For David Gregory, there’s only Joe Wilson
David Gregory is infamous in my circles for his eight-year bromance with George W. Bush (George used to call him “Stretch.” … Gregory demurred on asking tough questions about invading Iraq or spying on American citizens. No verification on whether they ever actually kissed.) Now, as Gregory continues his mission to completely tank “Meet the Press,” today he came up with a new way to smooch the GOP: pretending that aw shucks, South Carolina clodhopper Addison “Joe” Wilson has no opponent in 2010.
Gregory today, bantering with his fellow GOP back-scratcher, Chuck Todd:
MR. GREGORY: Well, let’s–you’re talking about organizing Democrats or rallying Democrats. What about the Republicans here? Because one of the big headlines out of all this was Congressman Joe Wilson calling the president a liar. He did apologize once the leadership made him do it. And yet he released this Web video in, in concert with the fact that he’s raised a million bucks for his campaign. …
… And he is not the only one. Look at the streets of Washington, D.C., yesterday, a huge crowd of protesters protesting the president’s healthcare plan
, other government policies. They see this as the expansion of government under President Obama.Also, people carrying signs, Erin Burnett, saying “You lie.” I mean, there is some…
MS. ERIN BURNETT: Uh-huh.
MR. GREGORY: …grassroots organization and rallying behind not only Congressman Wilson, but this opposition as well. The Republicans are still united on this front.
MS. BURNETT: Mm-hmm. It certainly seems that way. I would say from the business perspective, though, you know, Newt Gingrich said they need to focus on the economy and getting jobs. And I think it is fair to say health care is central to that, and getting it done is crucial. You know, 58 percent of small businesses said they didn’t give raises last year because healthcare costs were going up so much. You look at some of the numbers for big companies, and they’re actually saying 30 percent of them are going to lay people off to pay for health care.
MR. GREGORY: Hm.
MS. BURNETT: This comes on a week we found out incomes are back to levels they were in 1997. Health care is central to the economic debate, so getting something done is crucial. And maybe the step you’re talking about, that the Republicans are starting to say they’re going to get something done, moves us in the direction of getting something.
MR. GREGORY: Does Wilson galvanize Republicans?
MR. TODD: Boy, I think he did. And it’s hard to imagine that his apology was real now…
MR. GREGORY: Yeah.
Yeah. Notice that even when Erin Burnett (who’s not exactly sympathetic to the Democratic perspective herself) tried to bring up a point about healthcare costs for small business, and Todd pivoted to the economy, all David wanted to talk about was how Joe Wilson could “galvanize” Republicans, whom he apparently is all alone in thinking are totally united. And Gregory took at face value the Wilson camp’s fundraising claims, for which they have provided no back-up. The info is from a “source” who contacted Politico. The Hill as of this morning has verified $750,000 for Wilson. Meanwhile, Gregory neglected to mention that Rob Miller, Wilson’s 2010 opponent, has raised around $1.2 million in verified hard money — and without the help of the Drudge Report. (You can see part of Rob Miller’s tally for yourself at ActBlue.)And Gregory neglected to mention that as of September 10, the DNC had raised yet another million dollars, without having sent out a fundraising appeal. And neither the DNC nor Rob Miller has had to resort to posting a pleading Youtube video begging for a single dime. The donations to Miller aren’t driven by ideological media — they’re driven by genuine outrage. But of course, David Gregory wouldn’t know that, because the talking points his friend “Karl” (Rove) sends him every morning don’t include the information. It would be a small point if Rob Miller weren’t competitive, both financially, and in the polls, but that is clearly not the case. An objective journalist would have reported on the effect Wilson’s outburst has had on both campaigns.
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