During the Christmas season, moderate Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski gave a present to Democrats and the liberal media trying to remove President Trump from office when she whined about Senate Majority McConnell’s (R-KY) plans for the impeachment trial. During their Thursday evening newscasts, ABC, CBS, and NBC all sang the praises of Murkowski.
“We want to turn now to politics and the looming impeachment showdown in the Senate, with the first sign of party-line vote may not be a sure thing for the Trump administration,” declared ABC’s World News Tonight fill-in anchor and chief national affairs correspondent Tom Llamas. “Moderate Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, quote, ‘disturbed’ by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying he's in lock-step with President Trump and the White House counsel.”
As the video portion of ABC’s segment began, correspondent Rachael Scott touted that “a potential crack in the President's wall of Republican support” had opened up because of Murkowski. “Murkowski is one of several lawmakers under the microscope. When Congress returns from the holiday recess, all eyes will be on a group of centrist senators,” she warned them.
Scott also gloated that “while the Republican majority in the Senate makes Trump's acquittal all but certain, it's not clear whether he will be able to tout unanimous Republican support.”
Meanwhile, the liberal media downplayed the bipartisan opposition to impeachment in the House. ABC and NBC actually tried to dismiss the one Democrat who opposed impeachment and switched parties.
In this instance, NBC Nightly News fill-in anchor and senior national correspondent Kate Snow boosted “the first voice of dissent, or at least dissatisfaction among Republicans Senators over the way the Senate leadership is planning the President's trial.”
NBC correspondent Hans Nichols boasted that “President Trump [was] dealing with a potential Republican defection on impeachment.” “Murkowski, who has defied party leaders in the past responding to these comments from the Senate Majority Leader last week,” he reported. Adding: “Murkowski demanding distance from the White House.”
Meanwhile, on CBS Evening News, fill-in anchor and chief White House correspondent Major Garrett remarked that “Pelosi and the Democrats may-- may-- have found an unexpected ally in the President’s own party.”
CBS correspondent Chip Reid began by highlighting how “Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is not pleased by her party's leader, Mitch McConnell, and his plans for the impeachment trial of President Trump.”
And just like ABC, Reid touted Murkowski as “a possible crack in the [GOP]'s unified front.” He too threw around the buzzword “moderate” to praise the Republican Senator. “Murkowski, a moderate, does not always walk in lockstep with Republicans. For example, instead of voting ‘yes’ on Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation, she voted ‘present,’” he reminded viewers.
The liberal media were praising Murkowski for trying to be a juror who had an “open mind” about Trump’s guilt. Yet, they refused to question the almost half-dozen Democratic Senators who were running for president AND voting to remove their principle competition from office.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
December 26, 2019
6:37:20 p.m. EasternTOM LLAMAS: We want to turn now to politics and the looming impeachment showdown in the Senate, with the first sign of party line vote may not be a sure thing for the Trump administration. Moderate Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, quote, “disturbed” by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying he's in lock-step with President Trump and the White House counsel. At the same time, President Trump continuing his Christmas Day twitterstorm, insisting the whole thing is a scam. ABC's Rachel Scott is in Florida with the President.
[Cuts to video]
RACHEL SCOTT: Tonight, a potential crack in the President's wall of Republican support.
SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI (R-AK): When I heard that, I was disturbed.
SCOTT: Moderate Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is reacting in an interview with KTUU to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s promise to work in total coordination with the White House during the Senate trial to come.
MURKOWSKI: To me, it means that we have to take that step back from being hand in glove with the defense.
SCOTT: Murkowski is one of several lawmakers under the microscope. When Congress returns from the holiday recess, all eyes will be on a group of centrist senators, including Republicans Susan Collins and Mitt Romney. But also Doug Jones and Joe Manchin red-state senators who may feel pressure to vote against an impeachment conviction.
In the House, not a single Republican voted in favor of either article of impeachment.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We didn't lose one Republican vote in the House.
SCOTT: And while the Republican majority in the Senate makes Trump's acquittal all but certain, it's not clear whether he will be able to tout unanimous Republican support.
MURKOWSKI: If it means that I am viewed as one who looks openly and critically at every issue in front of me, rather than acting as a rubber stamp for my party or my President, I'm totally good with that.
(…)
{Cuts back to live]
LLAMAS: All right, Rachel Scott joins us now from West Palm Beach, Florida. And Rachel, as you mentioned, with the Senate needing a two-thirds majority, it's highly unlikely he'll be removed, but there are other matters in the trial where the centrist senators could have a major impact.
SCOTT: That's right, Tom. Any vote on whether witnesses should have to testify only requires a simple majority. So, any Republican defections on those matters would be critical.
(…)
CBS Evening News
December 26, 2019
6:35:15 p.m. EasternMAJOR GARRETT: After a brief Christmas pause, President Trump has resumed lashing out against impeachment on Twitter, of course. Mr. Trump targeted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, writing that she, quote, "Has no leverage over the Senate." The President was, of course, referring to the Senate's impeachment trial now in limbo as lawmakers debate what it will look like. And as Chip Reid reports, Pelosi and the Democrats may-- may-- have found an unexpected ally in the President’s own party.
[Cuts to video]
SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI (R-AK): When I heard that, I was disturbed.
CHIP REID: Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is not pleased by her party's leader, Mitch McConnell, and his plans for the impeachment trial of President Trump.
(…)
REID: In an interview in Alaska this week, Murkowski signaled a possible crack in the party's unified front.
(…)
REID: Senators are the equivalent of jurors in an impeachment trial, and to Murkowski, that means keeping an open mind.
(…)
REID: Murkowski, a moderate, does not always walk in lockstep with Republicans. For example, instead of voting "yes" on Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation, she voted "present.”
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
GARRETT: Chip, so far, Murkowski is the only Senate Republican expressing concerns. Might others join her?
REID: Well, we reached out to some Republicans who have bucked the party in the past, including Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah. They did not get back to us. But keep one thing in mind, that even if some Republicans join the Democrats in voting in favor of witnesses at the trial, that does not mean that they will ultimately vote in favor of removing the President from office. That would take a two-thirds vote of the Senate, and at this point, that appears to be extremely unlikely. Major.
GARRETT: Unlikely indeed.
NBC Nightly News
December 26, 2019
7:04:34 p.m. EasternKATE SNOW: Now to the impeachment of President Trump and the first voice of dissent, or at least dissatisfaction among Republicans Senators over the way the Senate leadership is planning the President's trial. We get more from Hans Nichols.
[Cuts to video]
HANS NICHOLS: Tonight, President Trump dealing with a potential Republican defection on impeachment. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski signaling she's unhappy with Mitch McConnell’s pledge to work in total coordination with the White House.
SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI (R-AK): When I heard that, I was disturbed.
NICHOLS: Murkowski, who has defied party leaders in the past responding to these comments from the Senate Majority Leader last week.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): I'm going to take my queues from the President's lawyers.
NICHOLS: Murkowski demanding distance from the White House.
MURKOWSKI: We have to take that step back from being hand in glove with the defense. [Transition] I need to be able to sit back and look at both sides of this.
NICHOLS: President Trump has relished in Republican unity on impeachment.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We had 196 or so Republicans voting 100 percent. We didn't lose one Republican vote in the House.
NICHOLS: While putting his fate in McConnell’s senate moves.
(…)
