Chuck Todd's Blunders: Liberal Host Kept Imagining Democratic Wins in 2014
When it comes to political prognosticating, Chuck Todd in 2014 erred repeatedly as he imagined Democratic victories and Republican missteps with conservative legislation. On August 1, the Meet the Press host appeared on MSNBC and speculated, "If November comes and goes and Democrats hold the Senate and break even in the House, I think we’re going to look back at the month of July as the month Republicans lost their shot at the Senate."
Talking to Congressman Paul Ryan about GOP governor Sam Brownback on September 15, Todd lectured, "If he loses re-election, he’s going to essentially have lost because he cut taxes too much. Okay? That's really become a referendum." The host pressed, "What happens to the Republicans’ economic philosophy of cut taxes if he does lose?" Brownback did not lose. Democrats did not hold the Senate.
Regarding Kansas and Brownback, Todd opened the September 21 Meet the Press by hyping, "Some Americans suddenly saying tax cutting has gone too far?... Could Republicans now become the victims of a new anti anti-tax fever?" [MP3 audio here.]
The Republicans were not punished for having an "anti-tax fever."
Todd's errors continued through election night. On November 4, 2014, at 10:04pm ET, Todd declared, "It's a good Republican night, but it's not a wave."
The Republicans would end up winning the Senate, increasing their majorities in the House, winning key gubernatorial races all over the country.
Forty five minutes after the comment, Todd admitted his error: "I think we're bordering on calling this a wave election. You have an historic number in the House of Representatives."
It's nice that the NBC anchor admitted one of his prognosticating mistakes. However, since the NBC anchor declared that Sam Brownback losing Kansas would be a "referendum" on cutting taxes, what does the Republican's victory mean?
Some of Todd's quotes from the 2014 midterm coverage can be found below:
“If November comes and goes and Democrats hold the Senate and break even in the House, I think we’re going to look back at the month of July as the month Republicans lost their shot at the Senate....For months Democrats have been dying to have something to run on for themselves, but now they have it — a lawsuit that fires up their base and one more example of Republicans struggling to govern.”
— Incoming NBC Meet the Press host Chuck Todd on MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown, August 1 2014, talking about Boehner’s lawsuit and the House immigration bill.
Host Chuck Todd: “Some Americans suddenly saying tax cutting has gone too far?”
Clip of Kansas voter: “It’s been a train wreck.”
Todd: “Could Republicans now become the victims of a new anti anti-tax fever?”
— Opening show tease on the September 21, 2014 edition of NBC’s Meet the Press, as the on-screen headline trumpeted: “Anti Anti-Tax Fever.”"If he loses re-election, he’s going to essentially have lost because he cut taxes too much. Okay? That's really become a referendum. Is there a point -- what happens to the Republicans’ economic philosophy of cut taxes if he does lose?"
– Meet the Press Pass host Chuck Todd to Congressman Paul Ryan, September 14, 2014, talking about Republican Governor Sam Brownback's reelection chances.
— Scott Whitlock is Senior News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Scott Whitlock on Twitter.
