Appearing on MSNBC’s 9:00 a.m. ET hour on Thursday, liberal historian Jon Meacham hailed the supposed “formidable legacy” of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and proclaimed that the impeachment of President Trump was “an extraordinary political achievement” for the left-wing lawmaker.
“Mr. Meacham, if look at the front pages today, some show Trump, some show Nancy Pelosi,” anchor Stephanie Ruhle observed. She then urged him to give his glowing assessment of the Democratic leader: “I want to understand how history is going to remember her role in this process....what do actual historians believe her legacy will be around this?”
Given that no “actual historians” were available, the former editor of the failed Newsweek magazine offered his thoughts: “I think it is a formidable legacy. I think she has, depending on what happens going forward, she has lead her caucus and really lead the country, or at least a huge chunk of it, 48-49%, to a place where the Constitution – the constitutional system has now, thus far, worked.”
He laughably asserted that Pelosi “didn’t rush into” the partisan, slipshod impeachment. “It’s an extraordinary political achievement, but even more important, I think it is an important constitutional one,” Meacham marveled.
Following Democratic talking points to the letter, he assured viewers that the radical effort was “about trying to stop what many people believe is an unfolding effort, plot, conspiracy, campaign to violate the sovereignty of our national elections.”
Meacham continued to heap praise on “the essential work that Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic caucus did over the past month or so.” He concluded: “And that’s what the framers wanted the House to do and they wanted the Senate to be the last line of defense to stop a demagogue. And now they’re on trial.”
For MSNBC to pretend that such sycophantic adulation for Nancy Pelosi is some kind of sober historical determination is just a joke.
Here is a transcript of the December 19 exchange:
9:07 AM ET
(...)
STEPHANIE RUHLE: I want to say, talking about Speaker Pelosi, Mr. Meacham, if look at the front pages today, some show Trump, some show Nancy Pelosi. I want to understand how history is going to remember her role in this process. I look at the New York Post today, which takes the lowest road possible in attacking Nancy Pelosi for what she wore, saying, “The Swamp Mistress Pelosi Dresses In Black for Historic Vote.” Funny, they didn’t mention that every guy in the room was in a dark suit. And I don’t know, would they have preferred her in gogo boots and a tube top? But what do actual historians believe her legacy will be around this?
JON MEACHAM: I think it is a formidable legacy. I think she has, depending on what happens going forward, she has lead her caucus and really lead the country, or at least a huge chunk of it, 48-49%, to a place where the Constitution – the constitutional system has now, thus far, worked. This is what it’s supposed to do. It’s supposed to check and balance. She didn’t rush into it. I think that all of us will remember forever her hushing the cheers.
It’s an extraordinary political achievement, but even more important, I think it is an important constitutional one. Because remember, for all of the maneuvering – which is fascinating and we’ll talk about it endlessly – for all of the maneuvering, this was about trying to stop what many people believe is an unfolding effort, plot, conspiracy, campaign to violate the sovereignty of our national elections. So I don’t think we should let the tactics overshadow the essential work that Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic caucus did over the past month or so. Which was to say, “You know what? Donald Trump has gone that far, but we don’t think he should go any farther.” And that’s what the framers wanted the House to do and they wanted the Senate to be the last line of defense to stop a demagogue. And now they’re on trial.
(...)
