Perhaps it was the early hour, but for some inexplicable reason on Wednesday, CNN White House correspondent John Harwood decided to use his short time talking to New Day co-host John Berman to lament that Biden did not go far enough in his speech about the horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Harwood’s initial comments followed the contours of Biden’s own speech:
“As has become familiar, he empathized with the parents and the families of those who lost loved ones in this tragedy as a parent who himself has lost children. He also expressed outrage, as he implored Congress to do what it hasn't done after so many incidents of this kind, including Newtown, which is to take some action on gun restrictions.”
After a technical mishap where a clip of Biden’s speech did not air, Berman did his best to set up the next section of Harwood’s commentary, pointing out how, “Joe Biden was chairman of the — he was working hard on the crime bill in 1994. He helped pass the assault weapons ban. This is something that he's worked on for his entire career.”
Berman was simply being factual there. Agree or disagree with his views, Joe Biden is deeply committed to passing gun control legislation, and his rhetoric of “when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” although misplaced, is par for the course for him.
But Harwood thought Biden’s language wasn’t strong enough, unfavorably comparing his speech to the statement put out by his old boss Barack Obama, because, “He said it wasn’t just — it’s not just the gun lobby — it is a political party that won't act.”
Harwood decided even this usage of a human tragedy for a political attack wasn’t precise enough, clarifying for whichever unfortunate souls were watching CNN at five in the morning:
“This is very specifically about the Republican Party and that is because the same extremism that causes so many Republicans to reject election outcomes has locked the party into resistance to almost any restriction or legislation on the purchase and ownership of weapons, including assault weapons.”
For Harwood, trying to find a solution to the violence plaguing America’s schools that doesn’t trample on Second Amendment rights is the “same extremism” that leads to questioning elections (the media’s ability to bring January 6 into every political topic never ceases to amaze me).
Harwood must have sensed this was too much of a break from reality even for the five o’clock slot, for he immediately followed up on this insane statement by admitting Republicans may be willing to pass some sort of background check reform. Nonetheless, Harwood realized he had a reputation to uphold as CNN White House press correspondent, and ended by snidely remarking, “But after so many failures to act before, this is clearly a ‘believe it when you see it’ kind of situation, John.”
To use a school shooting to advocate for radical policy changes is reprehensible. But what is even more disgusting is using a national tragedy to try to tar your political opponents.
This vile exploitation of a national tragedy was brought to you by T-Mobile and Tempur-Pedic. Their contact information is linked.
Click “Expand” to see the relevant transcript.
CNN’s New Day
05/25/22
5:18:14 AM ETJOHN BERMAN: Joining me now is CNN White House correspondent John Harwood. John, obviously President Biden found out about this shooting on his way home from Asia. He wanted to address the nation last night as soon as he got back.
JOHN HARWOOD: John, the magnitude of this tragedy was such that President Biden had to address the nation when he came back from this long flight from Asia. And as has become familiar, he empathized with the parents and the families of those who lost loved ones in this tragedy as a parent who himself has lost children. He also expressed outrage, as he implored Congress to do what it hasn't done after so many incidents of this kind, including Newtown, which is to take some action on gun restrictions. Here’s the President.
[VIDEO FILE MISSING]
BERMAN: Um, John, obviously Joe Biden —
HARWOOD: Do we not —BERMAN:— was Vice President —
HARWOOD: I guess we don't have that.
BERMAN: — during the Sandy Hook Massacre. Joe Biden was chairman of the — he was working hard on the crime bill in 1994. He helped pass the assault weapons ban. This is something that he's worked on for his entire career.
HARWOOD: That's right. And that is the one time in recent memory when Congress was able to act, but of course the assault weapons ban expired and was not renewed by Congress. Now one thing the President did not do in his statement was point a finger specifically at a political party. President Obama was willing to do that in the statement that he put out. He said it wasn’t just — it’s not just the gun lobby — it is a political party that won't act. The reason President Obama said that is that this is not a generic failure of Washington or Congress. This is very specifically about the Republican party and that is because the same extremism that causes so many Republicans to reject election outcomes has locked the party into resistance to almost any restriction or legislation on the purchase and ownership of weapons, including assault weapons. Now, it is possible that in an otherwise very promising election year Republicans decide to try to take this issue off the table by doing something. I noted on Twitter last night Brendan Buck, who was a former top aide to two Republican House Speakers said, “I think there’s a good chance that a background check bill passes in Congress this year.” But after so many failures to act before, this is clearly a “believe it when you see it” kind of situation, John.
BERMAN: Yes it is. John Harwood, thank you very much for that.
