After the start of the first official day of the confirmation hearing for Biden Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the evening news networks were eager to publicize his nomination. Although all three networks have hyped his qualifications and background, not all have given equal time to Republican criticism. Their achievement, both CBS Evening News And NBC Nightly News Republicans have given airtime to senators who have expressed concern about Judge Jackson, while ABC World news tonight The GOP has seen the preview of the criticism, they have never publicized any GOP comment.
CBS was the first to broadcast a segment dedicated to the Supreme Court hearing, as ABC thought it supported the tornado lead segment in Texas and Mississippi. National legal correspondent Jan Crawford opened the CBS segment by tying up the soundbites of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Josh Howley (R-MO). “In anticipation of the next two days of questioning, Republicans refer to the previous hearing.”:
Senator Chuck Grassley: Disruption of systemic issues, and chaos.
Defendant: Shame! Shame!
Crawford: For Conservative Supreme Court nominees.
Senator Mike Lee: Engaging in the politics of personal destruction is not something we should ever expect.
Crawford: And promised that they would focus on his record.
Senator Lindsay Graham: It’s going to be about your philosophy.
Crawford: Some suggested that they were showing extreme liberal philosophy and leniency towards crime.
Senator Josh Howley: Prosecutors have recommended 24 months in prison. Judge Jackson sentenced the defendant to three months in prison.
Crawford then described how Judge Jackson was “He sat in silence for more than four hours before the senators’ inaugural address before giving his own.” Comments
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: If I am sure, I promise you that I will work productively to uphold and defend the Constitution and this great test of American democracy that has been going on for the last 246 years.
Over on NBC, those who have voiced criticism of the GOP, though less so than CBS, have aired a report by Peter Alexander, the White House’s chief correspondent. “The 51-year-old, who was confirmed less than a year ago as a judge of the Federal Court of Appeals, may now face a more rigorous investigation.” Alexander reports citing Judge Jackson.
“One of the three Republicans who voted to confirm him, including Lindsay Graham.” Alexander added. After Senator Graham’s remarks, Alexander noted Howley’s concerns about Jackson’s record of lightly punishing child pornography offenders. “Republican Josh Howley is preoccupied with a line of assault, accusing Jackson of being lenient with the crime, outlining his sentencing decisions in the case of child pornography.”
When ABC finally reached the Supreme Court hearing, anchor David Muir and congressional correspondent Rachel Scott only mentioned Republicans’ concerns about Jackson’s nomination. Muir led off the note “Republicans today often point to their line of inquiry, the questions they plan to ask him.” Before the Senate pivots Democrats and Jackson is likely to be successful:
Democrats today, many of them, are welcoming Judge Jackson to the Senate Judiciary Committee, it was not a subtle reminder that he has been there many times before and has won the support of Democrats and Republicans every time. But what is the reality tonight? Democrats need their votes, is there anything up front here?
Scott responds to that “Democrats are hoping for bipartisan support, but they don’t need it.” He then brags “Judge Jackson can be confirmed by a simple majority, only 51 votes.”
Any substantial Republican criticism by ABC’s World News Tonight was made possible by this omitted prelude. Their information is attached.
Click “Extend” to read the relevant transcript of each section:
ABC’s World News Tonight
3/21/2022
6:37:55 pm EastDAVID MUER: There’s some laughter, but some tough questions ahead. Rachel Scott with us tonight live from Capitol. Rachel, Republicans today often point out in their question lines, these are the questions they plan to ask him. Democrats today, many of them, are welcoming Judge Jackson to the Senate Judiciary Committee, it was not a subtle reminder that he has been there many times before and has won the support of Democrats and Republicans every time. But what is the reality tonight? Democrats need their vote, is there anything up front here?
Rachel Scott: All right, David. Democrats are hoping for bipartisan support, but they don’t need it. Judge Jackson could be confirmed by a simple majority of just 51 votes, and tomorrow, he will face the question of the senators’ marathon round. His record will be kept in the spotlight. David?
CBS Evening News
3/21/2022
6:34:55 pm EastJAN CRAWFORD: In anticipation of the next two days of questioning, Republicans have mentioned the previous hearing.
Senator Chuck Grassley: Disruption of systemic issues, and chaos.
Defendant: Shame! Shame!
Crawford: For Conservative Supreme Court nominees.
Senator Mike Lee: Engaging in the politics of personal destruction is not something we should ever expect.
Crawford: And promised that they would focus on his record.
Senator Lindsay Graham: It’s going to be about your philosophy.
Crawford: Some have suggested that they have shown extreme liberal philosophy and a soft attitude towards crime.
Senator Josh Howley: Prosecutors have recommended 24 months in prison. Judge Jackson sentenced the defendant to three months in prison.
Crawford: Jackson sat in silence for more than four hours before the senators’ inaugural address before giving his own.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: If I am sure, I promise you that I will work productively to uphold and defend the Constitution and this great test of American democracy that has been going on for the last 246 years.
NBC Nightly News
3/21/2022
7:11:19 pm EastPeter Alexander: The 51-year-old who was confirmed as a federal appeals court judge less than a year ago may now face a tougher investigation, including Lindsay Graham, one of three Republicans who voted to confirm him.
Senator Lindsay Graham: I want to know about your judicial philosophy. Because the people on the left, the extreme part of the left believe that you are the best bet. And I want to know why they came to this conclusion.
Alexander: And Republican Josh Howley is preoccupied with a line of assault, accusing Jackson of being soft on crime, highlighting his punishment for child pornography.
Senator Josh Howley: In each of these seven cases, Judge Jackson handed down a modest sentence that was subject to the recommendations of federal guidelines and to what prosecutors requested.