MSNBC: Russia Preparing to Invade Ukraine, Democrats Hardest Hit

On MSNBC’s MTP Daily Monday afternoon, fill-in anchor Garrett Haake feared that Russia’s expected invasion of Ukraine “has thrown a big wrench in the political plans for Democrats here at home.” While complaining that the international crisis was interfering with Biden administration attempts to “reset their messaging heading into the midterms,” Haake sought optimistic spin from liberal pundits.

“The potential for war abroad has thrown a big wrench in the political plans for Democrats here at home, as President Biden and his party are attempting to reset their messaging heading into the midterms,”Haake was worried about the section’s top. Then he sympathized with the situation: “Now, the White House had hoped to use this time ahead of next Tuesday’s State of the Union address to test out a new message and a new tone. But needless to say, things haven’t gone exactly to plan.”

Haake, who was bemoaning his political fate as a Democrat’s, turned to Symone Harris (an ex-senior adviser to Vice President Harris) and lamented. “How difficult is it to do this reset when you’re trying to steer the country around a potential war in Europe?”

Sanders spun – and she spun hard – trying to claim Biden’s disastrous foreign policy was actually a great success:

Garrett, it is possible to argue that the White House uses this crisis, in a real way, as an opportunity for them to prove that they are adults.You have the White House It was a coordinated effort from all parts of the administrationDiplomacy is a key part of diplomacy with Russia and Ukraine. To asserting and reasserting and reassuring our allies across the world, Vice President Harris in Munich this past weekend to the President being very clear with the – not only our allies but the American people on what is happening. It is a functioning government that puts its best foot forward.

We turn to David Frum (senior editor). AtlanticHaake attempted to see the upside of impending war in Europe. “On the one hand, it is an opportunity to show presidential leadership as only the president can in a moment of crisis. On the other hand, Ukraine feels very far away, in some ways, from inflation or pocketbook issues here at home.”

Frum wasn’t as optimist as Sanders.

It is possible that we are 48 to 72 hours away, or even closer, from the real chaos on international energy markets. The Russians may retaliate if sanctions are placed on them by cutting off gas supplies to Europe …. whatever is the author. [State of the Union]Speech should have at least a plan A and possibly plan C. Maybe even a plan D or E. Because everything from inflation to gasoline prices to the financial markets could change very quickly.

Haake’s NBC News colleague and senior congressional reporter Scott Wong agreed:

David also pointed out that there’s a link with Ukraine. The possibility of continued high gas prices and disruption of supply chains due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine could lead us to expect more of these things. This is why there’s a link between the current bread-and-butter issues and the crisis in Ukraine.

Imagine how poor those Democrats feel,

MSNBC’s hand-wringing over the political fallout for Democrats in the wake of a Russian invasion of Ukraine was brought to viewers by Liberty Mutual and Sandals Hotels & Resorts. This is your chance to fight back against advertisers by telling them what you think about their sponsorship of such content.

Below is the transcript from the Feb 21 panel discussion.

1.48 PM ET

GARRETT HaAKE: Fears of war in other countries have thrown off the plans for Democrats back home. As President Biden (and his party) try to set a new tone for the next midterm elections, they are trying to restructure their messaging. Now, the White House had hoped to use this time ahead of next Tuesday’s State of the Union address to test out a new message and a new tone. But needless to say, things haven’t gone exactly to plan.

Symone, a MSNBC host who was formerly a senior advisor to Vice President Harris, will be joining me at the set. David Frum is a former speechwriter for the George W. Bush White, and senior editor at Atlantic. Scott Wong is my colleague from NBC News Capitol Hill.

So Symone, I’ll start with you. How difficult is it to do this reset when you’re trying to steer the country around a potential war in Europe? And you may not use the phrase, “walk and chew gum at the same time.”

SYMONE SANDERS [Laughs]Garrett, it is possible to argue that the White House has used this crisis, in order to prove that they are adults, as Garrett suggests. Not a few weeks ago, I recall people talking about the dangers of COVID messaging and the consequences of pulling out of Afghanistan.

Now you have the White House, which is a coordinated effort from the Administration, including diplomacy with Russia and Ukraine. To asserting and reasserting and reassuring our allies across the world, Vice President Harris in Munich this past weekend to the President being very clear with the – not only our allies but the American people on what is happening. It is clear that this government, working as it should, puts its best foot forward.

David, this is something you’re familiar with. You are trying to communicate about a war. This is one of the best opportunities to display presidential leadership during a time of crisis. However, Ukraine is still far from home in many ways due to inflation and other financial issues.

DAVID FRUM [THE ATLANTIC, SENIOR EDITOR]It may be getting very close. It is possible that we are only 48 or 72 hours from the real chaos in international energy markets. Russia could respond to sanctions by cutting off the supply of gas to Europe. Gas is not a globally traded commodity in quite the way that oil is but Russia’s also an important oil supplier.

So whoever – what is very different now, whoever is writing the speech had better have a plan B and maybe plan C, and maybe a plan D and E, because everything, from inflation to the price of gasoline to financial markets, could look very different very soon.  
    
HAAKE: Scott and I were together on the Hill last week, when Ron Klain visited us and met with Senate Democrats. There was a notable shift in tone after he left. Senator Democrats spoke out about their plans to discuss bipartisanship, and then they talked about the other accomplishments that they wanted to pursue. I remember the last eight months on Capitol Hill, there wasn’t a ton of talk about Senate Democrats pursuing bipartisanship. Talk about what you’ve seen in the change in tone, the change in direction, that perhaps will be part of what we do hear from the President next week.

SCOTT WONG [NBC NEWS SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER]: Well, I think there’s a real recognition on the part of the White House, the President of the United States, Democratic leaders in the Congress, that people are hurting. That over the last two years, there has been a fatigue from the pandemic, they’re suffering from high gas prices, you know, when they go to the grocery store, the cost of milk and eggs and other things are more expensive.

And so, there’s a real push by the Democrats to show empathy. And so, you’ve heard that message not only from President Obama, who’s been advising congressional Democrats on how to talk on the campaign trail. But we heard that from Ron Klain just last week, talking about, you know, “We have to show empathy with the voters, show that we understand.”

David also pointed out that there’s a link with Ukraine. The possibility of continued high gas prices and disruptions to supply chains due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine could be a real threat. This is why there’s a link between the current bread-and-butter issues and the crisis in Ukraine.

(…)