On Wednesday, as news broke of bipartisan members of Congress traveling to Kabul to conduct oversight of the Biden administration’s disastrous and rushed withdrawal from Afghanistan, hack reporters on the CBS and NBC morning shows parroted nasty White House talking points smearing the lawmakers – both Afghan war veterans – as “selfish” politicians creating a “distraction.”
“Meanwhile, a surprise visit to the Afghan capital by two members of congress has angered U.S. officials. They call it selfish and a danger for American forces,” co-host Anthony Mason sneered as CBS This Morning began. Rather than fact-check such incendiary rhetoric, moments later, White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe continued to push the administration’s attack line: “And as evacuations continue, two members of Congress made an unauthorized trip to Kabul Tuesday, unleashing a flurry of criticism that they simply created a distraction and took up seats for evacuating U.S. citizens and allies.”
The reporter at least noted what facts Democratic Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton and Republican Michigan Congressman Peter Meijer found on the ground:
Representative Seth Moulton and Peter Meijer, both veterans, said in a statement, “We came into this visit wanting, like most veterans, to push the President to extend the August 31st deadline. After talking with the commanders on the ground and seeing the situation here, it’s obvious that because we started the evacuation so late that no matter what we do, we won’t get everyone out on time.”
Later, O’Keefe whined: “As for that controversial congressional trip to Kabul, it was unauthorized because they didn’t go through the usual process to get approval for a congressional fact-finding mission.” He also emphasized “the White House and other administration officials swinging back this morning” and cited Press Secretary Jen Psaki warning: “We advise against any Americans, whether elected or not, attempting to travel to Kabul right now.”
As the report wrapped up, co-host Tony Dokoupil sympathized with Biden having to deal with critics: “The President can’t be happy about that visit from two members of Congress.”
Opening NBC’s Today show, co-host Craig Melvin told viewers of “the controversial secret trip there by two lawmakers,” though at least acknowledged: “Why they say the situation is even worse than they expected.”
Minutes later, correspondent Kelly O’Donnell introduced her report by declaring: “Consider the dangers and desperation of thousands who want to get out, but a pair of Congressmen decided this was time for them to go in, claiming they could conduct their own fact-finding mission.” She then proceeded to echo the White House lashing out at Moulton and Meijer:
An unwanted surprise. A secret, unauthorized trip to Afghanistan by two Congressmen, who urged president Biden to extend that exit deadline....Democrat Seth Moulton and Republican Peter Meijer, both veterans, say they went to Kabul to conduct oversight. And that from the ground, they believe evacuations cannot be finished this month. An administration official tells NBC News their visit was, quote, “an unhelpful distraction.”
Unlike CBS and NBC, ABC’s Good Morning America didn’t attack the members of Congress for their fact-finding mission. The broadcast conveniently ignored their trip completely.
Bipartisan congressional oversight of a president’s massive foreign policy failure is the kind of thing real journalists should welcome. Instead, the broadcast networks decided to either repeat White House spin undermining the effort or just censored the story.
Reporters running defense for Biden was brought to CBS viewers by Progressive and to NBC viewers by Amazon. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.
Here is a transcript of the August 25 coverage on CBS This Morning:
7:02 AM ET
ANTHONY MASON: We begin with the crisis in Afghanistan, where there are now just six days left to withdraw Americans and Afghan allies of the U.S. Thousands are leaving the country’s main airport every day, but many more are still waiting. President Biden reaffirmed his intention to pull out by August 31st, but is asking the military for plans to deal with any disruptions. Meanwhile, a surprise visit to the Afghan capital by two members of congress has angered U.S. officials. They call it selfish and a danger for American forces. Ed O’Keefe is at the White House.
(...)
ED O’KEEFE: And as evacuations continue, two members of Congress made an unauthorized trip to Kabul Tuesday, unleashing a flurry of criticism that they simply created a distraction and took up seats for evacuating U.S. citizens and allies. Representative Seth Moulton and Peter Meijer, both veterans, said in a statement, “We came into this visit wanting, like most veterans, to push the President to extend the August 31st deadline. After talking with the commanders on the ground and seeing the situation here, it’s obvious that because we started the evacuation so late that no matter what we do, we won’t get everyone out on time.”
JOHN KIRBY [PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY]: We are – remain committed to getting any and all Americans that want to leave to get them out.
O’KEEFE: Pentagon officials insist time will be needed to actually withdraw U.S. forces.
KIRBY: You need at least several days to get the amount of forces and equipment that we have at the airport, to get that safely and effectively retrograded.
O’KEEFE: As for that controversial congressional trip to Kabul, it was unauthorized because they didn’t go through the usual process to get approval for a congressional fact-finding mission. Representative Moulton is a Democrat from Massachusetts, Representative Meijer is a Republican from Michigan. They say they kept their trip secret in order to keep the controversy low and not to draw any attention to themselves. They also claim they only rode on crew seats in and out of Afghanistan so as to not take seats from Americans or others that were going to or coming from Afghanistan.
But the White House and other administration officials swinging back this morning. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tells CBS News, “We advise against any Americans, whether elected or not, attempting to travel to Kabul right now. The focus must continue to be evacuating American citizens and our Afghan partners.”
The President’s getting another security update on the situation in Afghanistan this morning and we’re expected, Tony, to hear from the Secretary of State a little later about the details of the ongoing evacuation.
TONY DOKOUPIL: Yeah. The President can’t be happy about that visit from two members of Congress.
(...)
Here is a transcript of the coverage on NBC’s Today show:
7:00 AM ET
CRAIG MELVIN: Standing firm.
JOE BIDEN: The sooner we can finish, the better.
MELVIN: Despite growing pressure to extend the deadline, President Biden vows to have U.S. Forces out of Afghanistan by the end of the month. But with the massive evacuation effort far from over, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pushing back.
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY [R-CA, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER]: Don’t pick the date, solve the problem. Make sure every American is out.
MELVIN: This morning, the criticism facing the President, the growing crisis on the ground in Kabul, and the controversial secret trip there by two lawmakers. Why they say the situation is even worse than they expected.
7:07 AM ET
SHEINELLE JONES: President Biden’s decision to hold firm on an August 31st withdrawal is drawing new criticism from lawmakers on Capitol Hill and world leaders who urged him to reconsider. Meantime, we’re now learning that two House members made a secret trip to Kabul yesterday. NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell is at the White House. Kelly, good morning.
KELLY O’DONNELL: Good morning, Sheinelle. Consider the dangers and desperation of thousands who want to get out, but a pair of Congressmen decided this was time for them to go in, claiming they could conduct their own fact-finding mission. This morning, the White House advises against anyone, elected or not, attempting to go to Kabul. Officials say seats on planes must be for the evacuees.
An unwanted surprise. A secret, unauthorized trip to Afghanistan by two Congressmen, who urged president Biden to extend that exit deadline.
JOE BIDEN: We are currently on a pace to finish by August the 31st.
O’DONNELL: Democrat Seth Moulton and Republican Peter Meijer, both veterans, say they went to Kabul to conduct oversight. And that from the ground, they believe evacuations cannot be finished this month. An administration official tells NBC News their visit was, quote, “an unhelpful distraction.”
(...)
