Usually, the mockery that stems from a given week’s episode of “Meet The Press” is predominately aimed online at host Chuck Todd, and features some viewers’ skewed notion that Todd is a secret agent for the Grand Old Party on a mission to sink the USS Joseph Robinette Biden.
That’s where this Sunday was different, and it happened toward the end of the show during the panel segment — so, it’s likely most readers missed it.
Before I share the clip of former Ronald Reagan speechwriter and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan being mercilessly derided by fellow panelists Garrett Haake, Andrea Mitchell, and Kimberly Atkins Stohr — some of whom she has likely attended D.C. cocktail parties with for decades — let’s look at one other thing because it will be important later.
A member of Gen Z, who works at Twitter, described how this furious social media commentary was made.
Viewers react to NBC News contributor Peggy Noonan’s comments about the Republican Party and the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade during an appearance on Meet The Press on Sunday
Now, here’s how it actually went. Here’s what the host said:
You know, Peggy, politically, during the era of Roe it was the Democrats that would be infighting over, “Where do you draw the line? Late-term abortions.” Republicans did a great job of wedging. Because they’re – now, all of a sudden it’s the Republicans that are going to have to because some are going to want exceptions. It was discussed by Governor Hutchinson. Garrett raised a question. But Garrett raised a question.
Noonan answers this in a very simple way.
It’s going to be fine.
I would say everybody here, I think, agrees that when polled, the American people say they’re for Roe. They’re for – for the right of abortion as seen in the Constitution. But the minute you get beyond that, to questions of the cutoff, “Is it 12 weeks or 14?” Then, then support goes down.
All of this makes things more complex. It was clear that Roe and Casey were not compatible with settling all those legal reservations. That is why I believe it was so successful.
But she pivots to answering from a political angle–whence laughter and finger-pointing starts from the jackals. It’s here, in context.
PEGGY NOONAN
Now, do you see what the Republican Party needs to do? It should use this victory, if you see it that way, to change itself and become a party that helps women –
ANDREA MITCHELL
But that’s not going to happen.
CHUCK TODD
All right —
PEGGY NOONAN
– change its reputation –
KIMBERLY ATKINS STOVE:
But that’s not going to happen.
PEGGY NOONAN
– and become a party that helps women and children, becomes –
CHUCK TODD
All right –
PEGGY NOONAN
– responsible –
KIMBERLY ATKINS STOVE:
Why aren’t you here?
PEGGY NOONAN
–and supportive.
Chuck Todd: I’m really mediocre & unwatchable
Peggy Noonan: Keep my Kool Aid!
— Tara Dublin ☮️🇺🇦🌻 (@taradublinrocks) June 26, 2022
Here are two points. First, the Twitter narrative. The columnist’s remarks on “Meet the Press” were not primarily about “about the Republican Party and the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V. Wade.” Noonan, like any responsible journalist, started with her lede. And it’s full of inconvenient facts for Democrats about where the American people stand on abortion. And that isn’t approval of abortion on demand, according to polling that dropped Sunday, as my colleague Bonchie wrote. They’re for a very limited definition of what’s acceptable or reasonable.
Second, I don’t completely agree with Noonan on Republicans’ need to rehab their image with women. Does there seem to be a contradiction between GOP policies and the portrayal of it by Hollywood and legacy media? Yes. The false narrative that Republicans, especially Republican men, are misogynists who do everything they can to prevent women succeeding is a fabrication of the left.
On this issue, however, I’ll give Ms. Noonan some room. The Baby Boomers tend to be idealists, and I feel that she may also be. According to online sources, she is around my parents’ age (she was born in 1950).
That said, it’s tough to witness supposedly “professional journalists” treating anyone, particularly someone whom they’re essential co-workers with, this way. They should be ashamed of themselves, but we all know that’s unlikely to happen–at least, not on.a paltry shadow of NBC News’ once-great news show.
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