Nets Pile On Joe Manchin For Tanking Build Back Better

In the wake of West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin’s announcement on Fox News Sunday that he would oppose the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better bill, the evening newscasts on Monday night spent a significant amount of time covering the big setback for the Biden agenda and piling on Manchin to make him pay.

ABC’s World News Tonight led off the segment with reporting by chief White House correspondent Cecilia Vega touting a phone call between Manchin and Biden, which reportedly happened “just hours after Manchin declared that he’s a no on a key piece of the President’s domestic agenda.”

The ABC segment was the worst of the three networks, which hyped both White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s “blistering statement” excoriating Manchin, as well as highlighting a report from the Washington PostManchin was allegedly found in “agreed to White House priorities like ‘Universal Pre-K’, fighting climate change and expanding the Affordable Care Act, but he would not budge on extending the child tax credit, which aims to reduce child poverty and is set to expire this month.”

ABC also claims that it has sources who can say “Manchin questioned whether parents would use that money to buy drugs. Sources say he also said Americans, including his own West Virginia constituents, could exploit paid family leave to go hunting during deer season.”

More than one NBC Nightly News, NBC Capitol Hill Correspondent Garrett Haake hyped Biden’s “dual nightmare before Christmas. A new COVID surge gripping the country. His domestic agenda is now being slowed down by a Democrat. Today Senator Joe Manchin firing back after fellow Democrats and the White House blasted his announcement that he won’t back the President’s massive $1.7 trillion social spending and climate bill.”

In a drastic departure from the previous coverage they had given during the congressional discussions over the Build back Better legislation, in which the three networks combined spent three minutes and three seconds on the event, NBC decided that it would show B-roll footage of Manchin being accosted at the hands radical leftist protesters. They wanted West Virginia Democrat to support the legislation.

HAAKE Manchin suggests that Manchin used pressure tactics during negotiations to block his car and surround his houseboat.

MANCHIN, I am from West Virginia. I’m not from where they’re from, and they can just beat the living crap out of people and think they’ll be submissive.

HAAKE: Progressives are fuming.

OCASIO CORTEZ: I believe that Senator Manchin’s actions yesterday were such a gross breach of trust.

HAAKE

REP. CAMMACK: Christmas came early in this year’s America. Joe Manchin deserves a shout-out for his good deed.

CBS Evening NewsMargaret Brennan, fill-in anchor, also used B-roll footage to show Manchin being harassed and beaten by protesters. He was attempting to unwind on his boat while they swarm around him. CBS Political Correspondent Ed O’Keefe seemed to suggest that they were merely trying to pressure Manchin shortly before playing clips of Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) ripping into Manchin on television for daring to defy their wishes.  

These biased networks’ news coverages were possible because of lucrative sponsorships TD Ameritrade, Dove,And Allstate You can’t contact them about bias news that they are funding because their contact information is tied.  

To read the transcripts click “expand”: 

ABC’s World News Tonight 
12/20/21
6:43:38PM

DAVID MOIR: This is Washington. President Biden spoke with Senator Joe Manchin tonight after Manchin’s surprise announcement on Sunday that Manchin was against the almost $2 trillion Build Back Better bill. What the President and Senator have now indicated is tonight. Cecilia Vega is our Chief White House Correspondent.

CECILIA VEGA: ABC News received information tonight that there was a call between Joe Manchin, West Virginia Senator, and President Biden. This call took place just hours after Manchin said he was a no on key pieces of President Obama’s domestic agenda. The White House declared today that the Build Back Better Plan is still alive.

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE SECRETARY: We are ready to go forward and accomplish this and will work hard to achieve it.

VEGA – But Manchin’s Fox News news announcement left the White House stunned.

SENATOR JOE MANCHIN (SENATOR): I have tried every humanly possible. But I’m not able to.

BRET BAIER: You’re done? It’s a yes.

MANCHIN’S: No to this law.

VEGA. Jen Psaki, Press Secretary to President Manchin made a scathing statement condemning it as a “sudden” and “inexplicable reversal.”

MANCHIN – They are able to beat anyone and believe they will be submissive. Period. It is not President. It is the staff. They drove some stuff and put out some that were completely unacceptable.

VEGA: Tonight, “The Washington Post” reports Manchin had agreed to White House priorities like “Universal Pre-K”, fighting climate change and expanding the Affordable Care Act, but he would not budge on extending the child tax credit, which aims to reduce child poverty and is set to expire this month. ABC News sources tell ABC News Manchin asked ABC News during private discussions on Capitol Hill whether money would be used to purchase drugs by parents. Sources tell ABC News that Manchin also suggested Americans could take advantage of paid family time to hunt during the deer season. Although the Senator’s Office did not deny the remarks, he said that he supported the child credit and believes it should be directed to the most in need. The senator’s office says he is also supportive of family leave provided that it includes a dedicated, sustainable funding mechanism. Today the White House is insisting that there’s still time for compromise.

