In a gushing interview with the three female Democratic impeachment managers, aired on Friday’s Today show, NBC Capitol Hill correspondent Kasie Hunt sounded like an adoring fan as she proclaimed: “Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren, Val Demings, and Sylvia Garcia are making history.” They all chatted about how “women are smarter than men” for backing the removal of President Trump from office.
“This is just third presidential impeachment trial in American history and it’s the first time that women are on the Senate floor prosecuting this case,” Hunt excitedly announced at the top of her report. She then told viewers: “I spoke to them exclusively yesterday and they know the country is watching.”
As Hunt declared that Lofgren, Demings, and Garcia were “making history” as “the first women to serve as presidential impeachment managers,” the headline on-screen cheered: “History in the Making; Meet the First-Ever Female Impeachment Managers.”
Following soundbites of the Democratic partisans claiming that the President “abused the power of his office” and “jeopardized our national security,” Hunt lamented: “But with the country bitterly divided over impeachment and so far Senate Republicans in lock-step with President Trump, they’re facing an uphill battle.”
Moments later, the reporter fretted to them: “The Senate does still seem poised to acquit the President.” Echoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Garcia ranted: “I think it’s important that we emphasize he’s been impeached. That is done. He can’t erase that. He will always be an impeached president.” She then argued: “If they don’t convict and they don’t decide to remove, then the public will see that it was rigged.”
Rather than challenge any of those assertions from Trump’s political opponents, Hunt instead took time to fawn over their resumes: “They’re three of a seven-member team prosecuting the President on behalf of the House, chosen by Speaker Nancy Pelosi for they’re law enforcement and legal experience.”
Continuing to marvel over the female impeachment managers, Hunt pulled out a picture of the Republican House mangers during the impeachment of Bill Clinton: “So this is a photo of the impeachment managers in the last case. And I know, Congresswoman Lofgren, you were here for it. What’s your reaction to seeing just how different it looks?”
Lofgren quipped: “Well, a whole room of old white guys...” She then applauded her current team of Democratic prosecutors: “I do think it’s nice that we have really a group that looks like America, that’s over there standing up for our Constitution.”
Not finished with the sexist commentary, Hunt noted: “So a poll released this week showed that 59% of women say that the President should be removed from office, but just 42% of men say the same. What’s with the difference?”
Garcia claimed: “Women are smarter than men.” Demings chimed in: “And women are paying more attention.” Lofgren philosophized: “Not that men don’t care, but women are thinking about their children and their grandchildren and what kind of world are they going to have.”
After the taped interview ended, Hunt reiterated: “A pretty striking difference there just since 1999 when President Clinton was impeached.”
All of the Democratic impeachment managers were treated to similar softball treatment earlier in the week during a friendly sit-down with CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell. On Thursday, the hosts of CBS This Morning sympathized with manager and New York Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries having to convince lazy Republicans to convict the President.
Wrapping up her report on Friday, Hunt admitted that it was “all but certain that President Trump is going to be acquitted in the end.” Even so, the media will try to turn the liberal prosecution team into heroes.
Here is a full transcript of the January 24 segment:
8:33 AM ET
CRAIG MELVIN: Now to the history that is being made on Capitol Hill at President Trump’s impeachment trial. For the first time, three women are serving as House managers. And NBC Capitol Hill correspondent Kasie Hunt sat down with them exclusively. Kasie, good morning to you.
KASIE HUNT: Craig, good morning to you. That’s absolutely right. This is just third presidential impeachment trial in American history and it’s the first time that women are on the Senate floor prosecuting this case. I spoke to them exclusively yesterday and they know the country is watching.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: History in the Making; Meet the First-Ever Female Impeachment Managers]
Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren, Val Demings, and Sylvia Garcia are making history, the first women to serve as presidential impeachment managers.
REP. ZOE LOFGREN [D-CA]: Let’s drill down on how. How the President abused the power of his office.
REP. VAL DEMINGS [D-FL]: President Trump did not just break the law, he jeopardized our national security.
REP. SYLVIA GARCIA [D-FL]: We will now walk through the President’s abuse of power, the corrupt object of his scheme.
HUNT: But with the country bitterly divided over impeachment and so far Senate Republicans in lock-step with President Trump, they’re facing an uphill battle.
Are you talking to anyone specifically as you prepare for these days on the Senate floor?
LOFGREN: I’m looking at the senators and trying to gauge whether they’re engaged. And it’s a lot of material. I want to make sure that what we’re saying is not only accurate and true, but we’ve made it accessible to them because it’s hard to sit there for so many hours.
DEMINGS: I would expect them to remember the first oath that they took and certainly the oath to do impartial justice. I’m also talking to the American people because this moment is truly about the American people.
HUNT: The Senate does still seem poised to acquit the President.
GARCIA: I think it’s important that we emphasize he’s been impeached. That is done. He can’t erase that. He will always be an impeached president. If they don’t convict and they don’t decide to remove, then the public will see that it was rigged, that it wasn’t fair.
HUNT: They’re three of a seven-member team prosecuting the President on behalf of the House, chosen by Speaker Nancy Pelosi for they’re law enforcement and legal experience.
GARCIA: She came to me and she said, “You used to be a judge, right?” And I said yes. And she said, “I think we may need you.”
DEMINGS: You know, as an officer, I’ve really cared about who my backup was and if they were up to the task. And I consider these two women as my backup and they’re up to the task.
HUNT: So this is a photo of the impeachment managers in the last case. And I know, Congresswoman Lofgren, you were here for it.
LOFGREN: Yup.
HUNT: What’s your reaction to seeing just how different it looks?
LOFGREN: Well, a whole room of old white guys [Laughter], and who I serve with now, four old white guys, my husband is one. But I do think it’s nice that we have really a group that looks like America, that’s over there standing up for our Constitution.
HUNT: So a poll released this week showed that 59% of women say that the President should be removed from office, but just 42% of men say the same. What’s with the difference?
GARCIA: Women are smarter than men. [Laughter]
DEMINGS: And women are paying more attention.
LOFGREN: Not that men don’t care, but women are thinking about their children and their grandchildren and what kind of world are they going to have.
HUNT: A pretty striking difference there just since 1999 when President Clinton was impeached. The challenge for these women of course is that they’re trying to convince four Republicans to call witnesses in a way that would extend this trial a few more weeks, but the reality is, it’s still all but certain that President Trump is going to be acquitted in the end. Craig?
MELVIN: Alright, Kasie Hunt. What a juxtaposition there between seeing those three women you talked to and that picture from 1999. Looks like a fascinating conversation. You can catch more of that exclusive conversation Sunday night, Kasie DC, only on MSNBC.
