On his first day at MSNBC, new host Martin Bashir immediately adopted
the network's liberal line, attacking a conservative Congressman for
advocating severe spending cuts, deriding it as "
the most disingenuous play on the American people."
Previewing the interview with Representative Joe Walsh of Illinois,
Bashir noted that he has refused congressional health care. The anchor
solemnly wondered, "Is that his idea of health care for every American?"
Bashir,
who previously co-anchored ABC's Nightline, offered this loaded
question to the Republican: "You're a freshman in this Congress. Are you
satisfied that your first significant act in Washington will help bring
the government to a standstill?"
The cable host closed out this interview and then snidely segueing to
his next guest: "And for more on the political ramifications of this
budget battle, including, hopefully, a little truth serum, let's bring
in NBC news analyst and senior political editor at the Huffington Post,
Howard Fineman."
A transcript of the segment, which aired at 3:10pm EST, follows:
MARTIN BASHIR: And when we come back, a congressman who refuses health
care, even with a wife who has a preexisting condition. Is that his idea
of health care for every American?
3:13
BASHIR: Now to the possible government shutdown looming at end of the
week. Both parties say they're considering a Republican plan to keep
things up and running, but the clock is ticking. Speaker of the House
John Boehner says continuing to do the people's work, well, it's a moral
issue.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JOHN BOEHNER: We have a moral responsibility to
address the problems that we face and that means working together to cut
spending and to rein in government, not shutting it down.
BASHIR: Congressman Joe Walsh is a Republican from Illinois and he joins me live from the capitol. Mr. Walsh, good afternoon.
REP. JOE WALSH: Good afternoon, Martin. Congrats on the show.
BASHIR: Thank you very much. You're a freshman in this Congress. Are
you satisfied that your first significant act in Washington will help
bring the government to a standstill?
WALSH: You know, absolutely. Republicans have been clear that we don't
want a shut down government. And I think it's very impressive that we
sent a two-week- a two-week budget over to the Democrats in the Senate
to try to keep the dialogue going so that we can avoid shutting down
government. But, Martin, make no mistake, they sent us here to cut
spending, and that's what's in this two-week CR.
BASHIR: Let's just sit for a moment on the cutting and spending. Isn't
this the most disingenuous play on the American people? Because from
Planned Parenthood to collective bargaining in Wisconsin, spending cuts
is the excuse. But the real target, well, that's your political
opponents.
WALSH: No. You know what? Martin, spending cuts are the real truth.
That's why 87 Republican freshmen were sent to Washington. The Speaker
alluded to it as a moral issue. It is a moral issue. Our country's broke
and that's because we're spending too much. We're on a path right now
that's going to bankrupt our kids and grand kids and that's morally
irresponsible. That's almost criminal to do to future generations. The
Republicans are keeping their word, and we're systemically going to go
at the spending problem.
BASHIR: You've said President Obama ought to be ashamed of himself for
not dealing with- for not dealing with entitlements in his budget. You
say it's time to raise the retirement age and means test Social
Security. But, do you have support from Speaker John Boehner?
WALSH: Absolutely. Look at Paul Ryan. Look at Paul Ryan to the north of
me in Wisconsin. He has been a leader on this. He stuck his neck out
last year and proposed reforms of Medicare and Social Security. Martin, I
stand by those words. The President put out a budget and he should be
ashamed of himself because he punted on entitlement reform. And
everybody in this town knows that you've got to have a serious dialogue
about Social Security and Medicare because that's where the bulk of the
spending is. The Republicans are not going to be afraid to take the lead
on this. And I think the American people are ready for that discussion.
BASHIR: Is it true that your own wife has decided to reject any health care insurance at this time?
WALSH: I pledged a year ago that, if I were elected, I'd turn down all
congressional health care and retirement benefits. I just don't believe,
as a member of Congress, you should take those. I don't want to
increase the federal footprint, no matter how much it costs. It means a
lot to me. And my wife was with me every step of the way. She had a
procedure last week, Martin. She did have a preexisting condition and
like a lot of Americans we have to pay that out of our own pock.
BASHIR: And how did the procedure go, by the way?
WALSH: Thank you. It well and she's recouping. Thank you.
BASHIR: And how much did it cost you?
WALSH: Uh, you know, I don't want to get into that, but it's something
I'm going to feel. It's going to take me a while to pay off.
BASHIR: Okay, Congressman Joe Walsh of Illinois. Thank you.
WALSH: Martin, thank you.
BASHIR: And for more on the political ramifications of this budget
battle, including, hopefully, a little truth serum, let's bring in NBC
news analyst and senior political editor at the Huffington Post, Howard
Fineman.
- Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
