ABC, NBC, and CBS all gushed over the “history” making Supreme Court confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson on their respective Saturday morning programs. Of the three, only CBS put in minimal effort to show substantive criticisms of Jackson existed.
Studio anchor for CBS Saturday Morning, Jeff Glor noted that Jackson will become the first black woman to serve on the Court before tossing the segment over to correspondent Christina Ruffini who introduced a report on Friday’s White House ceremony, “well, representation matters, that was the focus of the celebrations here at the White House yesterday, marketing Judge Jackson's ascension to the highest bench in America.”
As part of the report, Ruffini hailed the significance of the moment for both Jackson and President Biden, “Campaign pledge fulfilled, President Biden emphasized the historic significance of the moment.”
Regarding the confirmation hearings, Ruffini described them as “contentious” as “Republicans on the Judiciary Committee accused the former public defender of being soft on crime and an extremist. But in the end they didn't have the votes to stop her nomination from going forward.”
After some more soundbites from Biden and Vice President Harris, Ruffini returned live to hail some more history, “Jackson will join the most diverse Supreme Court in history with four women and three justices of color. Michelle?”
Still, for the cast of ABC’s Good Morning America, White House correspondent MaryAlice Parks declared:
The president yesterday marking a campaign promise kept and cementing a key part of his legacy. There was this moment at the start, the vice president was talking about the history being made with Ketanji Brown Jackson now the first black woman confirmed the highest Court and President Biden joyfully interjecting about time and that has been his message, that he thought it was about time the Supreme Court looked more like America.
Parks continued with the historical theme as part of her recorded report, “Flanked by two black women he helped promote, President Biden all smiles Friday, celebrating the confirmation of his first Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and the history she has now made.”
While she did acknowledge that Republicans mostly opposed Jackson, Parks suggested such opposition was racist and did not get into specific criticisms, “The president said he knew it would not be easy for the first black woman nominated to the highest Court, but argued that the questions she faced during her hearings amounted to verbal abuse.”
After some more clips, Parks tossed the conversation back to the studio where fellow anchor Janai Norman declared there is “so much history to celebrate.”
Meanwhile, over at NBC, Kristen Welker introduced Today’s segment on the matter, “And now to the history-making week for the Supreme Court with the first-ever black woman preparing to take the bench. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson celebrating the moment as a point of pride for all of America.”
White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell was equally enthusiastic, “another barrier broken and a place in history secured for Ketanji Brown Jackson… For President Biden, this marked a promise kept and way to show the Court can look more like the country.
As part of her video segment, O’Donnell also hailed the historical aspects of Jackson’s confirmation and interviewed some black women law school students who cited Jackson as an inspiration.
She also portrayed Republican opposition as hostile and without substance, “While the president thanked three Republican senator who voted to confirm, he condemned the treatment of Judge Jackson by other Republicans during the hearing.”
Why did only three Republicans vote to confirm Jackson? If you watched ABC or NBC, you wouldn’t know.
CBS Saturday Morning was sponsored by Dr. Scholl’s, GMA was sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service, and Today was sponsored by Angi.
Here are transcripts of the April 9 shows:
CBS Saturday Morning
4/9/2022
8:10 AM ET
JEFF GLOR In the nation's capital, the Senate confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was celebrated at the White House, and outside the Supreme Court on Friday. Jackson will be the first black woman to serve on the High Court. When she succeeds retiring Justice Stephen Breyer at the end of his term this summer. Jackson, whose official portrait was also unveiled, will maintain a liberal block of the court that has a 6-to-3 conservative majority. Ahead of big rulings on voting rights, gender rights, and religious liberty. Christina Ruffini is at the White House with more on this. Christina, good morning.
CHRISTINA RUFFINI: Good morning, Jeff, well, representation matters, that was the focus of the celebrations here at the White House yesterday, marketing Judge Jackson's ascension to the highest bench in America.
JOE BIDEN: It’s a powerful thing when people can see themselves in others.
RUFFINI: Campaign pledge fulfilled, President Biden emphasized the historic significance of the moment.
BIDEN: We will look back and see this as a moment of real change.
RUFFINI: The president had promised, if given the chance, to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court. The first out of 115 prior appointments.
KETANJI BROWN JACKSON: I am just the very lucky first inheritor of the dream of liberty and justice for all.
RUFFINI: Judge Brown Jackson thanked her supporters, her family, and a higher power.
JACKSON: I have to give thanks to God for delivering me as promised. And for sustaining me throughout this nomination and confirmation process.
RUFFINI: That process was contentious.
JACKSON: No, senator, I didn't say –
LINDSEY GRAHAM: That's exactly what you said.
JACKSON: Republicans on the Judiciary Committee accused the former public defender of being soft on crime and an extremist. But in the end they didn't have the votes to stop her nomination from going forward.
