CNN Keeps Paddling Republicans Who Voted to Defund ObamaCare
On Monday morning's New Day, CNN continued whacking Republicans who voted to defund ObamaCare after comparing them to "inmates" who were "running the asylum" on Friday.
CNN contributor John Avlon said the "defund" movement has a "racket
element" and is pure "fantasy." Correspondent Jim Acosta called some
House Republicans "shutdown supporters" though that was incorrect since
the continuing resolution that passed the House on Friday still funded
the government minus ObamaCare.
[Video below. Audio here.]
"I mean the responsible Republicans realize that a government
shutdown would be disastrous politically, would be disastrous
practically, and doesn't really have any upside for them," Avlon said.
He added that the "defund" movement has become more of a "racket":
"[T]here's a great political quote that all political movements begin as a movement, become a business and end up as a racket. There is a racket element to what's been pushed, this defund movement on TV ads, people building their own lists. And that's what's behind a lot of it, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, pushing this fantasy of a defund scenario. It's incredible."
Jim Acosta played into the Obama talking points by framing Republicans who voted to defund ObamaCare as "shutdown supporters."
"Aides to the President says he will beef up his defense of ObamaCare
all week, starting with an event with Bill Clinton Tuesday, that will
keep up the pressure on shutdown supporters," Acosta reported.
He added that if Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) filibusters a Senate bill that
doesn't defund ObamaCare, he would be opposed by "Democrats and
anti-shutdown Republicans."
Below is a transcript of the segments, which aired on New Day on September 23:
CNN
NEW DAY
9/23/13
[6:30 a.m. EDT]
JOHN AVLON: I mean the responsible Republicans realize that a
government shutdown would be disastrous politically, would be disastrous
practically, and doesn't really have any upside for them. In private,
you know, they're calling these folks who are pushing for the defund,
defund jihadis. I mean this is really serious stuff. They realize they
have a problem in their own ranks. So they're going to look for a way
out of this. But it's going to, as you say, we're going to – the Senate
will have to pass something if it overcomes this filibuster threat from
the far right. And then it's going to go to the House. And that's where
the timing gets really tight.
(...)
BOLDUAN: You say that there isn't so much of an upside, or at least
many Republicans don't see the upside in this fight, and more downside
than upside, but one Republican does seem to see quite a bit of upside,
Senator Ted Cruz. He's become really the champion of this Republican
strategy. Where's the upside for him? Because I'm hearing – privately
and maybe not so privately – a lot of criticism of him.
AVLON: Yeah, not so privately. A lot of Republicans are starting to
speak out and say this guy is selling you a false bill of goods. You
know, there's – there's a great political quote that all political
movements begin as a movement, become a business and end up as a racket.
There is a racket element to what's been pushed, this defund movement
on TV ads, people building their own lists, and that's what's behind a
lot of it, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, pushing this fantasy of a defund
scenario. It's incredible.
The argument now that Ted Cruz is making, counterintuitive as it may
sound, Kate, is the Republicans should filibuster the bill he supports
from the House, to avoid a second round having the Obamacare defund
provision cut out. So that illogic is meeting with the logic of the rest
of the senators who say, look, we're supposed to be the adult body,
we're supposed to be the mature body taking a long view. And it's not
meeting a great reception from many of his fellow Republicans.
BOLDUAN: So, as it stands today, the Senate is going to take it up – much more to talk about this week.
(...)
[7:13]
BOLDUAN: Another big story out of Washington. Right now, we are one
week from a potential government shutdown, and neither side is giving up
much ground at this point. Republicans are still split within their own
party, some members insisting on defunding the President's health care
law as part of any deal. Democrats say that's nothing more than
posturing as the Senate is now preparing to take up the issue. Senior
White House correspondent Jim Acosta is here with more on what the
shutdown could mean for you as well as, well let's be honest, politics.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN political correspondent: And with everything else going
on, there is still the possibility of a shutdown. Good morning Kate and
Chris. President Obama comes to New York later this morning to deal
with some top diplomatic priorities like Syria and Iran over at the
United Nations. But you can expect the President to continue to turn up
the heat on Republicans who are threatening to shut down the government.
(Video Clip)
ACOSTA: Now, just seven days and counting to a government shutdown, and
Texas GOP senator Ted Cruz is holding his ground. It's still defund
Obamacare or bust.
Sen. TED CRUZ, (R-Tex.): If the majority is going to run the minority
over with a train, the minority has the ability to stop them.
ACOSTA: The question of the week is whether Democrats and anti-shutdown
Republicans who are furious with Cruz can stop him from blocking any
new spending bill in the Senate that funds health care reform.
Sen. TOM COBURN, (R-Okla.): Tactics and strategies ought to be based on
what the real world is. And we do not have the political power to do
this.
Sen. CLAIRE MCCASKILL, (D-Mo.): This is about running for president with Ted Cruz. This isn't about meaningful statesmanship.
ACOSTA: If the government shuts down, some federal programs would
continue, like Social Security payments. But a third of federal
employees would be furloughed, national parks would be closed, and
paychecks to soldiers would be delayed.
NANCY PELOSI, (D-Calif.) House Minority Leader: This is totally
irresponsible, completely juvenile, and, as I've called it, legislative
arson.
ACOSTA: Aides to the President says he will beef up his defense of
Obamacare all week, starting with an event with Bill Clinton Tuesday,
that will keep up the pressure on shutdown supporters.
OBAMA: We're not going to allow anyone to inflict economic pain on
millions of our own people just to make an ideological point.
(End Video Clip)
ACOSTA: But the President won't have much time for budget battles, at
least the early part of this week, as he's set to meet with a slew of
heads of state at the U.N., which means the shutdown showdown will
likely be waiting for him when he returns to Washington. But guys, we
have healthcare as another deadline coming up. On October 1st, those
health insurance marketplaces start on October 1st, a week from
tomorrow. He's going to have another event on Thursday, to continue to
highlight that. So his calendar is getting fuller and fuller and fuller.
Less time to deal with the showdown over the shutdown because there is
so much on his plate right now.
BOLDUAN: And then the debt ceiling right after that in mid-October.
It's just up against one deadline after another, but it always seems
that in Washington, especially on Capitol Hill a deadline is necessary
to get anyone to do anything.
ACOSTA: Crisis is the new normal in Washington. They're just continue
to play along with this script. The President, he knows that, and that's
why he is going to be up here dealing with the heads of state at the
United Nations, knowing that these guys in Washington will take care of
that. I will be up here dealing with this. And all of that will be
waiting for him when he gets back down to D.C.. later this week.
BOLDUAN: That's absolutely right. Jim, great to see you. Thanks for coming in.
ACOSTA: You bet.
— Matt Hadro is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Matt Hadro on Twitter.
