On Tuesday, Senate Republicans saved the country of the Democratic-led federal takeover of the county’s election via the For the People Act. But the liberal broadcast networks were out in force that evening to gaslight their audiences and suggest Republicans had shot down an effort to “expand voting rights” that would have “overhauled” the system. And, of course, they spewed their false claims that the GOP was set to bring back Jim Crow.
CBS Evening News made the strongest case that they were just an extension of the Democratic Party’s press shop. “Well, a Democratic plan to greatly expand voting rights in the U.S. failed tonight in the U.S. Senate. Democrats didn't come close to the 60 votes they needed to advance debate,” anchor Norah O’Donnell announced at the top of the segment.
Ignoring how the bill would ban popular election integrity measures like voter IDs, CBS congressional correspondent Nikole Killion praised the bill as the foil to Republican efforts to secure elections:
The push for a federal voting rights law comes as 48 states are considering nearly 400 Republican-backed bills that would restrict voting. Across want south, grassroots activist organized freedom rides, like those during the civil rights movement, concerned the proposals could again make it harder for people of color at the ballot box.
Killion used one soundbite a leftist activist to suggest the GOP wanted “Jim Crow 2.0,” and she personally warned that “Congress is running out of time ahead of next year's midterms.”
Over on ABC’s World News Tonight, sensationalist anchor David Muir also tried to sell the bill to viewers by ignoring how the legislation would ban popular measures and would lead to a federal takeover:
The Senate taking a key vote on the Democrats' sweeping election reform bill. We have just learned tonight it did not pass. The bill would have, among other things, made election day a federal holiday, making it easy for Americans to get to the polls. It would have required at least 15 consecutive days of early voting. It also placed limits on partisan Gerrymandering.
In fact, ABC congressional correspondent Rachel Scott falsely claimed the bill protected voter ID laws. “Manchin now on board after his own changes to the bill, including voter I.D., were embraced by voting rights activist Stacey Abrams and former President Barack Obama,” she said.
At the end of the segment Muir and Scott teamed up to laud the Democratic scheme to try to shame Republicans for their opposition:
MUIR: They did not get one Republican vote and Democrats plan to make sure Americans know that? What’s the reaction so far?
SCOTT: David, Democrats tonight wanted to get every single Republican on the record on this issue. They want to paint Republicans ahead of the midterm elections as against expanding voting rights legislation.
And as for NBC Nightly News, Capitol Hill correspondent Garrett Haake did note that “Republicans tonight slamming the bill as a partisan power grab by Democrats that would federalize elections, including preventing states from requiring voter ID.”
But that’s where the kudos end as he ignored the truth and spun the bill by claiming it would have simply “overhauled the country’s election system.” Of course, he pitched it using Democratic talking points and didn’t explain that taxpayers would be paying for campaigns:
Dubbed the “For the People Act,” it includes a requirement states provide same-day voter registration, sets up a public financing system for congressional elections, and requires presidential candidates release their tax returns. Democrats calling the bill a way to push back against new state voting laws passed by Republicans.
He concluded by boasting about the Democratic Party’s endurance, saying, “Democrats are comparing this vote to round one of a boxing match, vowing to fight on to find some way to pass this bill.”
These lies and efforts at misinforming the public about elections laws was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Liberty Mutual on ABC, Leaf Filter on CBS, and Fidelity on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund. CBS Evening News has also asked people “text Norah” at this number: (202) 217-1107.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
June 22, 2021
6:36:14 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: And now to that key vote just moments ago in Washington. The voting rights showdown in this country. The Senate taking a key vote on the Democrats' sweeping election reform bill. We have just learned tonight it did not pass.
The bill would have, among other things, made election day a federal holiday, making it easy for Americans to get to the polls. It would have required at least 15 consecutive days of early voting. It also placed limits on partisan Gerrymandering.
Vice President Kamala Harris presiding over the vote. The Democrats united. Moderate Joe Manchin on board. But of course, Democrats only had 50 votes. They needed 60. And not one Republican voted for it. Tonight, the reaction already pouring in. Rachel Scott with late reporting from the hill tonight.
[Cuts to video]
RACHEL SCOTT: Tonight, Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding over a key vote to advance Democrats' sweeping voting rights bill.
VP KAMALA HARRIS: The clerk will call the roll.
SCOTT: Senate Democrats united after a last-minute effort to win over West Virginia's Joe Manchin, who met with President Biden.
What was president Biden's message to you in that meeting?
SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): We had a nice conversation. The president's message was very, very confidential.
SCOTT: Manchin now on board after his own changes to the bill, including voter I.D., were embraced by voting rights activist Stacey Abrams and former President Barack Obama.
The legislation would make election day a federal holiday, require at least 15 consecutive days of early voting and limit partisan gerrymandering. And it comes as Republicans in 15 states enact tough new voting restrictions.
