On Tuesday's New Day on CNN, co-host Chris Cuomo began his interview with House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) worrying about whether or not the Democrats were seizing a political opportunity: "You have trouble within the GOP. Trouble between the president and his own party. That could be an opportunity, though, for the Democrats. The question is, are they seizing that opportunity?"
Then he seemed to be concerned that Democrats have not defended ObamaCare enough:
Could there be criticism you haven't defended it enough? I mean, the narrative from the Republicans is universally that Obamacare is dying on the vine. It's in a death spiral. The president calls it a nightmare. I don't hear full-throated defense from Democrats on this show on a regular basis fighting those propositions.
Pushing the narrative of the Democratic Party is standard procedure for Cuomo. You sure won't hear Cuomo egging on Republicans to defend their policies better or pushing Republicans to achieve political victory. In fact, the show has a long history of defending ObamaCare and attacking anyone who threatens it. Here are just a few recent examples:
- CNN Defends ObamaCare, Baits Guests to Attack Republicans
- CNN Pushes Democratic Policy and Talking Points on Health Care
- Headline: CNN Features Potential ‘Victim’ of GOP ObamaCare Repeal
- CNN Repeats Fake News: Senate Bill Cuts Medicaid
If all the examples were provided, the list would span many pages.
Below is the more complete transcript of the July 25 exchange:
8:18 AM ET
CHRIS CUOMO: All right. So, very often, politics is a matter ever perspective. You have trouble within the GOP. Trouble between the president and his own party. That could be an opportunity, though, for the Democrats. The question is, are they seizing that opportunity? The president writing them off as just obstructionists. Joining us now is House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. Good to have you on the show, sir.
REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), MINORITY WHIP: Good morning, Chris. Good to be with you.
CUOMO: So, a familiar criticism. A sitting president saying that the out-party is doing nothing but obstructing. We heard it during President Obama's tenure. We're hearing it again now. Is it fair criticism?HOYER: I think not. Essentially what he's frustrated about is the inability of his party to pass a repeal of the Affordable Care Act and/or a replacement to the Affordable Care Act. And he should not be surprised. This is not obstruction. We are defending the Affordable Care Act, which we're very proud of and we think has made a difference in the lives of millions of people giving them access to affordable health care. Are there problems in the ACA? There are. Do we need to fix them? We do. And we're ready and willing to do so. But to this point, the Republicans have been simply on a partisan effort without including not only Democrats but the public. No hearings, no amendments have been allowed to be offered. Now, they're trying to move forward. We'll see what happens. But we ought to be working in a bipartisan way. It's not obstruction. It's defending a piece of legislation we think is critically important for the American people.
CUOMO: Could there be criticism you haven't defended it enough? I mean, the narrative from the Republicans is universally that Obamacare is dying on the vine. It's in a death spiral. The president calls it a nightmare. I don't hear full-throated defense from Democrats on this show on a regular basis fighting those propositions.
HOYER: Well, I think -- I disagree, Chris. I think we've been fighting it and we've been fighting it pretty effectively.
The Affordable Care Act is working. It is not working at every instance, and part of the reason it's not working is because the Republicans have undermined it.
