On Tuesday, MSNBC anchor Chris Jansing labeled Rep. Steve King (R) of Iowa "one of the most radical right-wingers in Congress" during the segment immediately before she interviewed him. Nothing was said of the comment in the interview, and her questions proceeded as normal.
Following a debate on the extension of unemployment benefits, Jansing remarked that "up next we're going to talk to one of the most radical right-wingers in Congress and talk about what he plans to do when the GOP takes control of the House." In the next segment, she interviewed Rep. King.
Jansing asked King about the DREAM Act, tax cuts, and compromising with
Democrats. She pressed King on immigration and the DREAM Act, using an
clip of an illegal immigrant student who said she wants "to give back to
the country that saw us grow."
"What
do you say to a student like that?" Jansing asked King, who has been an
opponent of the DREAM Act which provides a path to citizenship for
illegal immigrants residing in the U.S.
"Doesn't America need well-educated workers? Should there be an
opportunity for them to stay?" Jansing pressed the Iowa Republican.
In the previous segment, Jansing lamented the uncertainty of extending
unemployment benefits that expire Wednesday. "Two million people's lives
at stake, what's the solution?" she asked.
A partial transcript of the segment, which aired on November 30 at 10:15 a.m. EDT, is as follows:
CHRIS JANSING: Up next we're going to talk to one of the most radical
right-wingers in Congress and talk about what he plans to do when the
GOP takes control of the House.
(...)
(Video Clip)
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT: Many of us are not criminals. Many of us just
want to show this country that we care, that we love it, and that we
just want to give back to the country that saw us grow.
(End Video Clip)
JANSING: What do you say to a student like that, college graduate, has
done very well, brought here as a little kid by their parents, no
decision that they made, worked hard, got a good education, and wants to
be productive - doesn't America need well-educated workers? Should
there be an opportunity for them to stay?
-Matt Hadro is News Analysis intern at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here.
