On Monday's New Day on CNN, as the RNC's Sean Spicer complained about Senate Democrats planning to obstruct some of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominees, co-host Alisyn Camerota incorrectly recalled that Republican Senator Mitch McConnell stated that his goal was to make Barack Obama a "one-term president" before Obama was even sworn in, and disputed Spicer's claim to the contrary that it was "a year after he got into office." Camerota: "I think your timeline might be wrong. I will check that, Sean, because I think it was right when President Obama was elected..."
In fact, McConnell's "one-term president" comment came in October 2010 in an interview with National Journal just weeks before the midterm elections and almost two years after President Obama was elected. The Washington Post even gave President Obama and other top Democrats "two Pinocchios" in 2012 for making a similar claim about the timeline of the McConnell remark.
The subject was raised at about 8:13 a.m. ET as Spicer complained about the Senate's top Democrat, New York Senator Chuck Schumer, already announcing plans to obstruct cabinet appointments. Camerota smiled and condescendingly responded: "So the Republicans didn't slow roll or dig in on anything, right, that President Obama wanted? They wanted to help and avoid gridlock, too."
After Spicer argued that Republicans did not try to hold up Obama's cabinet nominees, Camerota followed up: "Well, look, what Chuck Schumer said, Sean, what the Democrats have said is if they're not comfortable with one of the nominations, why should they go along with it. They'll do whatever they can."
She seemed to allude to McConnell's "one-term president" comments as she soon added: "And the Republicans, again, before President Obama ever got into office, you know, famously said, 'We are going to oppose every possible thing that we can.' I mean, isn't this sort of how the game is played in Washington sadly?"
The RNC official countered:
No, actually, again, just to correct the record, Mitch McConnell, a year after President Obama was in, in a political setting, "Our goal is to make him a one-term President." What Republican doesn't want to make sure that we have one-term people of the opposition party? That's our job, is to make sure we elect more Republicans.
So that comment was said a year after he got into office. The idea that they are now trying to obstruct this cabinet prior to him even taking office, is quite contrary to anything that's even come close to this.
Still unconvinced, Camerota wrapped up the segment: "I think your timeline might be wrong. I will check that, Sean, because I think it was right when President Obama was elected, but, either way, you and I, there'll be more days for you and I to debate all of this. Sean, thank you very much."
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Monday, January 2, New Day on CNN:
8:13 a.m. ET
SEAN SPICER, RNC: It is sad that Senator Schumer has chosen to politicize everything because each of these individuals is an unbelievably (sic) agent of success and change who's going to help this country move forward, and the idea that the Democrats' choice is to figure out from day one how to oppose every one of these individuals is just -- is frankly sad.ALISYN CAMEROTA (smiling): So the Republicans didn't slow roll or dig in on anything, right, that President Obama wanted? They wanted to help and avoid gridlock, too.
SPICER: No, no ... I think there's no question that we have a philosophical and political difference on where this country should go and policies that should be enacted, but we believed and we showed through our actions in 2008 that the President, if they nominate qualified people they should be nominated (sic). The numbers speak for themselves. We confirmed 13 people in his cabinet within five days -- seven before he even took office. I don' t know how you can prove that more than those kind of actions. So the idea that the Senate-
CAMEROTA: Well, look, what Chuck Schumer said, Sean, what the Democrats have said is if they're not comfortable with one of the nominations, why should they-
SPICER: They actually put a list out.
CAMEROTA: -go along with it. They'll do whatever they can.
SPICER: Hold on, they put a list of 10 people out saying we're going to oppose these 10 people not on the basis of qualification to hold office. Not on their qualification to enact change or that they were the best person, but because they thought they could score political points.
CAMEROTA: And the Republicans, again, before President Obama ever got into office, you know, famously said, "We are going to oppose every possible thing that we can." I mean, isn't this sort of how the game is played in Washington sadly?
SPICER: No, actually, again, just to correct the record, Mitch McConnell, a year after President Obama was in, in a political setting, "Our goal is to make him a one-term President." What Republican doesn't want to make sure that we have one-term people of the opposition party? That's our job, is to make sure we elect more Republicans. So that comment was said a year after he got into office. The idea that they are now trying to obstruct this cabinet prior to him even taking office, is quite contrary to anything that's even come close to this.
CAMEROTA: I think your timeline might be wrong. I will check that, Sean, because I think it was right when President Obama was elected, but, either way, you and I, there'll be more days for you and I to debate all of this. Sean, thank you very much.
