Republicans, Democrats and the judge herself attended Monday’s Senate Justice Committee hearing on the appointment of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. But coverage of the event during ABC’s World News Tonight sounded more like a highlight role for the left. Senior national correspondent Terry Moran repeatedly boasted of “Democrats this” and “Democrats that” while praising them as “remarkably united” against Judge Barrett.
Anchor David Muir made it clear from the start that they would be a megaphone for the Democrats on the committee. “Democrats warn against health insurance for millions of Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions consistent with this nominationAn important case was heard in court just a few days after the election, ”he announced in the opening speech.
After Muir repeated this line in the run-up to the video portion of the segment, Moran raved about how “Democrats surprisingly changed the script. ”
Add: “For once, remarkably united one at a time, the Democrats argued that this affirmation threatens the health care and protection of all Americans for pre-existing conditions. He followed with a soundbite from Senator Stolen Bravery, aka Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Railing against Barrett.
Moran was breaking the constitution, noting that Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was a precise reminder that the late Judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg once said that presidents should fill vacant seats in an election year. but then happily retold how democratic “Senator Amy Klobuchar explicitly reminded Graham of Ginsburg’s final request that her seat be filled when a new president was installed. ”
Of course, he also had to announce what half of the 2020 Democratic ticket had to say to the media at the hearing:
MORAN: Senator Kamala Harris, candidate for Democratic Vice President, arrives remotely and calls Ginsburg with a terrible warning from Judge Barrett.
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA): By replacing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with someone who will undo her legacy, President Trump is trying to push back American rights for decades to come.
“But healthcare was the Democrats’ main line of attack and it got personal. Share moving stories from constituents dependent on the Affordable Care Act, ”Moran went on to scratch.
In one of his few mentions of what Republicans did in the hearing, Moran accused GOP senators for defending Judge Barrett’s Catholic faith:
MORAN: Democrats have stayed away from any mention of the Catholic Faith by Judge Barrett, contrary to their 2017 appeals court confirmation hearings. But the Republicans still accused them of using their beliefs against them.
SEN. JONI ENRST (R-IA): You want to paint your political opponents like a TV or cartoon version of a religious radical.
SEN. JOSH HAWLEY (R-MO): This is an attempt to bring back the days of religious testing.
And any Republican bashing session would not be complete without a shameful mask. “Barrett himself sat stoic for five hours, wearing a mask, which she didn’t do at her rose garden nomination ceremony,Moran tore. “And when she removed it to speak, she spoke of her mentor, the late Judge Antonin Scalia, whose rational philosophy she shares.”
ABC’s boast for Democratic Barrett bashing was made possible by lucrative sponsorships from Google and Bayer. Their contact information is linked so you can let them know about the biased news they’re funding.
The transcript is below, click “Expand” to read:
ABC’s world news tonight
October 12, 2020
18:31:03 Eastern [Opening Tease]
DAVID MUIR: The Supreme Court confirmation hearing for President Trump’s candidate, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, was held tonight. Democrats warn against health insurance for millions of Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions consistent with this nomination. Just a few days after the election, an important case will be heard in court. Judge Barrett said today, “Courts are not designed to solve every problem or correct every injustice in our public life.”
(…)
18:37:03 Eastern
MUIR: And now about this Supreme Court showdown, I mentioned tonight from above. The Senate Judiciary Committee opens its confirmation hearing on President Trump’s candidate, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Judge Barrett escorted the room this morning, their children brought in separately to watch.
The Democrats, united in their message today, argued one by one that their nomination challenges health insurance for millions of Americans, including pre-existing conditions. With this important case in court just days after the election.
And Judge Barrett told the committee today, “Courts are not designed to solve every problem or correct every wrong in our public life.” ABC’s Terry Moran has been on trial for us for years.
[Cuts to video]
TERRY MORAN: The stage was ready, a socially distant listening room, but the Democrats surprisingly changed the script. For once, remarkably united one at a time, the Democrats argued that this affirmation threatens the health care and protection of all Americans for pre-existing conditions.
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): Depriving millions of Americans during a pandemic is really about that.
MORAN: On the other hand, the Republicans have been full of confidence, and for good reason they have the votes. Committee chairman Senator Lindsey Graham even admits that never before has a Supreme Court justice been ratified so close to election day.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): My Democratic colleagues will say this was never done, and they are right about that: no one, I believe, was ever sustained in an election year after July.
MORAN: Graham also quoted the late Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who said that presidents are elected for four years rather than three years and therefore can appoint judges during their tenure. But Senator Amy Klobuchar explicitly reminded Graham of Ginsburg’s final wish that her seat would not be filled until a new president was installed.
SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): This is not Donald Trump’s country, it is yours. This shouldn’t be Donald Trump’s judge. It should be yours.
MORAN: Senator Kamala Harris, candidate for Democratic Vice President, arrives remotely and calls Ginsburg with a terrible warning from Judge Barrett.
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA): By replacing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with someone who will undo her legacy, President Trump is trying to push back American rights for decades to come.
MORAN: But healthcare was the Democrats’ main line of attack and it got personal. Share moving stories from constituents dependent on the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court is due to take up this law just a week after the election.
Democrats stayed away from any mention of Judge Barrett’s Catholic Faith, contrary to their 2017 confirmation hearings for the appeals court. But the Republicans still accused them of using their beliefs against them.
SEN. JONI ENRST (R-IA): You want to paint your political opponents like a TV or cartoon version of a religious radical.
SEN. JOSH HAWLEY (R-MO): This is an attempt to bring back the days of religious testing.
MORAN: Barrett herself sat stoic for five hours wearing a mask, which she hadn’t done at her rose garden nomination ceremony. And when she removed it to speak, she spoke of her mentor, the late Judge Antonin Scalia, whose rational philosophy she shares.
JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT: A judge has to apply the law the way it is written, not the way she wants it to be. Sometimes this approach meant getting results he didn’t like.
MORAN: And about the key issues that might lie ahead of her –
BARRETT: Courts are not designed to solve every problem or correct every wrong in our public life.
MORAN: Most of Barrett’s children were behind her. The mother of seven from the South and Midwest talks about her roots. If validated, she would be the only Justice that did not attend Ivy League School.
BARRETT: I would be the only sedentary judiciary who didn’t go to school at Harvard or Yale, but I’m confident that Notre Dame can keep up and I might even be able to teach them a thing or two about football.
(…)
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