There's not much new to add here, since I'm said most of it twice, the last two days. But it bears finishing the tale in full as a trilogy. And so, to wrap things up -- yesterday, the chairman of NBC News Cesar Conde announced that Ronna Romney McDaniel would not be coming to NBC or MSNBC as a paid contributor. This is the note that Conde sent to the staff: Hey all, It's a very good, important action to take -- and gracious for taking full responsibility, even two others were the ones who pushed the matter for reasons unknown to Man, however I find the letter a touch disingenuous. It's when he writes -- "Our initial decision was made because of our deep commitment to presenting our audiences with a widely diverse set of viewpoints and experiences, particularly during these consequential times." The issue with former RNC chair Ronna Romney McDaniel was never about a "widely diverse set of viewpoints." After all, MSNBC already has a former RNC chair on staff, Michael Steele, who even has his own show. And has a former Republican White House Press Secretary, Nicolle Wallace, who not only has her own show, but has the only single-host show that runs two hours. And they have paid contributors who include former Republican governor John Kasich, active conservative journalist Charlie Sykes, active GOP operative Tim Miller and several others, including Republican strategist Susan Del Percio. That's a pretty widely diverse set of viewpoints for what is seen as a left-leaning news organization. (Granted, this is MSNBC, rather than NBC, but they overlap and all reporters are available between the two.) At issue is that Ronna Romney McDaniel, who is so heavily a Trump enabler that she liberally changed her name to be acceptable to him, is so involved with supporting the Insurrection to overthrow the U.S. government that she is at risk of being an indicted co-conspirator, having (among other things) been caught on tape with Trump trying to pressure Michigan Republican officials to not certify the state's legal election results, and referenced in two criminals indictments. That is the issue. And it is not someone you want on a news team. At least if the standard you're going for is honesty and, y'know, supporting democracy. Many on the far-right yesterday, and even some misguided others bending over backwards so ridiculously far that their noses nearly touch the ground, tried to position NBC's decision as cowardice, afraid of having "different voices" on the air. But as noted, "different voices" is not a problem on MSNBC and its parent NBC. (Especially, and laughably, when compared to the dittohead voices of the Stations of Choice for the far right -- Fox, Newsmax, and OAN, where even if you're a Republican, but dare be a moderate, you are at risk of being painted a RINO, not a Republican at all but a Republican in Name Only.) So, no, despite the efforts to make it seem other than reality -- which is a core trait of the Republican base these days -- the issue was one thing, and one thing only: Ronna Romney McDaniel was in the center of efforts to undermine democracy and overthrow the government, helping Trump pressure state officials to refuse to certify a legal election and push the Insurrection forward. All the while lying repeatedly and demeaning journalists, at the behest of her leader putting them in physical danger by calling them "the Enemy of the People" for doing their jobs pursing stories honestly. And now, Ms. McDaniel has every right to continue doing that. She just won't be doing it on NBC or MSNBC as a paid contributor. Whether or not she gets indicted, that's up to the Department of Justice. And just for fun, we'll add an addendum -- because after all this comes the report that Ronna Romney McDaniel says she may sue those she insists "defamed" her and have caused her mental distress. I am sure there are already lawyers lining up who would dearly love to do a deposition and cross-examine her on the stand under oath. Most especially about the statements she insists "defamed" her about how she pressured state officials with Trump to not certify legal election results (exchanges that are recorded and referenced in two criminal indictments), and ask her further about other conversations and meetings she had with Trump and his team, to support the claims that those she would be suing accurately made about her. Pro Tip: If you don't want to have mental distress, don't help enable an Insurrection and try to overthrow the government.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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