NBC on Wednesday repeatedly lobbied Liz Cheney to run for president after she lost her renomination bid for Congress. Today co-host Savannah Guthrie also repeated the media-created comparison that Cheney is Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars and Trump is Darth Vader.
Guthrie deemed “64 percent” of Republicans to be election deniers (without citing a source) and then lobbied for Cheney to outright call for Democratic victory in 2022: “That is your red line. That is who is coming to Congress if Republicans prevail and get control of Congress. Given that state of affairs, do you think it would be better for the country if Democrats retained control?”
After the Republican declined, a frustrated Guthrie tried again: “Well, let me try it one more time. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she fears for our very democracy if Republicans win in November. Do you?”
Again, Cheney refused and so the Today host spun the midterms as a “battle for the soul of the Republican Party.” She demanded, “Has that choice been made by Republicans fundamentally?”
Guthrie closed by, yet again, comparing the congresswoman to Obi-Wan Kenobi:
Finally, in the moments we have, word on the street is that you and your team were fond of an editorial recently that likened you to Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars who said to Darth Vader, essentially as they duked it out, “If you strike me down now, I'll be stronger in death.” Is that how you see it? You’re stronger in political death this morning?
On Tuesday’s Today, Hallie Jackson compared Cheney to, you guessed it, Obi Wan Kenobi:
I'm told by one source that Cheney's staffers are really big fans of a recent editorial that compares air to Obi-Wan Kenobi. Okay, defeated initially, but ultimately part of the force that works to take down Darth Vader, or in this analogy, Donald Trump.
But, to prove that it was actually possible to ask tough questions, Guthrie on Wednesday did manage to ask one to Cheney. Here it is:
We all know the old adage “all politics is local” and in focus groups and interviews with reporters, many Wyoming voters said that you lost your way. You went Washington and were focused too much on Trump and not the issues they cared about. One poll showed 61 percent of likely Republican voters there said you weren't focused on Wyoming issues. Was that the issue? Did you have the wrong focus?
For more on how the media used to hate Liz Cheney, see my study here.
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A transcript of the questions is below. Click “expand” to read more.
Today
8/17/2022
7:06AM ETGUTHRIE: And I'm remembering back to when we had an interview back in may 2021 when you lost your leadership position. I said they are coming after you. President Trump wants to go to Wyoming and take you on in the primary. And you said, “Bring it on.” They did. And here we are and you lost. How do you feel about that now? What's your response today?”
...
GUTHRIE: Back a moment to your race. We all know the old adage “all politics is local” and in focus groups and interviews with reporters, many Wyoming voters said that you lost your way. You went Washington and were focused too much on Trump and not the issues they cared about. One poll showed 61 percent of likely Republican voters there said you weren't focused on Wyoming issues. Was that the issue? Did you have the wrong focus?
...
GUTHRIE: In point of fact, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy did consider this a referendum on your work on January 6th. President Trump, former President Trump, last night said it was a complete rebuke of that work. And you have said in the past you thought the voters of Wyoming fundamentally understood how important that fidelity to the Constitution was. Did you get that wrong? Do people see it differently in the Republican Party?
...
GUTHRIE: The former President said last night you're now headed to political oblivion. You said this fight is just beginning. You've even launched a political organization already. So let's just be straight about it. Are you considering running for president yourself?
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GUTHRIE: Congresswoman, you didn't answer me yes or no....You didn't say yes or no, and that's fine if you are thinking about it. But are you thinking about running for president?
...
GUTHRIE: Let's go back to the primary season. It's almost over now. And 64 percent of the Republicans who have won their primaries are election deniers. That is your red line. That is who is coming to Congress if Republicans prevail and get control of Congress. Given that state of affairs, do you think it would be better for the country if Democrats retained control?
...
GUTHRIE: Well, let me try it one more time. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she fears for our very democracy if Republicans win in November. Do you?
...
GUTHRIE: You are now the latest House Republican who had crossed party lines and voted to impeach President Trump to not be retaining your seat. Only two have won in their primaries. People talk about the battle for the soul of the Republican Party. You have said there's a time for choosing whether we're loyal to the Constitution or loyal to Trump and we must choose. Has that choice been made by Republicans fundamentally?
...
GUTHRIE: Finally, in the moments we have, word on the street is that you and your team were fond of an editorial recently that likened you to Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars who said to Darth Vader, essentially as they duked it out, “If you strike me down now, I'll be stronger in death.” Is that how you see it? You’re stronger in political death this morning?
