Bloomberg Reporter Sees No Political Damage for Democrats After Bergdahl Debacle

Appearing on Thursday's MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports, Bloomberg News reporter Jeanne Cummings asserted that the highly controversial Bowe Bergdahl prisoner exchange – which an overwhelming majority [1] of Americans feel has endangered the lives of U.S. soldiers – would have no negative political impact on Democrats in November's midterm elections. [Listen to the audio [2]]

Asked if the deal with the Taliban would affect the elections, Cummings declared: "Generally, no. It's a bipartisan reaction....I don't think this is going to last very long unless Congress comes up with better arguments than, 'We really hated the Rose Garden ceremony.' That compared to bringing a soldier back, for the American public, I don't think they weight together."

She did, however, see one possible impact "on a very small level" for one Republican senator: "And that is the special election in Mississippi. Senator Thad Cochran's office tweeted out a welcome home. And then all the controversy broke about whether this soldier was a good guy or a bad guy or whatever."

As a journalist, the only negative political fallout Cummings could foresee from a Democratic president negotiating with terrorists to secure the release of an alleged military deserter was that a Republican senator might be hurt because of a single tweet about the issue that he later retracted.

The White House should be proud of that kind of spin.

Here is a transcript of the June 5 analysis from Cummings:

12:27 PM ET

(...)

KRISTEN WELKER: Jeanne, is this something that could have implications into 2014?

JEANNE CUMMINGS [BLOOMBERG NEWS]: It could on a very small level, but important level. And that is the special election in Mississippi. Senator Thad Cochran's office tweeted out a welcome home. And then all the controversy broke about whether this soldier was a good guy or a bad guy or whatever. They pulled the tweet down as fast as they could, but we all know it's out. And he's in a special election in two weeks. And so his opponent is, you know, stirring the pot in that regard.

Generally, no. It's a bipartisan reaction, anybody on the Hill can take whatever position that they want. I don't think this is going to last very long unless Congress comes up with better arguments than, "We really hated the Rose Garden ceremony." That compared to bringing a soldier back, for the American public, I don't think they weight together.

(...)