This Morning co-hosts pestered moderate Democratic senator Joe Manchin about being too bipartisan and the need to just follow orders.
Tony Dokoupil began the segment by fretting about the chances of COVID relief: “It would be nearly impossible for Senate Democrats to pass any relief package along party lines without support from Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. The Democrats' vote is essential given that there is a 50/50 split in the chamber.”
Dokoupil wondered when the Democrat should, essentially, just shut up and support Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer:
Senator, since time is of the essence and people want this relief, the question I think becomes how long are you going to give the bipartisan negotiation process before you say, “Okay, Democrats, we just have to do this?”
The co-host again worried that the left can’t trust Manchin:
There's been some objection among Republicans to the overall size of the package, $1.9 trillion. You said repeatedly and you've told the President that you want this to be bipartisan. My question is, is that bipartisan comment a red line for you? In other words, if there are no Republican votes for the final package, will you not vote for it?
On Tuesday, co-host Gayle King pushed the idea that the Biden administration had already explained how much money is needed for COVID and we should simply trust them.
Journalism: Speaking truth to power. But only when Republicans are president.
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A partial transcript is below:
CBS This Morning
2/3/2021
8:03GAYLE KING: Now, some of the biggest differences between the two plans involve unemployment insurance, funding to reopen schools, and exactly who qualifies for those stimulus checks. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will not dilute the President's package in a meaningful way. The Senate voted 50-49 last night to start the process of approving that plan along party lines if the Democrats choose to do that.
TONY DOKOUPIL: If they choose to do so it would be nearly impossible for Senate Democrats to pass any relief package along party lines without support from Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. The Democrats' vote is essential given that there is a 50/50 split in the chamber. Joe Manchin joins us now. Senator, Good morning to you.
...
DOKOUPIL: There's been some objection among Republicans to the overall size of the package, $1.9 trillion. You said repeatedly and you've told the President that you want this to be bipartisan. My question is, is that bipartisan comment a red line for you? In other words, if there are no Republican votes for the final package, will you not vote for it?JOE MANCHIN: Well, it’s not that. That’s not the red line. The red line is are we going to have an open amendment process and look at everything and basically take the facts that we have?
...
DOKOUPIL: Senator, since time is of the essence and people want this relief, the question I think becomes how long are you going to give the bipartisan negotiation process before you say, “Okay, Democrats, we just have to do this?”
MANCHIN: Well, no, no no. The votes will go quickly, Tony. The bottom line is this process moves. But they just have to have an open process so amendments can be made.
