Apparently, cynicism is warranted for congressional leaders. Well, some of the time anyway. Nancy Pelosi fan Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday scoffed and laughed at Kevin McCarthy as the House Minority Leader suggested that Pelosi’s delaying of impeachment articles is nothing more than a transparent attempt at helping Joe Biden.
Mitchell contemptuously explained, “The House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, kind of trolling, created some problems this morning — or tried to create some problems this morning — by suggesting that maybe Joe Biden should suspend his campaign in fairness to his Senate colleagues.”
So, Kevin McCarthy is a troll now? Mitchell certainly doesn’t use that kind of language about Pelosi. Here’s the point McCarthy made in front of reporters:
REP KEVIN MCCARTHY (House Minority Leader-California): If there's anyone who gains from this, it would be anyone who's running for president that's not in the U.S. Senate. With Iowa quickly upon us in early February, those four senators who are running for president will now no longer have a voice. If you look at the true political of nature of why, to harm one campaign and give a benefit to another. The only rightful thing of Joe Biden is to make a pledge not to campaign while Bernie Sanders cannot.
Mitchell could not hide her disgust, laughing at McCarthy ad sputtering to her guest: “Michael Steele, as a former Republican national chairman, I'm sure Joe Biden is taking advice from the House Minority Leader.” “Let's drop out for now,” she sarcastically suggested.
Obviously, the Republican McCarthy isn’t trying to help the Democrats. But Mitchell rarely shows such skepticism about Pelosi’s motives. In December, she “attested” to the “deep faith” of the House Speaker. In January, she hailed the “pitch perfect” way in with Pelosi spun a profanity-laced rant by a far-left Democrat. She’s also cheered the “dignified,” “remarkable” Pelosi.
Skepticism? Maybe that’s only for Republicans
A transcript of the exchange is below. Click “expand” to read more.
Andrea Mitchell Reports
1/14/2020
12:05ANDREA MITCHELL: And the calendar makes it complicated for senators who are jurors as well as running for president. So the House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, kind of trolling, created some problems this morning — or tried to create some problems this morning — by suggesting that maybe Joe Biden should suspend his campaign in fairness to his Senate colleagues.
REP KEVIN MCCARTHY (House Minority Leader-California): If there's anyone who gains from this, it would be anyone who's running for president that's not in the U.S. Senate. With Iowa quickly upon us in early February, those four senators who are running for president will now no longer have a voice. If you look at the true political of nature of why, to harm one campaign and give a benefit to another. The only rightful thing of Joe Biden is to make a pledge not to campaign while Bernie Sanders cannot.
MITCHELL: [Laughs] Michael Steele, as a former Republican national chairman, I'm sure Joe Biden is taking advice from the House Minority Leader.
MICHAEL STEELE: After they heard that, they said, “That's a good — maybe we should think about that.”
MITCHELL: “Let's drop out for now.”
STEELE: “Let’s drop out for now.” The timing can be a problem. It will be a problem for those senators who have to sit silently. It gives an opening for Joe Biden.
