Wednesday's CBS Early Show adopted a hostile tone in its coverage of the upcoming vote by House Republicans to repeal ObamaCare, with co-host Chris Wragge proclaiming: "The battle over health care heats up again today. The House plans a vote on repealing the legislation. It fulfills a campaign promise for Republicans and begins a two-year effort to try to dismantle the law."
In the report that followed, congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes portrayed the GOP as an eager aggressor: "This is a day that House Republicans have been waiting for, for months. The day that they get to vote to undo a law that they fiercely oppose." The headline on screen throughout the segment read: "GOP vs. Obama; House to Vote on Repealing Healthcare Reform."
In concluding her piece, Cordes noted how Republicans lack the votes in the Senate to repeal the legislation, but warned they "are vowing to mount a two-year offensive against this law."
Here is a full transcript of the segment:
7:06AM ET
CHRIS WRAGGE: The battle over health care heats up again today. The House plans a vote on repealing the legislation. It fulfills a campaign promise for Republicans and begins a two-year effort to try to dismantle the law. CBS News congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes is on Capitol Hill with the very latest for us this morning. Nancy, good morning.
NANCY CORDES: Chris, good morning. This is a day that House Republicans have been waiting for, for months. The day that they get to vote to undo a law that they fiercely oppose.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: GOP vs. Obama; House to Vote on Repealing Healthcare Reform]
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN [REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF CONGRESS]: When I ran for Congress, I vowed to repeal ObamaCare.
CORDES: Flexing their new political muscle, House Republicans embarked on their repeal effort with a full-throated critique of the health care law.
PAUL RYAN [REP. R-WI]: We are already seeing premiums go up across the board. We're already hearing from thousands of employers across the country who are talking about dropping their employer-sponsored health insurance.
CORDES: Republicans oppose a mandate in the law that will require all Americans to get health insurance, starting in 2014. And provide subsidies to those who can't afford it. Other provisions have already kicked in. Allowing young Americans to remain on their parents' insurance plans until age 26. And barring insurance companies from dropping patients with pre-existing conditions. Democrats are mounting a major defense of the law. Holding a forum Tuesday to hear from beneficiaries of the law, like Ed Burke of Florida, a hemophiliac.
ED BURKE: The only death panels I see is when the insurance company says, 'you capped out.'
CORDES: The administration waded into the debate, too, asserting that 129 million Americans under the age of 65 stood to lose from a repeal because they have pre-existing conditions.
LOUIE GOHMERT [REP. R-TX]: That is absolutely absurd.
CORDES: The new Tea Party contingent on Capitol Hill disputed those figures.
STEVE KING [REP. R-IA]: That could also include a 300 pound chain-smoking alcoholic who is a sky diver who might not get their insurance extended.
CORDES: Republicans will have the votes they need for repeal in the House, but since they do not control the Senate, this law will stand. Though Republicans are vowing to mount a two-year offensive against this law. Chris.
WRAGGE: CBS News' Nancy Cordes for us in Washington. Nancy, thank you. And we'll update that story again tomorrow.
HILL: Yes, we will. And the day after that, as well, I believe.
— Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here.
