In the wake of the Democrats' humiliating defeat in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District Tuesday night, members of the party were in a rush to cast blame on someone. And for many Democrats that blame fell on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Even with the loud calls for new leadership, CBS News decided to omit them from their reporting Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, ABC’s coverage simply brushed over them in a 40-second-long news brief. NBC was the only network in the Big Three to give the blaming serious consideration.
While CBS Evening News didn’t mention the heavy criticism of Pelosi, they did entertain the idea, from other Democrats, that the party’s brand was “toxic.” “We better take a good, long, strong look in the mirror and realize that the problem is us. It's the party,” Congressman Tim Ryan told CBS’s Nancy Cordes. She also read from a social media post of another, saying: “’We need a genuinely new message,’ wrote Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, ‘A serious jobs plan that reaches all Americans.’”
On ABC’s World News Tonight, Anchor David Muir and Senior White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega simply brushed over the results of the election, including the criticism of the party and Pelosi. “We turn now to that special election in Georgia overnight, being closely watched by the White House and the country,” announced Muir. “Republicans holding onto their seat, Karen Handel winning.”
The report lasted roughly 40 seconds (including Muir), with Vega just saying that:
Exactly. And the Democrats spent more than five times as much as Republicans on this race, David. There is a lot of soul searching going on here in Washington today. Some Democrats say that business as usual just isn't cutting it. Others are pointing the finger directly at Nancy Pelosi, calling for a change in leadership. But David, tonight, this White House is celebrating. This is a win.
NBC Nightly News was the only network program to dedicate serious time to the criticism of Minority Leader Pelosi. “A House special election they had high hopes of winning only to see their hopes dashed again. The latest in a string of defeats,” declared Anchor Lester Holt at the start of the segment. “Some pointing the finger now at House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.”
Correspondent Kristen Welker noted how a major strategy for Handel’s victorious campaign was to tie Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff to Pelosi. The ads Handel was running were effectively “undercutting Ossoff's message of change,” Welker explained.
In an interview with Welker, Texas Democratic Congressman Filemore Vela Jr. said that “as long as Nancy Pelosi is the leader of the Democratic Party, it's going to be very difficult to win.” And according to Welker, the Democratic leader was not talking about the dissent within the ranks. “Pelosi's spokesperson not responding to those calls for her to go and instead said: ‘Republicans voters don't get to select the leaders of the Democratic Party,’” Welker reported.
Welker did try to deflate the hopes of Republicans, saying: “Still, Republicans may have their own reasons to worry. The races they've won so far are GOP strongholds and Democrats are outperforming their 2016 numbers.”
CBS and ABC can not take the called for leadership change seriously if they want too, but it won’t help Pelosi or the Democrats if that’s what is really needed.
Transcripts below:
CBS Evening News
June 21, 2017
6:35:35 PM Eastern(…)
NANCY CORDES: Ohio Democrat Tim Ryan says it shows his party's brand is toxic.
TIM RYAN: We better take a good, long, strong look in the mirror and realize that the problem is us. It's the party.
CORDES: "We need a genuinely new message," wrote Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, "A serious jobs plan that reaches all Americans." The party had hoped to capitalize on President Trump's historically low approval ratings, but Democrats have now lost all four special elections to fill seats vacated by Trump appointees. The House Democratic Campaign operation tried to console the troops in a memo, insisting the party has enough momentum to flip control of the House in 2018, and party leaders warned against reading too much into last night's results since Georgia's sixth district hasn't gone blue in 39 years.
(…)
ABC
World News Night
June 21, 2017
6:40:49 PM EasternDAVID MUIR: We turn now to that special election in Georgia overnight, being closely watched by the White House and the country. Republicans holding onto their seat, Karen Handel winning. So, let's get right to ABC’s Senior White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega tonight. Because Cecilia as you know, this was the most spent ever on a congressional race and Democrats still could not pull this off. The President now 4-0.
CECILIA VEGA: Exactly. And the Democrats spent more than five times as much as Republicans on this race, David. There is a lot of soul searching going on here in Washington today. Some Democrats say that business as usual just isn't cutting it. Others are pointing the finger directly at Nancy Pelosi, calling for a change in leadership. But David, tonight, this White House is celebrating. This is a win.
MUIR: Okay, Cecilia Vega live from the White House. Thank you.
...
NBC Nightly News
June 21, 2017
7:12:28 PM EasternLESTER HOLT: Let's talk now about the blame game under way among Democrats tonight left soul searching after a disappointing defeat in Georgia. A House special election they had high hopes of winning only to see their hopes dashed again. The latest in a string of defeats. Some pointing the finger now at House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. We get more from NBC's Kristen Welker.
(…)
KRISTEN WELKER: Some Democrats also taking aim at leadership after the GOP consistently linked the Democratic challenger in Georgia to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in ads, undercutting Ossoff's message of change.
FILEMON VELA: As long as Nancy Pelosi is the leader of the Democratic Party, it's going to be very difficult to win.
WELKER: Pelosi's spokesperson not responding to those calls for her to go and instead said: “Republicans voters don't get to select the leaders of the Democratic Party.” Still, Republicans may have their own reasons to worry. The races they've won so far are GOP strongholds and Democrats are outperforming their 2016 numbers.
MARK HALPERIN: They have to have a message that contrasts with what Republicans want to do, not just say we're anti-Trump.
WELKER: All underscoring Democrats still haven't found their Trump card. Kristen Welker, NBC News, the White House.
