***To read the full blog, please check out the complete post on NewsBusters***
Thursday was the final day for the Senate Judiciary Committee to hear outside arguments for or against Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch. Despite his stellar qualifications, Senate Democrats vowed to throw a hissy-fit and filibuster the confirmation vote. The act is completely unprecedented and is clearly being done out of revenge. And even with that fact, the Big Three networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) seemed to find little interest in the development and gave the story the bare minimum of a news brief.
On CBS Evening News, anchor Scott Pelley gave this Gorsuch story the shortest time at a mere 15 seconds. “Today the Senate Judiciary Committee wrapped up four days of hearings on Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch,” he reported, “The panel is expected to send the nomination to the full Senate early next month, but Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has promised to filibuster.”
Reporter Tom Llamas was filling in for anchor David Muir when he parroted Democratic Party talking points that smeared President Trump’s nominee. “His originalist interpretation of the constitution is out of step with modern concerns,” he said, quoting Senator Chuck Schumer, “But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed Judge Gorsuch will be confirmed.”
“That could set up a showdown with Republicans who could change the rules to make confirmation a simple majority vote,” noted anchor Lester Holt on NBC Nightly News. The partisan anchor failed to mention that McConnell’s move goes against long-standing norms in the Senate. But mentioning that fact means acknowledging Democrats are trampling on the tradition of confirming qualified nominees regardless of politics.