‘Fatal Blow’: Nets Meltdown Over Manchin ‘Killing’ Biden Agenda

On Sunday evening and Monday morning, the network broadcasts of ABC, NBC, and CBS were in mourning over the “potentially fatal blow” dealt to President Biden’s radical left-wing agenda by West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who announced his opposition to proposed massive social spending legislation. Anchors and correspondents were distraught as they described how the White House was “reeling” from the “bombshell” news.

“West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin delivered a potentially fatal blow to President Biden’s domestic agenda. Announcing he is a ‘no’ on the Build Back Better plan,” anchor Cecilia Vega wailed on Sunday’s World News TonightThe headline is blaring on the screen: “Death Blow to President Biden’s Agenda.”

 

 

Earlier in the day, on ABC’s This WeekThe panel of journalists and pundits from liberal parties could be heard audibly sobbing as they received the latest news.

Continue reading NBC Nightly NewsAnchor Kate Snow panicked that night. “Today Democratic Senator Joe Manchin effectively brought down the Build Back Better plan by vowing to vote against it.” Echoing ABC, correspondent Monica Alba declared: “Tonight a potentially fatal blow to President Biden’s massive social spending and climate plan.”

More than one CBS Evening NewsJericka Duncan was worried by how anchor Jericka Duncan would respond. “the White House was reeling from a big hit to the President’s agenda from a fellow Democrat.” Correspondent Christina Ruffini touted “the White House demanding an explanation” from Manchin and suggesting the Senator was two-faced: “…at odds with his discussions this week with the President, with White House staff and with his own public utterances.”

At the top of ABC’s Good Morning AmericaT.J. Holmes, the fill-in host for Monday’s show, was worried about: “Was the White House blindsided by Senator Joe Manchin saying ‘no’ to Build Back Better?” Minutes later, Holmes proclaimed that Manchin’s decision was a “bombshell.” Correspondent Rachel Scott repeated the central media talking point: “And there is no way around it, this is a potentially fatal blow to the President’s domestic agenda and one that caught the White House off guard.”

Holmes was sympathetic to the Biden administration. “And Rachel, the White House did not mince words here, calling this an ‘inexplicable reversal,’ saying it’s ‘a breach of commitment to the President.’ Were they really thrown off by this?” Scott emphasized: “They were caught off guard, they were blindsided…”

“Biden agenda goes bust?,” co-host Hoda Kotb warned as she lead off NBC’s Today show. Elle added: “Democratic Senator Joe Manchin announces he is a no on President Biden’s nearly $2 trillion Build Back Better plan, all but killing that bill.” Minutes later, fellow co-host Craig Melvin didn’t bother trying to be original as he direly announced: “And now to that potentially fatal blow to President Biden’s massive domestic agenda, delivered by a fellow Democrat.”

Correspondent Garrett Haake whined: “Senator Manchin’s decision to oppose this bill he spent months personally negotiating with the President has left the White House and many of his fellow Democrats absolutely reeling.” The Capitol Hill reporter further complained that “this bill, which Democrats hoped would direct hundreds of billions to fight climate change, provide universal pre-k and extend the child tax credit, may well be impossible to pass,” after the “devastating blow”Manchin.

Haake extolled how “progressive Democrats” were “furious at Manchin,” before playing a soundbite of far-left Squad member, Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, ranting: “All I want for Christmas is a senator that has compassion for the American people and not contempt.”

“A single Democrat stops the President’s agenda, at least for now,” co-host Tony Dokoupil grumbled at the top of CBS Mornings. In report minutes later, correspondent Ed O’Keefe noted how “the White House lashed out”Manchin “Liberal Democrats also pounced.” A clip ran of this profane tirade from a another unhinged member of the left-wing Squad, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar: “We all knew that Senator Manchin couldn’t be trusted, you know, the excuses that he just made I think are complete [bleep].”

Mistakenly thinking he was being clever, O’Keefe gushed over Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s passive-aggressive sniping at Manchin:

Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader of the Senate, has a fresh letter for you this morning that despite Manchin’s objections the Senate will consider the Build Back Better bill at some point in the new year so that, quote, “Every member of this body has the opportunity to make their position known on the Senate floor, not just on television.” Tony, that is the definition, in this town, of a sick burn.

Liberal media confusion over Manchin may explain why conservative leftists have been so indifferent to moderate Democrats like Manchin, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Silena, or even bullying them.

ABC’s hysteria over Manchin standing on principle against irresponsible left-wing social spending was brought to viewers by GEICO, the similar panic from NBC was brought to viewers by Folger’s, and CBS’s bellyaching was brought to viewers by Ford. This is your chance to fight against advertisers sponsoring content like this.

Below are transcriptions from December 20th morning’s show coverage.

Good Morning America

7.01 am ET

T.J. HOLMES: Caught by surprise. President Biden’s ambitious $2 trillion social plan in jeopardy. Was the White House blindsided by Senator Joe Manchin saying “no” to Build Back Better?

7:14 AM ET

HOLMES: Alright, want to turn to Washington now, and that bombshell from West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin declaring he cannot support President Biden’s $2 trillion social spending plan. Rachel Scott, the congressional correspondent for Rachel Scott has just arrived on Capitol Hill. Rachel, it’s good to see you.     

