The left is up in arms because the Republican-controlled Wisconsin legislature is actually passing bills during their lame-duck session and some of them pertain to the Offices of Governor and Attorney General. According to Democrats and their lapdog liberal media, the elected GOP representatives were not listening to the will of the people and were staging a “legislative coup.” Or, at least that’s what ABC and NBC wanted their viewers to believe during their Tuesday evening broadcasts.
“If you thought the midterms drama was over, think again. Republicans are being accused of attempting to steal power after a tough loss in Wisconsin,” huffed NBC anchor Lester Holt during Nightly News.
The report was handed off to White House correspondent Kristen Welker, who wasted no time parroted hollow Democratic talking points with little context and explanation. As she began her report, Welker hyped the “political drama unfolding in Wisconsin.”
“Republicans, after the loss of Governor Scott Walker, accused of a legislative coup,” she declared, “voting on bills to limit the powers of the incoming Democratic governor, Tony Evers, and the incoming Democratic attorney general.” But as was the dirty habit of the liberal media, there was no explanation about what that actually meant.
Meanwhile, on ABC’s World News Tonight, they cranked the sensationalism up to 11. “And the political uproar in Wisconsin tonight, voters asking if the will of the people is being ignored. They elected a Democrat for governor, but are Republican lawmakers racing to take power away before that governor takes office? And is the same thing playing out in Michigan, too,” worried anchor David Muir.
The ABC report was handled by congressional correspondent Mary Bruce, who’s on the network’s anti-Republican legislatures beat. “Protesters flooding the state capitol, accusing Republican lawmakers of overriding the will of voters by trying to strip power from the newly-elected Democratic governor,” she boasted as she played soundbite after soundbite of anti-GOP protestors (a hallmark of her reports).
“We just had a vote, and you are out,” one protester screamed. Another shouted: “And the Republicans inside of that building, our capital, refuse to accept the results of the 2018 elections.” Interesting since seemingly few people on the left and in the liberal media have accepted the results of the 2016 election, or the 2018 elections in Florida and Georgia for that matter.
“But now, before [Democratic Governor-elect Tony Evers is] even sworn in, the Republican-controlled legislature is trying to jam through new measures to limit his authority. It has Democrats furious,” Bruce parroted with no context or explanation of what the bills did. But that didn’t stop her whining that “Republicans at this hour are plowing ahead anyway and Scott Walker has signaled he will support this.”
Of course, there was no mention of when state Democrats tried to subvert the will of Wisconsin voters back in 2012 by attempting to have Governor Scott Walker recalled after he shot down legislation they wanted. Bruce also didn’t mention that the protesters she was praising shouted down a high choir at a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at the state capital.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
December 4, 2018
6:43:27 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: And the political uproar in Wisconsin tonight, voters asking if the will of the people is being ignored. They elected a Democrat for governor, but are Republican lawmakers racing to take power away before that governor takes office? And is the same thing playing out in Michigan, too? Here's Mary Bruce.
[Cuts to video]
MARY BRUCE: In Wisconsin tonight, outrage.
PROTESTER 1: We just had a vote, and you are out!
BRUCE: Protesters flooding the state capitol, accusing Republican lawmakers of overriding the will of voters by trying to strip power from the newly-elected Democratic governor.
PROTESTER 2: And the Republicans inside of that building, our capital, refuse to accept the results of the 2018 elections.
BRUCE: Democrat Tony Evers narrowly defeated two-term Republican Governor Scott Walker.
TONY EVERS: I'm going to be the next governor of the state of Wisconsin!
BRUCE: But now, before he's even sworn in, the Republican-controlled legislature is trying to jam through new measures to limit his authority. It has Democrats furious.
PROTESTERS: Protect our vote! Protect our vote!
BRUCE: And Republicans, defensive.
REP. ROBIN VOS (R): We want to make sure the new administration doesn't try to work around the legislature.
BRUCE: A similar story is also playing out in Michigan, where Democrat Gretchen Whitmer won the governor's race. Republican lawmakers there, now trying to curtail her power, too.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: And Mary Bruce with us live tonight from Capitol Hill. And Mary, Wisconsin Democrats are already pledging to fight this in court?
BRUCE: Yes, David, but Republicans at this hour are plowing ahead anyway. And Scott Walker has signaled he will support this. His final mark on the state could be cutting the power of his own office. David.
MUIR: Mary in the Hill tonight. Mary, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
December 4, 2018
7:10:50 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: If you thought the midterms drama was over, think again. Republicans are being accused of attempting to steal power after a tough loss in Wisconsin, while allegations of election fraud have left a North Carolina race in limbo. Here's NBC's Kristen Welker.
[Cuts to video]
KRISTEN WELKER: Political drama unfolding in Wisconsin. Republicans, after the loss of governor Scott Walker, accused of a legislative coup, voting on bills to limit the powers of the incoming Democratic governor, Tony Evers, and the incoming Democratic attorney general. One proposal would restrict the governor's ability to enact laws. Another measure would weaken the attorney general's office.
STATE REP. GORDON HINTZ (D): An unprecedented act by the Republican legislature. Something that's never been done before in our state's history.
WELKER: But Republicans on defense, say their goal is to establish a balance of power.
STATE REP. JOHN NYGREN (R): I would support what we're doing here today as a way [flash] to equalize that authority and bring us together.
(…)
MARK MURRAY Whether you have a party trying to put limits on the incoming governor or you have a situation where there might be election fraud, this is a messy situation.
WELKER: All underscoring the bitter partisan divide still on display one month after the midterms. Kristen Welker, NBC News, Washington.
