On Monday, all three network morning shows began hurling ideological labels and anti-Christian bigotry at one of President Trump’s possible Supreme Court nominees, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Terrified at the prospect of Barrett replacing the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the leftist media rushed to tar to the imminently qualified federal appeals court judge as radical.
“Whoever President Trump nominates would move the Court firmly to the right, making it solidly conservative,” justice correspondent Pete Williams proclaimed on NBC’s Today show. He then warned: “One of the leading contenders clearly opposes abortion rights...” Revealing moments later: “Administration officials say the frontrunner is Judge Amy Coney Barrett.”
While briefly detailing Barrett’s impressive credentials, Williams also made sure to emphasize that she was a “devout Catholic,” left-wing code for extreme: “President Trump put her on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Chicago, three years ago. At 48, she’d be the youngest justice. A native of Indiana, she’s a former Notre Dame law professor and devout Catholic.”
The reporter was particularly troubled by one of her legal opinions: “In a 2003 law review article, she questioned the reluctance of federal courts to overturn precedents. Defenders of the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling cite decades of reliance on precedent as a reason to keep it.”
As if all that wasn’t enough, Williams decided to highlight blatant anti-Christian bigotry that Barrett confronted in the Unites States Senate: “At her appeals court confirmation hearing in 2017, a Democratic senator said every religion has its ‘dogma,’ but the law is different.” A nasty soundbite ran of California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein openly attacking Barrett’s faith: “The conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you. And that’s of concern.”
Barrett was at least shown pushing back: “I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.” However, Williams never passed judgement on Feinstein’s offensive rhetoric.
“Sources tell ABC at the top of the President’s short list, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a devout Catholic,” congressional correspondent Mary Bruce declared on ABC’s Good Morning America. “She’s a favorite among religious conservatives,” the reporter added.
Like Williams, Bruce then teed up the Feinstein clip: “During her confirmation hearing to serve on the federal bench in 2017, she was pressed on her stance on Roe v. Wade.” Again the Democratic lawmaker was shown lecturing Barrett that “The dogma lives loudly within you” and again Barrett was shown defending herself against the vile bigotry: “It’s never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge’s personal convictions, whether they derive from faith or anywhere else, on the law.”
Also like Williams, Bruce never bothered to criticize Feinstein’s conduct.
Following the report, White House correspondent Jon Karl reiterated: “Seven children, devout Catholic. She would energize anti-abortion activists and the religious right.”
Sunday’s GMA similarly targeted Barrett over her faith.
On CBS This Morning, correspondent Ben Tracy made sure to follow the DNC talking points for the day as well: “The 48-year-old Barrett is a favorite of religious conservatives for her anti-abortion views.”
Even as the media routinely swoon over radically pro-abortion judicial nominees that Democrats put forward, the second a pro-life conservative is even considered for the high court, reporters begin to lose their minds.
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Here is a transcript of the September 21 coverage on NBC’s Today show:
7:07 AM ET
HODA KOTB: Now let’s take a closer look at the President’s short list of potential nominees and the female frontrunners being considered. NBC’s justice correspondent Pete Williams is at the Supreme Court with that part of the story. Hey, Pete, good morning.
PETE WILLIAMS: Good morning. Whoever President Trump nominates would move the Court firmly to the right, making it solidly conservative. One of the leading contenders clearly opposes abortion rights, the other would have support in the Cuban-American community.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINES: Supreme Court Shortlist; Two Leading Candidates Emerge as Trump Promises Female Justice]
Administration officials say the frontrunner is Judge Amy Coney Barrett. President Trump put her on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Chicago, three years ago. At 48, she’d be the youngest justice. A native of Indiana, she’s a former Notre Dame law professor and devout Catholic. In a 2003 law review article, she questioned the reluctance of federal courts to overturn precedents. Defenders of the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling cite decades of reliance on precedent as a reason to keep it.
At her appeals court confirmation hearing in 2017, a Democratic senator said every religion has its “dogma,” but the law is different.
DIANNE FEINSTEIN [D-CA]: The conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you. And that’s of concern.
AMY CONEY BARRETT: I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.
WILLIAMS: The President is also said to be considering Barbara Lagoa of Florida, who was the first Hispanic woman to serve on that state’s supreme court. President Trump put her on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals just last year. She’s 52 and is the child of Cuban immigrant parents.
BARBARA LAGOA: They left Cuba without anything but their education, their strong work ethic, and their desire to succeed. And these are values that they instilled in me.
WILLIAMS: She joined the majority earlier this month when the appeals court ruled that ex-felons in Florida cannot vote until they pay off all the fines and court costs they owe. There’s been no initial announcement yet, but it is likely that later this week Justice Ginsburg will lie in repose in the Supreme Court’s main hall with a chance for the public to pay its respects. Savannah?
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Alright, Pete Williams at the Supreme Court, thank you.
Here is a transcript of the coverage on GMA:
7:04 AM ET
(...)
MARY BRUCE: Sources tell ABC at the top of the President’s short list, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a devout Catholic. She’s a favorite among religious conservatives. During her confirmation hearing to serve on the federal bench in 2017, she was pressed on her stance on Roe v. Wade.
DIANNE FEINSTEIN [D-CA]: The dogma lives loudly within you. And that’s of concern.
AMY CONEY BARRETT: It’s never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge’s personal convictions, whether they derive from faith or anywhere else, on the law.
BRUCE: Also on the list, deputy White House counsel Kate Todd to and Cuban-American Judge Barbara Lagoa, who could help Trump win over Latino voters, especially in the crucial battleground state of Florida.
(...)
7:12 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Let’s look ahead with Jon Karl and Mary Bruce a little bit more. And Jon, let’s talk about those two picks on the President’s short list, both qualified judges. But the political considerations this close to an election are going to be paramount.
JON KARL: Absolutely. And let’s look at the top of that list, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, she is just 48 years old. She was confirmed to her current position on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals back in October of 2017. She is a former Notre Dame law professor, she clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia, considered one of his favorite clerks. Seven children, devout Catholic. She would energize anti-abortion activists and the religious right.
Also right at the top of the list, I would put Judge Barbara Lagoa. She is 52 years old. She was confirmed to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals by a vote of 80 to 15, so a lot of Democrats supported her. Former chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court. The first Hispanic to sit on that court. She is Cuban-American and from that absolute must-win state, George, of Florida.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And thank you, Jon.
(...)
Here is a transcript of the coverage CBS This Morning:
7:05 AM ET
(...)
BEN TRACY: CBS News has learned two of the top contenders are U.S. Court of appeals judges, Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa. The 48-year-old Barrett is a favorite of religious conservatives for her anti-abortion views. She clerked for former justice Antonin Scalia, and President Trump considered her to replace Justice Kennedy when he retired.
DONALD TRUMP: She's highly respected. I can say that.
TRACY: Lagoa is 52 and has a longer judicial record. She is also a conservative, as well as a first-generation Cuban American from the key swing state of Florida. She was confirmed at the court of appeals with bipartisan support.
TRUMP: She's an extraordinary person. I've heard incredible things about her. I don't know her. She's Hispanic and highly respected, Miami.
(...)
