The three network morning shows on Friday played the game of moral equivalence, blaming “both sides” in Congress for the Democrats defeating the latest COVID relief effort. In addition to such spin, ABC, CBS and NBC allowed a scant 91 to the liberal effort to stop a bill from passing.
On NBC’s Today, Savannah Guthrie pushed the idea that everyone is to blame: “We move to Capitol Hill now where a scaled back Republican coronavirus rescue package did not pass a procedural vote in the Senate yesterday. Both parties failing to budge over the size and scope of the package.”
Guthrie equivocated, “Democrats say the measure short-changed too many pressing needs. Republicans say the bill was targeted to areas that both parties already agreed on.” That may be true, but the fact remains: Every Democrat voted against providing relief. Every Republican but one (Senator Rand Paul) voted for it. Even The Washington Post got that part right (in the opening paragraph).
Democrats blocked a pared-down GOP coronavirus relief bill in a bitterly disputed Senate vote Thursday, leaving the two parties without a clear path forward to approve new economic stimulus before the November elections.
The vote was 52-47, far short of the 60 votes that would have been needed for the measure to advance. Democrats were united in opposing the legislation; all Republicans voted in favor except Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Over on ABC’s Good Morning America, Terry Moran at least mentioned that it was a party line vote. Still, he blamed everyone for “not getting together” on the bill: “The Senate yesterday rejected on basically a party line vote, a small Republican offer, small $600 million, the Democrats are looking for $2 trillion. They cannot get together and the bottom line, millions of Americans out of work facing eviction are getting no help from Washington.”
Over on CBS This Morning, co-host Gayle King justified the Democratic move: “Senate Democrats rejected the latest proposal from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as too slim, they say, compared to what they say Americans need. One major dispute is over the amount of unemployment relief as the country deals with its worst job crisis in decades.”
CBS This Morning on Friday allowed the least amount of time: 29 seconds. The Today show tied that with another 29 seconds. Good Morning America came in first with a still-pathetic 33 seconds.
The Democratic propaganda on CBS This Morning was sponsored by Amazon, on Good Morning America it was paid for by Geico and on Today it was supported by Honda. Click on the links to let these sponsors know what you think.
Transcripts of the segments can be found below. Click "expand" to read more.
Good Morning America
9/11/2020
7:13 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Also in Washington it appears there's not going to be another economic relief bill from Congress before the election.
TERRY MORAN: Absolutely not. The Senate yesterday rejected on basically a party line vote, a small Republican offer, small $600 million, the Democrats are looking for $2 trillion. They cannot get together and the bottom line, millions of Americans out of work facing eviction are getting no help from Washington. George.
CBS This Morning
9/11/2020
7:10 AM ET
GAYLE KING: A new coronavirus stimulus for the economy is looking less likely before the election as Congress remains sharply divided over a fresh package. Senate Democrats rejected the latest proposal from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as too slim, they say, compared to what they say Americans need. One major dispute is over the amount of unemployment relief as the country deals with its worst job crisis in decades. The President is now reportedly considering more executive actions if Congress does not reach a deal.
Today
9/11/2020
7:14 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: We move to Capitol Hill now where a scaled back Republican coronavirus rescue package did not pass a procedural vote in the Senate yesterday. Both parties failing to budge over the size and scope of the package. Democrats say the measure short-changed too many pressing needs. Republicans say the bill was targeted to areas that both parties already agreed on. The vote means chances that Congress will approve another covid-19 relief package before the November election are diminished. Craig?