PSAKI – They have fundamental beliefs, are friends for a long time, and that is not changing.

UNIDENTIFIED RECORDER: Is the President feeling betrayed?

PSAKI – Again, Senator Manchin is seen by the President as someone who is a good friend, somebody who worked well together and our ultimate goal. Our focus right now is on moving forward.

VEGA : Now in Washington there are many ideas as to where we go from here. These include splitting the massive legislation into smaller bills and funding less priorities over longer time periods. David, the bottom line is, Democrats tonight are livid with Joe Manchin and this key piece of the President’s agenda is right now, hanging in the balance.

MUIR: Cecilia Vega at the White House. Cecilia, I’m grateful.  

NBC Nightly News
12/20/2021
7:07:55PM 

LESTER HOLT : Tomorrow, President Biden will give a speech on COVID. As he is under increasing scrutiny for his COVID responses and the apparent failure of his domestic agenda to meet with the approval of a fellow Democrat, he plans to address this issue. Garrett Haake provides late details.

GARRETT HAKE: President Biden is facing two nightmares before Christmas tonight. There is a new wave of violence in the country. A Democrat has railed against his domestic agenda. Today, Senator Joe Manchin reacted to fellow Democrats’ and White House criticisms of his decision not to support the massive climate and social spending bill and $1.7 trillion in social spending.

JOE MANCHIN – I believe in social reforms that are accountable and responsible.

HAAKE Manchin suggests that Manchin used pressure tactics during negotiations to block his car and surround his houseboat.

MANCHIN: My name is Manchin. I’m not from where they’re from, and they can just beat the living crap out of people and think they’ll be submissive.

HAAKE: Progressives are fuming. 

AOC: I believe that Senator Manchin’s actions yesterday were such a grave breach of President Trump’s trust.

HAAKE

REP. CAMMACK Joe Manchin deserves a shout-out for his good deed.

HAAKE: That blow to the President’s agenda just a day before his critical speech on the COVID surge, where he’s expected to lay out a dire warning to the unvaccinated and increase access to testing. Now, with the number of Americans who have died from COVID in this year’s increase than 2020, it is worth questioning President Obama’s COVID responses. Only a few months later, he boasted of big achievements.

BIDEN – We are closer than ever to declaring independence from the deadly virus.

HAAKE They intend to meet again in the near future. Lester?

HOLT: Garrett Haake is near the Capitol tonight. Thanks!

CBS Evening News
12/20/2021
6:37:11

MARGARET BRENAN: President Biden’s signature legislative piece, the $2 trillion spending bill, is currently on life support. It is not possible for him to get enough support from Senate Democrats. Tonight, his party plays the blame game. We get the latest from CBS’s Ed O’Keeffe at the White House.

ED O’KEEFFE: The White House tonight refusing to give up on the President’s top legislative priority.

JEN PSAKI – We will continue to move forward, and work as hard as we can to achieve our goals.

O’KEEFFE: After key Democratic Senator Joe Manchin dashed any hopes for its passage Sunday

SENATOR JOEMANCHIN: This piece of legislation is too complicated for me to vote on.

O’KEEFFE: The decision stunned the White House, they called it a breach of his commitments to the President, but Manchin has always been concerned with the size and scope of the President’s plan. Today, the senator blamed White House staff but didn’t provide any details.

MANCHIN : They drove and set out some items that were completely unacceptable.

PROTESTER: The rich should be taxed!

O’KEEFFE: And the far left for trying to pressure him.

MANCHIN. I am from West Virginia. I’m not from where they’re from and they can just beat the living crap out of people and think they’ll be submissive. Period.

O’KEEFFE: Manchin’s objections put much of the President’s domestic agenda at risk. It would have extended the Medicare and childcare programs and increased universal pre-k. The tax credit that was already expired for over 35 million children and families in need of it, which cost nearly $2 trillion, helped fight climate change and expand Medicare. Manchin was quickly dismissed by progressives who warned him that he could do such.

CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR: His reasoning is just plain disgusting to me.

O’KEEFFE: And today they said Democratic leaders need to take the kid gloves off in future negotiations.

CONGRESSWOMAN ALEXANDRIAOCASIO CORTEZ

O’KEEFFE: Tonight CBS News’ learned president Biden and senator Manchin spoke Sunday evening and that it went well and Senate Democrats still plan to debate the President’s plan next month when they get back to Washington, hoping to force senator Manchin to express his opposition not just on the airwaves but also on the Senate Floor.