During Tuesday’s edition of Special Report, Fox congressional correspondent Jacqui Heinrich walked viewers through how Democratic lawmakers were twisting and perverting the English language to fit their political machinations. This support for words have meaning ran counter to the liberal media, who just didn’t go along with the Orwellian redefining of words but actively took part and promoted it.
“Tonight, we examine some of the semantic gymnastics, if you will, currently on display by the Biden administration. The President and his team are seeking to redefine terms such as ‘bipartisan’ and ‘infrastructure’ to fit their agenda,” announced anchor Bret Baier at the top of the segment.
The first example Heinrich shared of Democrats trying to manipulate reality through language was the attempt to redefine the meaning of “bipartisan”:
In Washington, bipartisan support is measured in votes but Democrats are seeking to change that definition facing slim chances of winning GOP support for their $2 trillion spending plan. Instead, they’re touting polls and anecdotal praise saying this bill can be a bipartisan win even without a single Republican vote.
But why wouldn’t the left try something so brazenly slimy? The liberal media actively helped them to gaslight the American people on the definition of “court-packing.” In reality, the definition was cramming more than nine justices into the Supreme Court. But according to Democrats and their friends in the liberal media, “court-packing” meant that Republicans filled a lot of vacant seats.
Heinrich countered the Democratic word scheme by noting that Republicans were prepared to play the game too. “If bipartisanship can now be measured by public opinion, the GOP is ready to wave around their own polls. A Harvard Harris survey showing voters are concerned about wasteful spending. A Politico poll showing voters think they already pay too much in taxes,” she reported.
The Fox report also featured two Senate Republicans calling out the Democrats’ nonsense:
SEN. ROGER WICKER (R-MS): That's the sort of argument that you would make when you have very little support among elected officials who actually got sent here by the people to serve as Republicans.
(…)
SEN. KEVIN CRAMER (R-ND): I think an expanding definition of infrastructure is appropriate as technology makes it so. [Transition] But what President Biden is talking about is another one and a half or more trillion dollars’ worth of things that aren’t infrastructure, or at least things that should fall in this category.
“It’s not the first time Democrats have used this tactic. After they passed COVID relief without a single GOP vote, they showed polls demonstrating support among Republican voters,” Heinrich added as she wrapped up her segment.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the broadcast networks were playing their own dangerous word game by dropping “mostly peaceful” and calling violent riots “protests.”
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
April 13, 2021
6:23:56 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Tonight, we examine some of the semantic gymnastics, if you will, currently on display by the Biden administration. The President and his team are seeking to redefine terms such as “bipartisan” and “infrastructure” to fit their agenda. Here's congressional correspondent Jacqui Heinrich.
[Cuts to video]
JACQUI HEINRICH: In Washington, bipartisan support is measured in votes but Democrats are seeking to change that definition facing slim chances of winning GOP support for their $2 trillion spending plan. Instead, they’re touting polls and anecdotal praise saying this bill can be a bipartisan win even without a single Republican vote.
SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA): I was traveling around Virginia last week. Republican mayors and county board chairs are telling me “please do an infrastructure bill.”
HEINRICH: Reeling from the last round of linguistic maneuvering as Democrats also seek to redefine “infrastructure,” the wordplay is salt in the wound for Republican lawmakers trying to reach consensus in bipartisan talks, and a signal Democrats know they’re too far afield.
SEN. ROGER WICKER (R-MS): That's the sort of argument that you would make when you have very little support among elected officials who actually got sent here by the people to serve as Republicans.
HEINRICH: If bipartisanship can now be measured by public opinion, the GOP is ready to wave around their own polls. A Harvard Harris survey showing voters are concerned about wasteful spending. A Politico poll showing voters think they already pay too much in taxes. But there's work to be done beyond the political fight over language.
SEN. KEVIN CRAMER (R-ND): I think an expanding definition of infrastructure is appropriate as technology makes it so. [Transition] But what President Biden is talking about is another one and a half or more trillion dollars’ worth of things that aren’t infrastructure, or at least things that should fall in this category.
[Cuts back to live]
HEINRICH: It’s not the first time Democrats have used this tactic. After they passed COVID relief without a single GOP vote, they showed polls demonstrating support among Republican voters. But the American Jobs Plan is still in its very early stages. And just yesterday, President Biden met with lawmakers from both sides. Bret.
BAIER: Jacqui Heinrich, live on Capitol Hill. Jacqui, thank you.
