With the partial government shutdown in its 12th day Wednesday, President Trump invited Democratic leaders to the White House to negotiate on the budget. As would be expected the liberal media sided with the Democrats. During coverage of the shutdown on ABC’s World News Tonight, the network suggested Trump was the one “digging in” while they portrayed Democrats as the heroes offering a “pathway” to end the shutdown.
At the top of the program, sensationalist anchor David Muir lamented how Trump was “not budging.” “He wants that 5.6 billion to build his border wall. Vowing to keep the government closed, quote, ‘as long as it takes,’” he added.
“And then, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leaders arriving for their meeting with President Trump today. And tonight, when asked if she's willing to come up with some of the money for that wall, she said no. Nothing for the wall,” Muir continued.
As she began the video portion of her report, anti-GOP congressional correspondent Mary Bruce noted that “as congressional leaders headed to the White House today, President Trump told reporters to brace for the long haul.”
“Day 12 of the shutdown and the impasse is only deepening. The President digging in on his demand for $5.6 billion to build his border wall,” she said.
Although Bruce noted that “Democrats made clear they aren't budging, either,” Muir boosted House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s talking points claiming the Democrats were “offering the Republicans a pathway” to end the shutdown. “Still, today, the President publicly rejected a $2.5 billion compromise proposed to Democrats by his own Vice President,” Bruce stated in her report.
In the soundbite ABC played, Pelosi argued that Democrats in the House were ready to pass two Republican-drafted bills, which Bruce alluded to. But there was no mention that the $2.5 billion was only for “border security” and did not include funding for the wall. They also failed to mention that the Republican-held Senate already announced they would kill those measures because the President opposed them.
Further boasting about the Democrats’ supposed “pathway” to end the shutdown, Bruce wrapped up the segment touting what they were asking for:
Well, David, I'm told by a source familiar with what happened in that meeting that the Democrats repeatedly pressed the President to see if he would at least commit to opening the agencies that are unrelated to this immigration fight. But David, the President's only response, quote, “I would look foolish.”
In a bit of a contrast, NBC Nightly News shared a soundbite that evening of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie pressing Pelosi on why the Democrats weren’t compromising with the President.
And while Muir lamented how “800,000 American workers [were] affected. So many of them waiting to go back to work. Thousands more may not get back pay”, ABC hid the fact that Pelosi spent the shutdown vacationing in Hawaii. Trump spent it at the White House waiting for Democrats to compromise.
This was a great example of how the media aide the left like they’re partners with the press serving as the communications team. Trump “digging in” while Dems offer a “pathway.” But it could be said President Trump was offering a pathway too: funding the border wall. But then again, the liberal media only demand Republican Houses to work with opposing presidents.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
January 2, 2019
6:32:12 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: A new year, but the same ugly showdown. And tonight, it is only worsening. And keep in mind, as this government shutdown now reaches day 12, 800,000 American workers affected. So many of them waiting to go back to work. Thousands more may not get back pay. The President making it clear today that he is not budging. He wants that 5.6 billion to build his border wall. Vowing to keep the government closed, quote, “as long as it takes”. And then, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leaders arriving for their meeting with President Trump today. And tonight, when asked if she's willing to come up with some of the money for that wall, she said no. Nothing for the wall. Mary Bruce with what they just said before the cameras just a short time ago.
[cuts to video]
MARY BRUCE: As Congressional leaders headed to the White House today, President Trump told reporters to brace for the long haul.
(…)
BRUCE: Day 12 of the shutdown and the impasse is only deepening. The President digging in on his demand for $5.6 billion to build his border wall.
(…)
BRUCE: The effects of this shutdown now literally piling up. Mountains of trash spotted on the National Mall. 800,000 government workers furloughed or working without pay. Even harder hit, at least 2,000 contract workers like janitors who may never get any of their back pay. Still, today, the President publicly rejected a $2.5 billion compromise proposed to Democrats by his own Vice President.
(…)
BRUCE: Democrats made clear they aren't budging, either.
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: Nancy Pelosi then walking away there. Mary Bruce live on the hill. But we did hear her say that ‘we are offering the Republicans a pathway’. But the president says he won't budge on the wall. Pelosi says no money for the wall. So, what's this pathway?
BRUCE: Well, David, I'm told by a source familiar with what happened in that meeting that the Democrats repeatedly pressed the President to see if he would at least commit to opening the agencies that are unrelated to this immigration fight. But David, the President's only response, quote, “I would look foolish.”
MUIR: Welcome to 2019. Mary Bruce, live on the hill, thank you.
