In a desperate attempt on Wednesday’s NBC Today to hype supposed divisions in the Republican Party over opposition to President Obama nominating a successor to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, correspondent Andrea Mitchell enthusiastically proclaimed: “Even as a handful of Republican senators are now breaking with their leaders and saying the Obama nominee should at least get a fair hearing.”
Moments later, she declared: “And even some Republicans criticize what appeared to be a rush to the political barricade so soon after Justice Scalia's death.” As evidence, Mitchell cited a soundbite from former Republican National Committee chair and MSNBC political analyst Michael Steele: “This was a misstep. I think it was a political misstep. First off, that is not the first thing you say within hours of the passing of someone like Justice Scalia.”
What Mitchell failed to mention was that Steele made those comments on her Tuesday MSNBC show after she teed him up to bash the GOP:
And within two hours of the announcement of Antonin Scalia's death, Mitch McConnell, followed by Chuck Grassley, were out there saying, “We're not going to hold a hearing, we’re not going to confirm anybody, no matter who he appoints. You can't do it in the last year”....Doesn't this blow up the Senate for the foreseeable future?
In addition to calling the move a “misstep,” Steele told Mitchell exactly what she wanted to hear as he predicted doom for Republicans and victory for Democrats:
I think, as a political calculation, it may come back to bite because you've got a lot of blue state senators, about five or six of them, who are going to be running in some – are already running in some tight races. Now you've given the Democrats a real cudgel to put over their heads, to beat them over the heads with over the next seven or eight months. So it's going to be a tight squeeze for the Republicans, I think, on this issue. Barack Obama will find the upper hand because the person he nominates is probably going to be that kind of “consensus candidate” and the pressure’s going to build on the Senate.
After touting Steele’s comments during the Wednesday report on Today, Mitchell also sensationalized remarks from Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley that “appeared to open the door” to an Obama nominee.
She rested all her hopes on him saying in a radio interview: “I would wait until the nominee is made before I would make any decisions.” However, Mitchell was forced to acknowledge: “But later, Senator Grassley seemed to backtrack, telling NBC News he is not open to a confirmation.”
Using the same tactic on Tuesday’s NBC Nightly News, Mitchell announced “a small crack today in the Republican hardline.”
On Tuesday’s Today, she decried Republicans taking a “hard line” against any Obama court pick, “no matter how moderate.”
While Mitchell was busy sowing dissension in the GOP ranks, Wednesday’s CBS This Morning actually provided its viewers with journalism, pointing out Obama’s hypocrisy on blocking Supreme Court nominations.
Here is a full transcript of Mitchell’s February 17 report:
7:18 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Now to the heated debate over replacing Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. President Obama now waging into the Republican opposition against him naming Scalia's successor. NBC’s Andrea Mitchell has the latest on that. Andrea, good morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: President’s Supreme Decision; Obama Pledges to Move Ahead With SCOTUS Nomination]
ANDREA MITCHELL: Good morning, Savannah. President Obama is forcefully rejecting Republican calls to let the next president nominate Justice Scalia's replacement. Even as a handful of Republican senators are now breaking with their leaders and saying the Obama nominee should at least get a fair hearing.
BARACK OBAMA: The Constitution is pretty clear about what is supposed to happen now.
MITCHELL: In California Tuesday, President Obama arguing he will nominate someone for the high court, despite calls by Republican leaders that the pick be left to successor.OBAMA: Historically, this has not been viewed as a question. There's no unwritten law that says that it can only be done on off years. That's not in the constitutional text.
MITCHELL: And even some Republicans criticize what appeared to be a rush to the political barricade so soon after Justice Scalia's death.
MICHAEL STEELE: This was a misstep. I think it was a political misstep. First off, that is not the first thing you say within hours of the passing of someone like Justice Scalia.
MITCHELL: The President vowed to pick someone “indisputably qualified.” But with battle lines drawn, will that nominee even get a hearing? The Republican senator in charge of any confirmation hearing, Chuck Grassley, appeared to open the door, telling Iowa radio –
SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY [R-IA]: I would wait until the nominee is made before I would make any decisions.
MITCHELL: But later, Senator Grassley seemed to backtrack, telling NBC News he is not open to a confirmation.
At the Supreme Court this week, remembrances for Justice Scalia. His seat draped with black cloth in his honor. And on Friday, the Justice will return one last time, lying in repose at the court's great hall, with a funeral set for Saturday at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington.
Meanwhile, with conspiracy theories taking off over Scalia’s sudden death, law enforcement officials and the owner of the Texas ranch where he died, are completely ruling out foul play. Saying a pillow found in his bed was above his head, not over his face, as some reports initially stated.
The Scalia vacancy is already a big issue for the 2016 candidates, of course. With each side seeing an historic opportunity to determine the outcome of major issues like abortion and immigration, depending on who is going to gain the majority in those closely decided five to four decisions. Savannah and Willie?
GUTHRIE: Alright, Andrea Mitchell, thank you so much.
