On Tuesday, both NBC’s Today and CBS This Morning were eager to promote congressional Democrats attacking Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson, noting the liberal lawmakers “slamming his lack of experience.”
On Today, correspondent Kristen Welker proclaimed: “Mr. Trump's pick for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson, is drawing fire from Democrats, who are slamming his lack of experience.” She then recited partisan talking points against the former GOP presidential candidate: “Senator Chuck Schumer writing, ‘I have serious concerns about Dr. Carson's lack of expertise.’ Senator Sherrod Brown, ‘This appointment raises real questions about how serious he is about actually getting anything done.’”
Welker concluded: “The Trump team insisting the neurosurgeon is the right fit.”
On CBS This Morning, correspondent Major Garrett noted Trump selecting Carson for HUD “despite previously stating Carson would be tapped for health policy.” The reporter then seemed to cast doubt on the cabinet nominee’s inner-city upbringing: “Carson, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, was raised by a single mother in Detroit....Carson's spokesman said yesterday Carson lived in subsidized housing as a child, but then he walked that back on Twitter.”
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Like Welker, Garrett pushed Democrats denouncing the choice: “Now, Democrats have already criticized Carson’s nomination. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote he has serious concerns about Carson's ‘lack of expertise,’ while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Carson ‘disturbingly unqualified.’”
At no point in the coverage on either network were the Democrat attacks described as partisan, nor did the normally civility-conscious media question the tone of the rhetoric.
Here are excerpts of the December 6 coverage from both broadcasts:
Today
7:14 AM ET(...)
KRISTEN WELKER: President-elect Donald Trump out to dinner with his family last night, poised to make more cabinet announcements this week. And today, he’s making one of his most critical nominees official, James Mattis, his choice for Secretary of Defense. The retired Marine Corps given the nickname “Mad Dog” by his own troops during the Iraq war, a term of high praise for his blunt talk and courageous actions.
DONALD TRUMP: Mad Dog Mattis.
WELKER: And while Mattis largely has bipartisan support, Mr. Trump's pick for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson, is drawing fire from Democrats, who are slamming his lack of experience. Senator Chuck Schumer writing, “I have serious concerns about Dr. Carson's lack of expertise.” Senator Sherrod Brown, “This appointment raises real questions about how serious he is about actually getting anything done.” The Trump team insisting the neurosurgeon is the right fit.
MIKE PENCE: We're excited to have Dr. Carson as our intended nominee.
(...)
CBS This Morning
7:14 AM ET(...)
MAJOR GARRETT: The President-elect also announced that former Republican rival Ben Carson was his nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, despite previously stating Carson would be tapped for health policy.
DONALD TRUMP: He's going to get very much involved in health care, where he's an expert.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Choosing Carson; New Questions About Surgeon as HUD Secretary Pick]
GARRETT: Carson, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, was raised by a single mother in Detroit and will likely now be an visible advocate for what transition officials say will be a multi-pronged effort to reduce urban poverty. When we toured Ferguson, Missouri with him last year, Carson discussed the need to rebuild America's inner cities.
BEN CARSON: We have some really major problems in this country. And that we are going to have to get a handle on them.
GARRETT: Carson's spokesman said yesterday Carson lived in subsidized housing as a child, but then he walked that back on Twitter. Now, Democrats have already criticized Carson’s nomination. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote he has serious concerns about Carson's “lack of expertise,” while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Carson “disturbingly unqualified.”
(...)
