Veteran TV journalist Ted Koppel analyzed the media’s role in the political divide in Trump-era America on “CBS Sunday Morning” — and had a pointed moment interviewing Fox News host Sean Hannity.
“We have to give some credit to the American people that they are somewhat intelligent and that they know the difference between an opinion show and a news show,” Hannity told Koppel on camera, registering the veteran newsman’s doubt. “You’re cynical. … You think we’re bad for America? You think I’m bad for America?”
“Yep,” Koppel replied. “In the long haul, I think that all these opinion shows…”
“Really?” Hannity asked. “That’s sad, Ted.”
Koppel explained: “You know why? Because you’re very good at what you did and because you have attracted … people who have determined that ideology is more important than facts.”
To explain the evolution of the increasingly partisan American media, Koppel pointed to a 1987 decision by the Federal Communications Commission to overturn the so-called Fairness Doctrine, which stipulated that radio and television programs had to present both sides of a political question on air.
“Free of the Fairness Doctrine, Rush Limbaugh and conservative talk radio exploded into a political force of nature,” Koppel said.
Norm Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, told Koppel, “Now you take conservative talk radio, move that forward to tribal cable television and layer on to that email and social media, and all of a sudden we live in a world where people can get information and believe it’s absolutely true and not have to get any kind of opposing view. And once they believe it they will always believe it even if it’s utterly false.”
Koppel concluded by citing a Pew Research Center study from last June that found 49 percent of Republicans and 55 percent of Democrats said they were “afraid” of the other party: “As President Trump might say, sad.”
13 Donald Trump Tweets That Read Like Self-Owns After Health Care Bill Fail (Photos)
Donald Trump prides himself on being a great negotiator and deal-maker. But in the biggest deal of his young presidency, the American Health Care Act, he came up short. But he's been plenty vocal about the need for a great negotiator-in-chief on Twitter before. Here are 13 Trump tweets that Trump probably wishes he could delete.
Republicans coming together
Apparently Trump was a bit too optimistic about the cooperation he was helping put together.
A better negotiator
Trump knows what kind of president we need. When it came to the health care bill, every time he tried to negotiate, things got worse. And it was never in line with his campaign promises.
Maybe he forgot the leverage
Trump tried to force Republicans to play ball with an ultimatum. Apparently he didn't have the kind of leverage he mentioned in his book.
Sometimes you have all the cards...
This one is pretty delightful when applied to the current situation. Republicans have the presidency, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. Even with the deck stacked, he and Paul Ryan couldn't put the bill over.
Maybe he needed more gold
Business is one thing, but trying to get your party to back a bill nobody likes operates under a different set of rules.
"FAKE NEWS!"
Trump tried to spin the stories of failing negotiations with his usual disdain for the media. Hard to blame the "fake news" when Republicans aren't even willing to vote on the bill, though.
The goods
Then again, he knows you need to deliver the goods. The American Health Care Act is not it.
The Great Negotiator
Trump puts a lot of stock in his negotiation skills, but walking away with a big check in the loss column makes this a pretty rough self-own.
The only one who can do it
Trump's constant assertion that nobody else could possibly make the deals necessary to repeal and replace Obamacare didn't turn out to be accurate. Turned out he wasn't the right person to make the deals, either.
It's your chance
Trump insisted this was the chance for a better health care plan. Nobody bought it -- including Republicans.
Don't be desperate
With advice like this in his book "The Art of the Deal," it might have been a good idea for him to re-read his own material before trying to force the vote on the bill.
Be flexible
Stories of the health care bill negotiations suggested Trump was anything but flexible. Reportedly, he gave Republicans an ultimatum to push the vote. It didn't quite work out.
Or maybe it's all a ruse?
There are plenty of Trump supporters who think failing to "repeal and replace" is actually a long-term secret plan. Maybe he's playing the long game?
Bonus: Sean Spicer own
Spicer has a few choice tweets from back during the Obama administration that he probably wouldn't want anyone to bring up again. Here's one.
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Donald Trump’s old tweets about negotiations don’t seem like they’re ”winning“ after Trump fails to bring home the Republican health care bill
Donald Trump prides himself on being a great negotiator and deal-maker. But in the biggest deal of his young presidency, the American Health Care Act, he came up short. But he's been plenty vocal about the need for a great negotiator-in-chief on Twitter before. Here are 13 Trump tweets that Trump probably wishes he could delete.
