Meet the Press host David Gregory displayed a stunning double
standard throughout NBC's Thursday morning coverage of the Supreme Court
ruling on ObamaCare. Prior to the decision, he warned of a "nightmare
scenario" if the law was struck down. Hours later, following the Court
upholding the law, Gregory cheered Chief Justice John Roberts for taking
"a big step here" to keep the Court from being "too polarized." [Listen to the audio [1]]
Early the 7 a.m. et hour of Today, Gregory melodramatically fretted over the possibility of ObamaCare being ruled unconstitutional: "What
happens if it is struck down in part or in whole by a 5 to 4 decision?
Would that not underscore how dysfunctional our government is, the major
institutions of our government are? That is a real nightmare scenario, I
think, for the political class in this country."
However, he quickly changed his tune in the 10 a.m. et hour special
report coverage, after ObamaCare was upheld: "Chief Justice
Roberts....he has spoken publicly about how on big controversial
decisions, he thinks a 5-4 majority on the Court overtime
undermines the Supreme Court. And only fuels the view that our major
political institutions are too polarized. He's taken a big step here.
He's going to be cheered for that by some on the Right and the Left, criticized I'm sure, as well, by some on Right."
Of course a major flaw with Gregory's post-decision analysis was that
the law was upheld by only 5 to 4. By his own standard, that should make
the outcome a sign of "how dysfunctional our government is."
Prior to Gregory's reaction in the special report coverage, NBC legal
analyst Savannah Guthrie similarly praised Chief Justice Roberts:
...something I heard over and over again as we waited for this decision is, Chief Justice Roberts is an institutionalist. He cares about institution of the Court. He has talked about whether or not the Court is starting to be looked at as an ideological institution, a partisan institution. He's well aware of the context in which this decision comes, in the heat of a presidential election, a president's signature domestic achievement. It's fascinating to see this.
Here is a transcript of Gregory's June 28 comments on Today:
7:06AM ET
(...)
LAUER: David, let's turn to you. The White House is waiting anxiously,
obviously, for word on this. And they are putting out this idea that
it's not all or nothing, that they can claim a partial victory if some
provisions of this law are upheld. Is that spin or reality?
DAVID GREGORY: Well, what the President will try to do, I'm told, if
part of this law is struck down, is really go out and tell the American
people what the implications are, positive and negative, that are there
are other parts of this bill that would still be held up. And it is an
opportunity for a president who, frankly, has not won the argument on
health care yet, Matt, to explain to the American people why it's
necessary and how it will actually affect people's lives, something that
he has not done totally effectively yet, if you look at the polling.
LAUER: This will have ramifications, David, in three separate arenas,
in the legal arena, in the policy arena, which is what you were just
talking about, and of course in this election year, in the political
arena. So what is at stake for both Democrats and Republicans, depending
on how this decision goes down?
GREGORY: Matt, here's the overall point that I think is so important.
Health care reform was passed on a party-line vote. What happens if it
is struck down in part or in whole by a 5 to 4 decision? Would that not
underscore how dysfunctional our government is, the major institutions
of our government are? That is a real nightmare scenario, I think, for
the political class in this country.
Republicans, no matter what happens today, will stay on the offensive
because they want health care to be replaced, to be repealed. Mitt
Romney, Republican leaders. The President has an opportunity, if it's
upheld, to say this is the right policy, it is constitutional and it's
more important now than ever. Still an opportunity there for him to go
out and say this was really necessary. If it's struck down, he's got
some work to do here because it would be a real blow.
(...)
Here is a transcript of Gregory's comments during the later special report:
10:19AM
(...)
LAUER: David, let me bring you back in. We talked a little bit about
reaction from the White House and President Obama. How do the
Republicans now react to this? What are you expecting to hear from them?
DAVID
GREGORY: Well, talking to Republicans on Capitol Hill over the last
couple of days, their argument will be that nothing changes for them.
Just because it's constitutional doesn't mean that it's good policy. And
you've heard that from Governor Romney as well. He's going to make that
argument, as he has in recent days. He's never really taken on the
constitutionality of it. He's argued that it's simply bad policy, and
he'll move forward from there. Again, he has to answer questions about
his own approach. Given what – he did something very similar in
Massachusetts, but he's been opposed to it on a federal scale. So I
think it's full steam ahead for Republicans in terms of the individual
mandate.
But I do think that the political context here is so fascinating, and
Savannah alludes to it with Chief Justice Roberts. Just to add to that,
he has spoken publicly about how on big controversial decisions, he
thinks a 5-4 majority on the Court overtime undermines the Supreme
Court. And only fuels the view that our major political institutions are
too polarized. He's taken a big step here. He's going to be cheered for
that by some on the Right and the Left, criticized I'm sure, as well,
by some on Right. But don't forget, there are also key decisions coming
on this fall that he may be looking at, affirmative action, Defense of
Marriage Act, where he may take a different view.
LAUER: Alright, David, thanks very much.
(...)