During the Trump years, journalists told us that only an alert, adversarial press could save the country. Now? Everything’s fine and we should just trust the government. That’s the gist of what CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King pushed on Tuesday. Talking to Republican Senator Bill Cassidy about the COVID relief bill, she suggested that Joe Biden probably knows best for us.
(Article by Scott Whitlock republished from NewsBusters.org)
After Cassidy talked about a difference on numbers and how much money needs to be spent, King, a Democratic donor who has vacationed with the Obamas, lectured:
Let's start with the numbers. Because I’ve heard Team Biden says this, "Listen, we didn't make these numbers up willy nilly. We went line by line. We want the moment to be met at this particular time." And that was the number they came up with to meet the need. Shouldn’t they have a good starting point of a number? Isn’t that a good idea? "Go big," they say.
Oh, well, if Team Biden says it, we should probably just assume it’s the truth. The Senator responded with facts that were apparently uninteresting to King:
Let's just take schools. They want $135 billion with a "B" from K through 12. The CDC, the Center for Disease Control, has said you need about worst case scenario $455 per student to reopen schools. Congress already given over a thousand dollars per student, almost if you add it up, 2.5 times than the CDC says necessary. Now, we put 20 billion in our package increases further but you have to ask yourself if we are two to three or four times what the CDC says needed, why do you need $135 billion?
The co-host ignored this and responded by telling Cassidy about "people who are hurting."
I know. But we could get bogged down with the numbers but I think the thing people keep on talking about is the need of the American people who are hurting at this time, who need the money right now. If we go with Republicans' plan, we'll be back to where we started? So, why not start it now where people are in need at this particular time right now?
Co-host Anthony Mason spouted the same talking points and suggested that compromise was all about the Republicans caving: "Well, Senator, I think a lot of families would say they are still struggling. Democrats have signaled they can put this bill through with or without Republicans votes. Do you see room for compromise here?"
Later, King asked the Republican about the repellant actions and comments from freshman Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Mitch McConnell has condemned her conspiracy theories, something Cassidy concurred with, saying, "I agree with him entirely." The co-host pretended she didn’t even hear this and tried to tar the entire GOP with Green:
But Senator, a lot of senators are not saying what you and Mitch McConnell are saying out loud publicly. Do you think there needs to be people who are saying out loud, "We got to stick to the facts"? It seems many people are running for the hills instead of saying about her comment, "this is outrageous." What should be done about that?
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A transcript of the questions can be found below.
CBS This Morning
2/2/2021
8:07 AM ET
GAYLE KING: Senator Bill Cassidy was one of the ten Republican lawmakers who met with President Biden yesterday. He joins us now this morning. Good morning, it is good to see you. I want to pick up of what Senator Collins said that the meeting was useful. It was two hours. So it seems like quite a bit of time. What was your take on the meeting?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Exactly that and I would add a little bit more. It sets the stage for going forward. We obviously have disagree in numbers and the president said, "Okay we'll send you that which we are basing our numbers on." And the senators will send the administration the facts we’re basing our numbers on. Ideally, if we have a common set of facts, we come to a common perception of how much need there is and therefor how much to spend.
KING: And let's start with the numbers. Because I’ve heard Team Biden says this, "Listen, we didn't make these numbers up willy nilly. We went line by line. We want the moment to be met at this particular time. And that was the number they came up with to meet the need. Shouldn’t they have a good starting point of a number? Isn’t that a good idea? "Go big," they say.
CASSIDY: It is a good idea but let's just take schools. They want $135 billion with a "B" from K through 12. The CDC, the Center for Disease Control, has said you need about worst case scenario $455 per student to reopen schools. Congress already given over a thousand dollars per student, almost if you add it up, 2.5 times than the CDC says necessary. Now, we put 20 billion in our package increases further but you have to ask yourself if we are two to three or four times what the CDC says needed, why do you need $135 billion? The President says he'll give us the numbers.
KING: I know. But we could get bogged down with the numbers but I think the thing people keep on talking about is the need of the American people who are hurting at this time, who need the money right now. If we go with Republicans' plan, we'll be back to where we started? So, why not start it now where people are in need at this particular time right now?
…
MASON: Well, Senator, I think a lot of families would say they are still struggling. Democrats have signaled they can put this bill through with or without Republicans votes. Do you see room for compromise here?
…
MASON: Senator, I want to ask your remarks that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made calling out Freshman Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. He said, quote, "Loony lies and conspiracy theories which are a cancer for the Republican Party and country." That’s what he called some of her remarks. What is your reaction to what he said?
CASSIDY: I agree with him entirely.
…
KING: But Senator, a lot of senators are not saying what you and Mitch McConnell are saying out loud publicly. Do you think there needs to be people who are saying out loud, "We got to stick to the facts"? It seems many people are running for the hills instead of saying about her comment, "this is outrageous." What should be done about that?
…
KING: All right. Hopefully you and others will speak up. Because the facts really do matter here. Thank you very much for your time this morning.
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