As NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham recalled Wednesday morning, December 19 marked 20 years since President Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives. The date largely went unnoticed by the liberal media but it was noted by Fox News Channel’s Special Report. Immediately following that notation, anchor Bret Baier called out the media for wishing “to see President Trump go down the impeachment road.”
“If you watch several different channels, it seems to be almost a done deal. And the media is fueling that fire,” Baier added before handing it off to Fox News media reporter Howard Kurtz. And their on-screen headline said it all: "Fanning the flames" and "Some in the media push of Trump demise".
Kurtz began the report by taking shots at “pundits and prognosticators” who were “taking their criticism of President Trump to new heights of harshness as the investigations heat up.” His first example? CNN’s Carl Bernstein, who suggested: “We've never seen a president of the United States who actually acts more like, in some ways, like a common grifter.”
He then called out “respected presidential historians” Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham for basically going off the rails with their assessments of this current president:
DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN: It hasn't been as bad since the 1850s, and that didn't end up too well. The Civil War where 600,000 people died in. I keep thinking at some point he might resign.
JON MEACHAM: If, in fact, Donald Trump knew about the Russian efforts on his behalf, then there’s a live question about whether he has been giving aid and comfort to the enemy, which is the definition of treason in the constitution.
And in an action you won’t see on CNN and MSNBC, Kurtz called out other Fox News personnel for their own comments. “Fox’s Judge Andrew Napolitano says Trump may even have been named in a sealed indictment,” he recalled. And before playing a soundbite of host Jeanne Pirro, Kurtz noted that “Critics of Michael Flynn's guilty plea, (…) argued that a judge might toss the case” despite the Judge indicating he might give Flynn jail time.
Kurtz also showed MSNBC hosts Lawrence O’Donnell (The Last Word) and Chris Matthew (Hardball), who have made their own bonkers proclamations:
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: Donald Trump will be, must be impeached because of the crimes prosecutors say he committed in the Michael Cohen case.
(…)
CHRIS MATTHEWS: What if he were to say, he would let the children walk if the old man does the same? That would be giving up the presidency in exchange for acquittals all around, not just for himself but for all his kids.
“With guilty pleas from the President's former campaign chairman, lawyer, and national security advisor, the press has had plenty to cover. But that’s not enough for those who want to attack him with protections of doomsday scenarios,” he concluded.
The media was essentially foaming at the mouth for a Trump impeachment (and in some cases, to see him in prison), but they conveniently overlooked the anniversary of Clinton’s.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
December 19, 2018
6:37:40 p.m. Eastern [2 minutes 43 seconds]BRET BAIER: It was 20 years ago today the House voted to impeach President Bill Clinton. The President was embroiled in a number of scandals, but the actual impeachment was for perjury to a grand jury and obstruction of justice. The Senate refused to convict and Mr. Clinton remained in office, of course. It seems there are many who would like to see President Trump go down the impeachment road. If you watch several different channels, it seems to be almost a done deal. And the media is fueling that fire. Some examples tonight from Fox News media analyst and host Fox’s Media Buzz, Howard Kurtz.
[Cuts to video]
HOWARD KURTZ: Pundits and prognosticators are taking their criticism of President Trump to new heights of harshness as the investigations heat up.
CARL BERNSTEIN: We've never seen a president of the United States who actually acts more like, in some ways, like a common grifter.
KURTZ: Even some respected presidential historians are less measured when it comes to this one.
DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN: It hasn't been as bad since the 1850s, and that didn't end up too well. The Civil War where 600,000 people died in. I keep thinking at some point he might resign.
JON MEACHAM: If, in fact, Donald Trump knew about the Russian efforts on his behalf, then there’s a live question about whether he has been giving aid and comfort to the enemy, which is the definition of treason in the constitution.
KURTZ: Fox’s Judge Andrew Napolitano says Trump may even have been named in a sealed indictment.
SHEPARD SMITH: So He may already be an indicted coconspirator.
ANDREW NAPOLITANO: That I don’t know about, but it could be because we don’t know what’s been sealed.
KURTZ: Michael Cohen's plea in arranging hush money triggered new levels of outrage.
LAWRENCE O’DONNELL: Donald Trump will be, must be impeached because of the crimes prosecutors say he committed in the Michael Cohen case.
KURTZ: Politico and Vanity Fair write that Donald Trump Jr. Has told friends he expects to be indicted, his lawyer’s denial hasn't stopped speculation about Robert Mueller targeting the family.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: What if he were to say, he would let the children walk if the old man does the same? That would be giving up the presidency in exchange for acquittals all around, not just for himself but for all his kids.
KURTZ: Critics of Michael Flynn's guilty plea, such as The Wall Street Journal editorial “The Flynn Entrapment” argued that a judge might toss the case.
JEANINE PIRRO: Judge Sullivan can throughout this guilty plea, if he concludes the FBI intentionally interfered with their target, Flynn’s constitutional right to counsel.
KURTZ: But the judge granted a delay after signaling Flynn might get jail.
[Cuts back to live]
With guilty pleas from the President's former campaign chairman, lawyer, and national security advisor, the press has had plenty to cover. But that’s not enough for those who want to attack him with protections of doomsday scenarios.
BAIER: Howard, thanks.
