In a report for Friday's NBC Today, White House correspondent Kristen Welker continued the network's effort to preemptively blame Republicans for any gridlock that may occur in Washington following the GOP's landslide win in Tuesday's midterm election: "Republicans have drawn their own battle lines, doubling down on their pledge to repeal the President's signature piece of legislation, ObamaCare, and vowing to approve the Keystone Pipeline, which the President has resisted."
Introducing the segment, fill-in co-host Willie Geist noted congressional leaders meeting with President Obama at the White House on Friday and wondered: "But can a lunch really do anything to break the long-standing gridlock in Washington?" Welker declared "both sides sounding a lot like they're still at war over key issues" and that lawmakers would "break bread with the President, but it's hard to see them breaking any major new ground."
She put the focus on Republicans: "Instead of talking about compromise, House Speaker John Boehner warned the President Thursday, 'Don't go around Congress to fix the country's broken immigration system,' something the President vowed to do..."
After a soundbite ran of Boehner warning that such a move by Obama would "poison the well," Welker made her assertion that the GOP was the side drawing "battle lines."
Welker played a clip herself lobbing a pointless softball question to White House press secretary Josh Earnest: "If you're an American voter, why should you have confidence that anything is going to be different now?" Earnest blandly replied: "Well, I think that time will tell."
While Welker found no time to press Earnest on whether the President was willing to give ground on issues, she did inform viewers that "a Kentucky-based bourbon maker has offered to provide that drink of choice" after Obama joked about wanting to share the beverage with incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Both Thursday's NBC Nightly News and Today emphasized Republicans "digging in" and breaking a "truce" with the White House.
Here is a full transcript of the November 7 report:
7:00 AM ET TEASE:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Breaking bread. Fresh off that stunning Republican rout, GOP leaders head to the White House today for lunch with the President. But the two sides already drawing battle lines.
7:04 AM ET SEGMENT:
WILLIE GEIST: The President welcomes congressional leaders to the White House today. The get-together will mark their first face-to-face meeting since Tuesday's massive victory by Republicans in the midterm elections. But can a lunch really do anything to break the long-standing gridlock in Washington? NBC's White House correspondent Kristen Welker has more on that. Kristen, good morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: President Obama's Lunch Summit; Meeting With Congressional Leaders After Losses]
KRISTEN WELKER: Willie, good morning to you. 14 lawmakers are expected for lunch here today. No word on whether bourbon will be on menu. The President had, of course, joked about sharing that drink with the likely soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell the other day. But on the official agenda, finding common ground with the new Republican leaders of Congress. But it is a tall task, with both sides sounding a lot like they're still at war over key issues.
When lawmakers come to the White House today, they'll break bread with the President, but it's hard to see them breaking any major new ground.
JOHN BOEHNER [SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE]: When you play with matches, you take the risk of burning yourself.
WELKER: Instead of talking about compromise, House Speaker John Boehner warned the President Thursday, "Don't go around Congress to fix the country's broken immigration system," something the President vowed to do, even after Democrats' bruising defeat this week.
JOHN BOEHNER: I believe that if the President continues to act on his own he is going to poison the well.
WELKER: But Republicans have drawn their own battle lines, doubling down on their pledge to repeal the President's signature piece of legislation, ObamaCare, and vowing to approve the Keystone Pipeline, which the President has resisted.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN [GOP LAWMAKER]: I'm not going to give an inch, for instance, on repeal of the health care reform.
WELKER [TO WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JOSH EARNEST]: If you're an American voter, why should you have confidence that anything is going to be different now?
JOSH EARNEST: Well, I think that time will tell.
WELKER: But with the 2016 election already looming, time is running out. Still, lawmakers say they may be able to find common ground on issues like corporate tax reform, trade, and fixing bridges and roads.
ANDY CARD [FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF]: The President should be inviting, I think he should practice humility, and I think he should listen as much as he talks.
WELKER: And as for that much-talked-about drink of bourbon, a Kentucky-based bourbon maker has offered to provide that drink of choice. No plans for the bourbon summit to happen any time soon though. On Sunday, Mr. Obama heads to Asia just as Congress returns from recess the following day. Willie, Savannah.
GEIST: Alright, we've had the beer summit, now maybe the bourbon summit as well. Kristen Welker at the White House. Kristen, thanks.
