As ABC became an active mouthpiece for the fearmongering of Senate Democrats in the confirmation process of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, and CBS falsely claimed she was “dodging questions” on how she would rule, NBC Justice correspondent Pete Williams took to Tuesday’s Nightly News and largely dismantled the Democratic suggestion that the Judge would deal the death blow to ObamaCare.
“As we just heard, Judge Barrett pressed repeatedly on ObamaCare,” anchor Lester Holt prefaced following a rundown of day two the confirmation hearings from White House correspondent Peter Alexander. “Democrats suggesting, she would cast a deciding vote to kill the law. But what are the actual chances of that?”
Williams began by noting: “Judge Barrett has criticized the Supreme Court's ruling that upheld Obamacare’s individual mandate. So, she might agree with the red states asking the court to declare the mandate unconstitutional.”
“But the key issue in the case the court hears in November is whether the rest of the health care law can remain in effect. Some of the court's conservatives say judges should be reluctant to strike a law if only part of it is invalid,” he added.
He then explained how, “even if she believes the entire health care law must fall, it's not at all clear there are four other justices who would agree with her.” He continued: “So, ObamaCare may be at greater risk with her on the court but it's by no means certain that her confirmation would doom it.”
Williams’s report was a bit of a 180 from what NBC said on Monday, seeing as how Holt touted Democratic Senators for “framing the conservative judge as a threat to the Affordable Care Act, a key election issue.”
In the Monday report, Alexander boasted about how “united” Democrats were “in warning that a Justice Barrett would strike down the Affordable Care Act. Just when they say Americans need it most.” He then played back-to-back soundbites of loony lefties claiming she was out to hurt innocent people:
SENATOR CORY BOOKER [D-NJ]: For years, Merritt put off going to the doctor because he was, like many Americans, afraid he could not afford it.
SENATOR CHRIS COONS (D-DE): Kerri from Middletown, Delaware use to pay $800 a month for junk insurance as she called it.
And in his opening tease, Holt told viewers of how “Democrats [were] arguing she'll threaten affordable health care.”
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
October 13, 2020
7:08:55 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: As we just heard, Judge Barrett pressed repeatedly on ObamaCare. Democrats suggesting, she would cast a deciding vote to kill the law. But what are the actual chances of that? Let's bring in NBC's Pete Williams. Pete, any hints so far?
PETE WILLIAMS: Lester, Judge Barrett has criticized the Supreme Court's ruling that upheld Obamacare’s individual mandate. So, she might agree with the red states asking the court to declare the mandate unconstitutional.
But the key issue in the case the court hears in November is whether the rest of the health care law can remain in effect. Some of the court's conservatives say judges should be reluctant to strike a law if only part of it is invalid.
Even if she believes the entire health care law must fall, it's not at all clear there are four other justices who would agree with her. So, ObamaCare may be at greater risk with her on the court but it's by no means certain that her confirmation would doom it. Lester?
HOLT: All right, Pete Williams, thank you.
