With President Trump’s first official State of the Union address just a few hours away, CBS Evening News dedicated an entire report (two minutes and seven seconds) on Tuesday to the liberal Democrats who were trying to counter the President’s message.
“More than a dozen Democrats are boycotting the President's speech. Many others will protest in a different way,” noted anchor Jeff Glor as he was leading into the report by Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes.
Cordes wasted little time in getting to the Democrats who were looking to make their anti-Trump statements. “President Trump will look out on a sea of black tonight, a nod from House Democrats to the movement against harassment,” she noted as she played a clip of Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore (Wisc.) attacking the President:
GWEN MOORE: We regard President Trump as offender-in-chief, sexual assaulter-in-chief.
NANCY CORDES: Gwen Moore represents Milwaukee. He has denied those allegations, of course.
MOORE: That is his prerogative to deny them, and it's our prerogative to believe the 19, 20 women who have said otherwise.
The CBS correspondent also touted how some Democrats had invited illegal immigrants as their guests and political pawns. Cordes also seemed to lament that one Republican was staunchly opposed to their idea. “Arizona Republican Paul Gosar … contacted U.S. Capitol police and the attorney general today, urging them to check I.D. at tonight's address, and arrest any illegal aliens in attendance,” she reported.
In wrapping up the report, both Cordes and Glor fawned over the Congressman, and the political family dynasty, the Democrats selected to deliver their response. “All right, Nancy with us here now. Democrats have selected someone with a very recognizable last name to deliver the response tonight. Tell us about him and why he was selected,” Glor said as Cordes proceeded to sing his praises:
He is 37-year-old Massachusetts Congressman Joseph Kennedy. He is in his third term. He is a former peace corps volunteer and assistant D.A., and he was chosen, Jeff, because Democrats see him as a contrast in every way to President Trump. And like his famous grandfather, Robert Kennedy, he's got a way with words. In fact, some of his speeches from the health care debate last year reviewed online millions of times.
In contrast to CBS, both ABC and NBC did note the Democratic Party’s plans for the evening but they weren’t given an entire report, just a mention in larger reports about Trump’s State of the Union address.
The relevant portions of the transcript are below, expand to read more:
CBS Evening News
January 30, 2018
6:33:07 PM EasternJEFF GLOR: More than a dozen Democrats are boycotting the President's speech. Many others will protest in a different way. Here's Nancy Cordes.
[Cuts to video]
NANCY CORDES: President Trump will look out on a sea of black tonight, a nod from House Democrats to the movement against harassment.
GWEN MOORE: We regard President Trump as offender-in-chief, sexual assaulter-in-chief.
CORDES: Gwen Moore represents Milwaukee. He has denied those allegations, of course.
MOORE: That is his prerogative to deny them, and it's our prerogative to believe the 19, 20 women who have said
otherwise.
CORDES: The guests they've chosen are meant to send a message, too.
NANCY PELOSI: You are the pride of America. ( Applause )
CORDES: Many Democrats are bringing so-called Dreamers.
STENY HOYER: The state of the union is better because of the Dreamers.
CORDES: Arizona Republican Paul Gosar, does not agree. He contacted U.S. Capitol police and the attorney general today, urging them to check I.D. at tonight's address, and arrest any illegal aliens in attendance.
(…)
CORDES: As for the speech itself, Democrats are already bracing for an economic victory lap.
CHUCK SCHUMER: Two words I don't think we'll hear tonight on the economy "Thanks, Obama."
[Cuts back to live]
GLOR: All right, Nancy with us here now. Democrats have selected someone with a very recognizable last name to deliver the response tonight. Tell us about him and why he was selected.
CORDES: That's right. He is 37-year-old Massachusetts Congressman Joseph Kennedy. He is in his third term. He is a former peace corps volunteer and assistant D.A., and he was chosen, Jeff, because Democrats see him as a contrast in every way to President Trump. And like his famous grandfather, Robert Kennedy, he's got a way with words. In fact, some of his speeches from the health care debate last year reviewed online millions of times.