[“Build Back Better” Bombshell; Biden Agenda In Jeopardy After Manchin Says “No” to Social Spending Bill]

RACHEL SCOTT (T.J.): Good morning. And there is no way around it, this is a potentially fatal blow to the President’s domestic agenda and one that caught the White House off guard. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia announcing that he will not support the Democrats’ social spending plan. The President’s signature proposal includes funds for universal preschool, child care and money to combat climate change. Manchin stated that he would not vote for the bill due to his mounting concerns about inflation, and debt. Just moments earlier, Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer said that he would bring the bill to the floor to vote in the new year. This will allow every senator to be on record. But Democrats cannot afford to lose a single vote in the Senate, so it’s still likely doomed to fail, T.J.

HOLMES: And Rachel, the White House did not mince words here, calling this an “inexplicable reversal,” saying it’s “a breach of commitment to the President.” Were they really thrown off by this?

SCOTT: They were caught off guard, they were blindsided, T.J. I’m told they were only informed just minutes before Senator Manchin actually announced this on national television. Senior officials attempted to reach Senator Manchin but could not get through. I’m told the President signed off on that statement. T.J., his economic agenda is now in doubt.

HOLMES – He sent them to voicemail. Rachel Scott, this is Rachel. We are grateful as usual.

Today

7.01 am ET

HODA KOTB: Biden agenda goes bust? Democratic Senator Joe Manchin announces he is a no on President Biden’s nearly $2 trillion Build Back Better plan, all but killing that bill. Here’s the White House response and where President Biden will go from here.

7.11 am ET

CRAIG MELVIN: And now to that potentially fatal blow to President Biden’s massive domestic agenda, delivered by a fellow Democrat. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin announces that he won’t support the almost $2 trillion Build Back better bill. It effectively ends it, at least temporarily. Both the President of United States and his party have now begun to react. NBC’s senior Capitol Hill correspondent Garrett Haake has the very latest on all of it. Good morning Garrett.
                                        
GARRETT AAKE: Hello Craig. Good morning. Yes, Senator Manchin’s decision to oppose this bill he spent months personally negotiating with the President has left the White House and many of his fellow Democrats absolutely reeling. The bill which Democrats believed would send hundreds of billions towards combating climate change and provide universal preK for all children, as well as extend the child credit, might not pass.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin dealt a severe blow to the party’s almost $2 trillion top priority by sinking Build Back Better during a Sunday interview.

(…)

HAAKE: Manchin joining every Senate Republican in opposition to the bill he’d spent months negotiating directly with President Biden, tanking the legislation in the evenly divided Senate and stunning the White House, which released a statement saying Manchin’s comments were, quote, “At odds with his discussions this week with the President.” Press Secretary Jen Psaki, writing, “Just as Manchin reversed his position on Build Back Better this morning, we will continue to press it to see if he will reverse his position yet again to honor his prior commitments and be true to his word.”         

(…)

HAAKE: Republicans argue that the bill is too costly and diverts money from goals they claim are to reform the American social safety net and promote liberal progressive policies. But it’s progressive Democrats who are now furious at Manchin.

REP. AYANNA PRESSLEY [D-MA]: I only want a senator with compassion and not contempt for America’s people.

MELVIN – So Democrats get up in arms.

(…)

CBS Mornings

7:00 AM ET

TONY DOKOUPIL: A single Democrat stops the President’s agenda, at least for now. What’s next for Build Back Better?

7.13 am ET

NATE BURELSON West Virginia senator Joe Manchin has decided to reject the bill after months of negotiation. Now with all 50 Senate Republicans planning to vote no, the bill cannot pass without Manchin’s support.

(…)

ED O’KEEFE: The dramatic announcement puts much of the President’s domestic agenda at risk, and an expiring tax credit for more than 35 million families with children likely won’t be renewed. As written, the President’s Build Back Better plan included hundreds of billions of dollars to combat climate change, more funding for medicare, childcare, and universal pre-k. Manchin didn’t rule out working on those issues, just not as currently written in a bill costing nearly $2 trillion.

JOE MANCHIN: There’s a lot of good, but that bill is a mammoth piece of legislation.

O’KEEFE:  But the White House lashed out, saying Manchin’s stance is at odds with what he told the President and a breach of his commitments to fellow Democrats. Liberal Democrats also responded.

REP. ILHAN OMAR [D-MN]: We all knew that Senator Manchin couldn’t be trusted, you know, the excuses that he just made I think are complete [bleep].

O’KEEFE: While Manchin has infuriated progressives, the White House is also facing pressure from Democrats to start fulfilling pledges, like addressing voting rights.

(…)

O’KEEFE: In a new letter this morning, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says that despite Manchin’s objections the Senate will consider the Build Back Better bill at some point in the new year so that, quote, “Every member of this body has the opportunity to make their position known on the Senate floor, not just on television. Tony, it is the meaning of sick burn in this community.

DOKOUPIL – Ed, we are very grateful. We appreciate it. Keeping it real, Ed O’Keefe.

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