On ABC’s Good Morning America on Thursday, while discussing the upcoming release of the Senate’s health care reform bill political analyst Matthew Dowd compared Republicans to naughty children trying to conceal misbehavior: “It’s as if you walk in your living room and your kids are trying to hide something under the cushion. You know they did something wrong.”
That response was prompted by fill-in co-host and World News Tonight anchor David Muir fretting: “One quick question, Matt, on health care today. Millions of Americans finally learn what’s in the Republican senators’ plan. Why the secrecy?” Dowd replied: “Well, you obviously have the secrecy because they think they’re doing something that the American public doesn’t want.”
After Dowd mocked the GOP as disobedient children, Muir remarked: “Matt always says it like it is.” Fellow co-host Robin Roberts agreed: “He certainly does.”
In an earlier report, Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce similarly pushed the juvenile theme: “Well, this game of health care hide-and-seek is coming to an end this morning....But after weeks of these closed-door negotiation it’s already being met with some frustration.”
She touted: “After weeks of secrecy and protest....Senate Republicans this morning will finally debut their plan to overhaul ObamaCare. But already there’s frustration on both sides of the aisle.” A soundbite ran of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ranting: “In my entire career in politics, I’ve never heard of a more radical or a more reckless process.”
On Tuesday, all three network morning shows hailed Democrats for conducting an obstructionist partisan stunt on the Senate floor to protest the legislation.
Here are excerpts of the June 22 coverage on GMA:
7:06 AM ET
(...)
MARY BRUCE: Well, this game of health care hide-and-seek is coming to an end this morning. Senate Republicans are finally going to be unveiling their plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare. But after weeks of these closed-door negotiation it’s already being met with some frustration.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: GOP to Unveil Senate Health Care Bill; Trump: I Hope We Are Going to Surprise You]
Overnight, the President set expectations.
DONALD TRUMP: I hope we’re going to surprise you with a really good plan. You know, I’ve been talking about a plan with heart. I said add some money to it.
BRUCE: After weeks of secrecy and protest –
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Do any of you guys have a copy of the bill?
PROTESTERS: No!
MAN: I don’t have – I haven’t seen it.
BRUCE: Senate Republicans this morning will finally debut their plan to overhaul ObamaCare. But already there’s frustration on both sides of the aisle.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN [R-AZ]: I haven’t seen it. How can I put my support behind it or not behind it if I haven’t seen it.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER [D-NY]: In my entire career in politics, I’ve never heard of a more radical or a more reckless process.
(...)
7:12 AM ET
DAVID MUIR: One quick question, Matt, on health care today. Millions of Americans finally learn what’s in the Republican senators’ plan. Why the secrecy?
MATTHEW DOWD: Well, you obviously have the secrecy because they think they’re doing something that the American public doesn’t want. It’s as if you walk in your living room and your kids are trying to hide something under the cushion. You know they did something wrong. And I think that’s a real problem.
MUIR: Alright, Matt Dowd with us this morning. Thanks so much for your insight. Matt always says it like it is.
ROBIN ROBERTS: He certainly does.
