On Wednesday’s NBC Today, correspondent Peter Alexander actually attempted to discredit Marco Rubio’s rhetorical observation that “Welders make more money than philosophers.” Taking the comment literally, Alexander asserted: “That was one of the most memorable lines of the night, but it's also not true. Government statistics show that philosophers, philosophy teachers in this country, make on average almost twice as much as welders.”
Of course Rubio never claimed to be comparing “philosophy teachers,” who usually have Ph.D’s, to welders. Alexander conveniently added that specific job title.
Left-wing blog Think Progress posted the same lame "fact-check" of Rubio before the debate even ended Tuesday night.
On the October 14 Today, the morning after the first Democratic debate, Alexander provided no fact-check of the candidates. Instead, he spent most his time singing Hillary Clinton’s praises, hailing her as “poised and passionate.”
At the top of Wednesday’s Today, Alexander wrapped up a report on the GOP debate by touting Hillary Clinton mocking the event: “Of course, one of the night's most popular targets was Hillary Clinton. She shared her reaction overnight on Twitter, posting a clip from the recent Benghazi hearing where she appeared at best unimpressed by the Republican debate.”
He made no mention that it was the second time Clinton had used the tactic to react to a Republican debate or that she was criticized for doing so the first time.
Here is a transcript of Alexander’s November 11 report at the top of Today’s 8 a.m. ET hour:
8:03 AM ET
TAMRON HALL: The presidential candidates are on the road this Veterans Day with Republicans hoping to build on any gains from half night's debate. NBC national correspondent Peter Alexander is in Milwaukee. Peter, good morning.
PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Tamron, good morning to you. Plenty of punches but even more policy here last night. Jeb Bush and Ben Carson both addressed some of the questions facing each of their campaigns, on a night where there was clearly no runaway winner or loser.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Candidates Mix It Up in Milwaukee; GOP Debate Sees Attacks on Clinton, Each Other]
ALEXANDER: For GOP candidates, it was the main event in Milwaukee.
DONALD TRUMP: Why does she keep interrupting everybody?
TRUMP: I don't have to hear from this man.
JEB BUSH: What a generous man you are.
ALEXANDER: Trying to diffuse the controversy over his own life story, Ben Carson said every candidate should be closely examined.
BEN CARSON: Thank you for not asking me what I said in the tenth grade. I have no problem with being vetted. What I do have a problem with, is being lied about.
ALEXANDER: In the midst of a campaign reboot, Jeb Bush, badly in need of a strong performance, challenged Donald Trump on foreign policy.
BUSH: Donald is wrong on this. He is absolutely wrong on this. We're not going to be the world's policemen, but we sure as heck better be the world's leader.
ALEXANDER: While Ted Cruz jumped in after Marco Rubio and Rand Paul sparred over military spending.
SEN. TED CRUZ [R-TX]: You think defending this nation is expensive, try not defending it. That's a lot more expensive.
ALEXANDER: All of the candidates opposed raising the minimum wage to $15.
MARCO RUBIO: I don't know why we have stigmatized vocational education. Welders make more money than philosophers. We need more welders and less philosophers.
ALEXANDER: That was one of the most memorable lines of the night, but it's also not true. Government statistics show that philosophers, philosophy teachers in this country, make on average almost twice as much as welders.
The impressions these candidates made last night are gonna stick for a while, Tamron. The next debate isn't for about five more weeks.
HALL: Alright, Peter. Thank you very much.
