MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell made an admirably even-handed observation Tuesday during the network’s live coverage of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh. On Andrea Mitchell Reports, the veteran host remarked on the “very aggressive” posturing taken by Senate Democrats in the hearing, at one point admitting that the Democrats’ ultimate goal was simply to obstruct.
Mitchell began by agreeing with MSNBC’s Brian Williams in his characterization of the event as “a car accident of a hearing.”
“It was a car wreck,” she opined, “and it is the Democrats being very aggressive in trying to say that this is being railroaded.” She initially appeared to take Senate Democrats’ side in the matter, summarizing:
They are saying, “Why the rush? We need to see the documents.” Grassley is saying there are more documents than have ever been seen before, but not proportionately. That the very small percentage they have seen or they are allowed to even discuss and ask questions from is frustrating the Democrats.
However, she went on to suggest that their “aggressive” behavior was largely political theater in the lead-up to the midterm elections: “They know they don’t have the votes, but they, especially with this election in play, want to show they are being very aggressive.”
“They don’t think they can stop it,” she continued, in reference to Kavanaugh’s confirmation. “But they’re going to try to slow it down as much as they can. I think that this is what they have attempted to do.”
To read a transcript of Mitchell’s response, click “expand” below:
MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports
09/04/2018
12:50 - 12:52 p.m. EDTANDREA MITCHELL: Well, it was a car wreck, and it is the Democrats being very aggressive in trying to say that this is being railroaded. They are saying, “Why the rush? We need to see the documents.” Grassley is saying there are more documents than have ever been seen before, but not proportionately. That the very small percentage they have seen or they are allowed to even discuss and ask questions from is frustrating the Democrats.
But they, especially with the selection in play, want to show they’re being very aggressive. And they are far more aggressive than some of us thought they would be, even talking to some of these Senators. They thought that Senator Grassley’s gavel would have prevented them from speaking out as much as they have. We have seen Cory Booker and Dick Durbin and others, Cory Booker jumping in line and saying – and interrupting. So, Kamala Harris.
Dianne Feinstein also going through her litany of what her concerns are. Gun control – which of course has been, ever since she first pushed through the assault weapons ban in 1994 as a freshman Senator from California – has been a big issue. And of course, Roe v. Wade, but also saying that it’s not just Roe v. Wade, it’s that Roe was decided on the basis of privacy. So this also affects same-sex marriage, it affects medical end-of-life decisions, all kinds of other privacy issues that was the basis for Roe.
So these are big concerns, and they are gonna use this hearing – they don’t that they can stop it, but they’re going to try to slow it down as much as they can. And I think that is what they have attempted to do.
