MSNBC reacted to the acquittal of Donald Trump in the Senate with a predictably unhappy tone, speculating about the day when the truth will really come out. But Brian Williams took it a step farther and questioned the faith of certain unnamed senators.
Liberal Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson praised the spirituality of Mitt Romney, the only Republican to vote to convict Trump: “He's really a man of faith.... He made a solemn oath and took that very seriously and that's a rare thing.” Williams chided others for not living up to this standard: “A lot of the 99 [other senators] insist faith is central to their lives. They were not so burdened by the oath.”
MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace chided, “It would appear not.” “It’s called walking the walk,” lectured Robinson.
Earlier, Robinson predicted that, someday, the real truth would come out:
I believe it will look different as more information comes out, perhaps as soon as what is in March 17, when the Bolton book comes out and later, when Trump leaves office and we learn more and more and more. Some day the documents will come out. The documents that have been hidden.
Former Democratic operative turned MSNBC analyst Claire McCaskill speculated that Chief Justice John Roberts knows the real truth: “We talked about Justice Roberts. Let’s not forget that he heard all the evidence. He heard every word of this evidence.... And he knows that the case was made. He knows the case was proven. ”
It would seem that if this were so cut and dry, liberal MSNBC personalities wouldn’t have to resort to speculation.
A partial transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more.
MSNBC impeachment coverage
2/5/2020
4:48
EUGENE ROBINSON: The stain will always be on this presidency. This is the third impeachment trial we have ever had. And it will be studied and restudied. I believe it will look different as more information comes out, perhaps as soon as what is in March 17, when the Bolton book comes out and later, when Trump leaves office and we learn more and more and more. Some day the documents will come out. The documents that have been hidden.
BRIAN WILLIAMS: They always do.
ROBINSON: They always do. They always do get out.
...
CLAIRE MCCASKILL: We talked about Justice Roberts. Let’s not forget that he heard all the evidence. He heard every word of this evidence.
ROBINSON: He did.
MCCASKILL: He heard the arguments and he's a judge. And he knows that the case was made. He knows the case was proven. You wonder if that goes in his hard drive as they deliberate on the court of executive power for this president. You have to think it weighs on him knowing how far this president will go in terms of abuse of power.
...
4:56
ROBINSON: And his — He's really a man of faith. And his faith had a lot to do with his inability just to brush it off and say, oh, it is politics. Politically bad for me to go against Trump. Why should I do that? He will get acquitted anyhow. He made a solemn oath and took that very seriously and that's a rare thing. A rare thing.
WILLIAMS: Garrett Haake said it was central to his life.
WALLACE: And to who he was.
WILLIAMS: A lot of the 99 insist faith is central to their lives. They were not so burdened by the oath.
WALLACE: It would appear not.
ROBINSON: It’s called walking the walk.
