Luke Russert Links GOP Debt Ceiling Extension to Anniversary of JFK Killing: 'Looks Bad Optically'
MSNBC reporter Luke Russert on Thursday found the need to gratuitously connect the anniversary of John Kennedy's assassination with a possible GOP extension of the debt limit. Appearing on Now With Alex Wagner, Russert said of the John Boehner-supported move: "So the idea is the debt limit would be extended until November 22, which is, by the way, the 50th anniversary of the death of the President Kennedy, which is a whole other thing that would probably look bad optically. " [MP3 audio here.]
In the 50 years since JFK's murder, many things have happened on November 22, including congressional legislation. What point, exactly, was Russert trying to make by linking the murder of a president to the debate with a current commander in chief over the debt ceiling?
In an earlier appearance on Thursday, Russert mentioned November 22 without making a Kennedy assassination reference. The cable journalist is known for his occasional left-wing asides. On September 24, 2008, the son of Tim Russert offered this thought about how University of Virginia students might vote:
LUKE RUSSERT: You have to remember, the smartest kids in the state go there, so it's leaning a little bit towards Obama.
A partial transcript is below:
10/10/13
Now With Alex Wagner
12: 21
JONATHAN CAPEHART: Luke, it's Jonathan Capehart, I want to make sure I heard you correctly did say that as part of this Republican deal it would stipulate that the Treasury could not use extraordinary six weeks– let's say it passes -- six weeks from now?
LUKE RUSSERT: Yeah. So the idea is the debt limit would be extended until November 22, which is, by the way, the 50th anniversary of the death of the President Kennedy, which is a whole other thing that would probably look bad optically.
CAPEHART: Right.
RUSSERT: But yes, part of this deal would be the Treasury is not able to use the measures– extraordinary measures to push it back further.
— Scott Whitlock is Senior News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Scott Whitlock on Twitter.