KAMALA HARRIS This nomination is confirmed.
RUFFINI: They confirmed Jackson by 53-to-47 vote. It included Republicans Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski.BIDEN: They deserve enormous credit for setting aside partisan and making a carefully considered judgement.
RUFFINI: And Vice President Harris, the first black woman to hold that job said she wrote a note to her goddaughter during the confirmation vote.
HARRIS: And I told her that I felt such a deep sense of pride and joy, and about what this moment means for our nation, and for her future, and I will tell you, her braids are just a little longer than yours.
RUFFINI: And when she is sworn in, probably a little later this summer, Jackson will join the most diverse Supreme Court in history with four women and three justices of color. Michelle?
ABC Good Morning America
4/9/2022
7:06 AM ET
WHIT JACKSON: Here at home, President Biden celebrating the historic confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. ABC's White House correspondent MaryAlice Parks is in Washington with more. Maryalice, good morning.
MARYALICE PARKS: Whit, good morning. The president yesterday marking a campaign promise kept and cementing a key part of his legacy. There was this moment at the start, the vice president was talking about the history being made with Ketanji Brown Jackson now the first black woman confirmed the highest Court and President Biden joyfully interjecting about time and that has been his message, that he thought it was about time the Supreme Court looked more like America.
PARKS: Flanked by two black women he helped promote, President Biden all smiles Friday, celebrating the confirmation of his first Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and the history she has now made.
JOE BIDEN: This is going to let so much shine, sun shine on so many young women, so many young black women.
PARKS: The president said he knew it would not be easy for the first black woman nominated to the highest Court, but argued that the questions she faced during her hearings amounted to verbal abuse.
BIDEN: In the face of it all Judge Jackson showed the incredible character and integrity she possesses. Poise.
PARKS: Judge Jackson then taking the podium herself with humility thanking many in the crowd by name.KETANJI BROWN JACKSON: No one does this on their own.
PARKS: Her two daughters in the front row. Back in 2016 Layla wrote to then President-Barack Obama asking him to consider her mother for the High Court. That dream now about to come true.
JACKSON: It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the united States.
PARKS: Jackson moving from herself to her place in history. Quoting, the renowned poet Maya Angelou.
JACKSON: I do so now while bringing the gifts my ancestors gave. I strongly believe that this is a moment in which all Americans can take great pride. We have come a long way toward perfecting our union. In my family it took just one generation to go from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States.
PARKS: And Judge Jackson will take her oath and her seat on the bench this summer, likely in June or July when the Court finishes its sessions for this year and Justice Stephen Breyer retires, Janai.
JANAI NORMAN: So much history to celebrate. Maryalice, thank you so much.
NBC Today
4/9/2022
7:07 AM ET
KRISTEN WELKER: And now to the history making week for the Supreme Court with the first ever black woman preparing to take the bench. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson celebrating the moment as a point of pride for all of America. NBC's senior White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell has more on all of this. Kelly, good morning to you.
KELLY O’DONNELL: Good morning Kristen, another barrier broken and a place in history secured for Ketanji Brown Jackson who will join the High Court later this summer when it completes its current session of cases. For President Biden, this marked a promise kept and way to show the Court can look more like the country.A long awaited moment for joy.
KETANJI BROWN JACKSON: We made it. All of us. All of us.
O’DONNELL: Ketanji Brown Jackson celebrated on the south lawn on Friday. The next Supreme Court justice is the first black woman in more than 230 years. That wait captured in the words of poet Maya Angelou.
JACKSON: I am the dream and hope of the slave.
O’DONNELL: Thanking her parents and husband and daughters. Judge Jackson said her opportunity is the promise of the American story.
JACKSON: In my family, it took just one generation to go from it segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States.
O’DONNELL: Her success speaks loudly to a new generation of young black women in law school who shared with Kristen what this means to them.
IMANI BROOKS: It's definitely a personal inspiration for me to see her becoming a justice.
UNIDENTIFIED LAW SCHOOL STUDENT: She'll be someone that we and other generations can look up to.
O’DONNELL: For President Biden, a victory. Binding some of his own legacy to this barrier breaking change.
BIDEN: This is going to let so much shine, sun shine on so many young women.
O’DONNELL: While the president thanked three Republican senator who voted to confirm, he condemned the treatment of Judge Jackson by other Republicans during the hearing.
BIDEN: Verbal abuse, anger, constant interruptions.
O’DONNELL: But, could Republican opposition jeopardize a future Joe Biden Court pick if another vacancy opens? Mitch McConnell refused to say that he would bring a nominee to a vote if Republicans take control in November.
MITCH MCCONNELL: I'm not going to signal how we're going to approach it.
WELKER: Undoubtedly, a flash point moving forward.