SEN. RAPHAEL WARNOCK (D-GA): I fear that if we don't act as a body in this moment, we will have crossed a dangerous Rubicon in our nation that will make it extremely difficult for the next generation to secure voting rights for every eligible American.
SCOTT: But the Senate Republican leader today calling the bill --
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): Democrats' transparently partisan plan to tilt every election in America permanently in their favor.
SCOTT: Democrats need 60 votes to move this bill forward. They only have 50. And tonight, with zero Republican support, it's a nonstarter.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: Did not pass. Let's get right to Rachel Scott live on the hill tonight. Rachel, Democrats were united on this but, as we pointed out, the Senate 50/50. They did not get one Republican vote and Democrats plan to make sure Americans know that? What’s the reaction so far?
SCOTT: David, Democrats tonight wanted to get every single Republican on the record on this issue. They want to paint Republicans ahead of the midterm elections as against expanding voting rights legislation. Vice President Kamala Harris speaking just moments ago, she said the fight is not over. Senate Majority Leader chuck Schumer says, “make no mistake about it, this issue will come back up for debate on the Senate floor.” A senior Democratic source telling me tonight that the Democrats will be revisiting this before the fall. David?
MUIR: All right, Rachel Scott with late reporting from the hill tonight. Rachel, thank you.
CBS Evening News
June 22, 2021
6:37:02 p.mm EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: Well, a Democratic plan to greatly expand voting rights in the U.S. failed tonight in the U.S. Senate. Democrats didn't come close to the 60 votes they needed to advance debate. CBS's Nikole Killion reports tonight from the Capitol.
[Cuts to video]
NIKOLE KILLION: The Democrat-backed voting rights bill, dubbed the "For the People Act” was opposed by Senate Republicans from the start.
SEN. TOM TILLIS (R-NC): I think you could appropriately title it "The Fool the People Act.”
KILLION: Vice President Kamala Harris, the president's point person on voting rights, presided over the chamber as the GOP blocked debate on the bill.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): What this is really about is an effort of the federal government to take over the way we conduct elections.
KILLION: The bill would expand automatic voter registration and early voting, end partisan gerrymandering, and make Election Day a national holiday. But Senate Democrats were unable to secure the 60 votes required to overcome a Republican filibuster.
SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): This is all about one thing: Some people don't want some people to vote.
KILLION: The push for a federal voting rights law comes as 48 states are considering nearly 400 Republican-backed bills that would restrict voting. Across want south, grass-roots activist organized freedom rides, like those during the civil rights movement, concerned the proposals could again make it harder for people of color at the ballot box.
CLIFF ALBRIGHT (Black Voters Matter): It's Jim Crow 2.0. It's the same impact and the same patterns and that's why we're fighting it.
KILLION: Experts say Congress is running out of time ahead of next year's midterms.
DAVID BECKER: Soon we're going to be in the 2022 election cycle. The districts will be drawn very shortly, and at that point it gets very difficult to pass election reforms.
[Cuts back to live]
KILLION: West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, the lone Democrat who initially opposed the elections reform bill did vote with his party tonight. He crafted a separate compromise that has support from the White House and former President Obama, but it's not clear if it will be taken up at all. Norah.
O’DONNELL: Nikole Killion, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
June 22, 2021
7:04:54 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Let’s turn now to the showdown on a voting bill. Tonight, in the Senate, President Biden unable to win bipartisan support for the election overhaul he called a top priority. Garrett Haake is at the Capitol with late details for us.
[Cuts to video]
GARRETT HAAKE: In a defeat for Biden, Senate Republicans tonight blocking a Democratic voting bill that would have overhauled the country’s election system.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): They don't even want to debate it because they're afraid. They want to deny the right to vote, make it harder to vote for so many Americans.
HAAKE: Dubbed the “For the People Act,” it includes a requirement states provide same-day voter registration, sets up a public financing system for congressional elections, and requires presidential candidates release their tax returns. Democrats calling the bill a way to push back against new state voting laws passed by Republicans.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I am going to fight like heck with every tool at my disposal for its passage.
HAAKE: But Republicans tonight slamming the bill as a partisan power grab by Democrats that would federalize elections, including preventing states from requiring voter ID.
SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R-LA): Could be more aptly described as Screw the People Act. It will make it much easier to cheat in an election.
HAAKE: With the bill short the required 60 votes, some Democrats pushing for a dramatic change to Senate rules. But like Joe Manchin, Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema showing no sign she will support that.
Senator, what do you say to Democrats disappointed about your op-ed about the filibuster, feeling that they could still change your mind?
SEN. KYRSTEN SINEMA: [Laughs]
[Cuts back to live]
HAAKE: Democrats are comparing this vote to round one of a boxing match, vowing to fight on to find some way to pass this bill. Lester.
HOLT: Garrett Haake, thanks.
