ABC on Monday decided that live coverage of Neil Gorsuch’s swearing in was a good time to twice remind viewers that Democrats feel the Supreme Court seat was “stolen” from them. Correspondent Cecilia Vega also ran through a litany of unrelated Trump failures as she reported live from the Rose Garden.
Vega chided, “This has been an extremely divisive confirmation process. Democrats angry, feeling that this seat was stolen from them, blocked that choice by President Obama, Merrick Garland.”
In case you missed it, she underlined, “They feel like this seat was stolen from them. And Republicans had to change the rules in the Senate in order to get this seat taken here by Gorsuch today.”
Throwing cold water on the confirmation, Vega focused on the unrelated negatives: “This has been a tumultuous start to this presidency. Health care has not passed. The President's travel ban is still held up in the courts.”
Finally, she noted, “This victory comes within his first 100 and you can bet that they are making note of that going forward.”
Last week, ABC focused on the “partisan battlefield” and “controversial play” by Republicans to confirm Justice Gorsuch.
A transcript of the live coverage is below:
ABC
4/10/17
11:20GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Gracious remarks there from our newest Supreme Court Justice, Neil Gorsuch there in the Rose Garden of the White House. He'll join a Court which will be at full strength for the first time in over a year, since the death of Justice Scalia last year. Going to Cecilia Vega, who is in the Rose Garden as well as we see a hug from his former boss, Justice Kennedy from Justice Gorsuch. And, Cecilia, the President talked about this beautiful, sunny spring day in the Rose garden, talked about a new optimism sweeping the country. This is one of the biggest accomplishments of the first 100 days for the President, which have been pretty rough.
CECILIA VEGA: It certainly is and, as you say, George, it comes on an absolutely beautiful day in the Rose Garden, day 81 of this presidency for Donald Trump. And, as you say, the biggest political victory, no doubt yet for him. This has been a White House that has been anxious to fill this seat, left vacant after about 14 months ago after the death of Antonin Scalia. His wife is here today. This has been an extremely divisive confirmation process. Democrats angry, feeling that this seat was stolen from them, blocked that choice by President Obama, Merrick Garland. They feel like this seat was stolen from them. Republicans had to change the rules in the Senate in order to get this seat taken here by Gorsuch today. But, you know, this has been a tumultuous start to this presidency. Health care has not passed. The President’s travel ban is still held up in the courts. But you heard President Trump here say today this one comes, this victory comes within his first 100 and you can bet that they are making note of that going forward, George.
