Cross posted to the MRC's NewsBusters blog
On Tuesday's The 11th Hour show, MSNBC host Brian Williams made some crude anatomical suggestions about President Donald Trump and his Republican supporters -- namely Governors Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis of Texas and Florida.
The disgraced former NBC News anchor closed out his late night MSNBC show with a commentary attacking Governor Abbott over recent political stands in Texas, including a push to build a border wall funded by the state. Williams began:
Last thing before we go tonight. If you're a Trumper Republican, there's really no limit to what you can say to fire up the base. You can gaslight with the best of them, you can lie with impunity. Generally the rule is: Say or do the most shocking thing imaginable, and that's how you stay on brand.
Taking aim at Governor Abbott, Williams got to the implied crudeness as he continued:
Which brings us somehow back to the rootin'-tootin' Trumper governor of Texas, Greg Abbott. His state doesn't have a dependable power grid, and yet he's going to build his own wall on the border. And he's being richly rewarded by a visit from his guy, Trump, next week. If Abbott wants to, say, run for President, he must be more further ensconced in a particular area of Trump's anatomy than even Ron DeSantis of Florida. And that won't be easy.
He then mocked other causes recently supported by conservatives: "Sure, the pretend outrage over critical race theory helps Abbott -- so does the voter suppression bill he's been working so hard to enact, and that "guns for everyone" legislation he signed. But now he's outdone even himself."
The MSNBC host went on to complain about the Texas governor's opposition to a proposed law that would impose restrictions on dog owners who choose to keep their dogs chained.
This attack on Republicans was sponsored in part by Verizon. Their contact information is linked.
Transcript follows:
MSNBC's The 11th Hour
June 22, 2021
11:57 p.m. Eastern
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Last thing before we go tonight. If you're a Trumper Republican, there's really no limit to what you can say to fire up the base. You can gaslight with the best of them, you can lie with impunity. Generally the rule is: Say or do the most shocking thing imaginable, and that's how you stay on brand.
Which brings us somehow back to the rootin'-tootin' Trumper governor of Texas, Greg Abbott. His state doesn't have a dependable power grid, and yet he's going to build his own wall on the border. And he's being richly rewarded by a visit from his guy, Trump, next week. If Abbott wants to, say, run for President, he must be more further ensconced in a particular area of Trump's anatomy than even Ron DeSantis of Florida. And that won't be easy.
Sure, the pretend outrage over critical race theory helps Abbott -- so does the voter suppression bill he's been working so hard to enact, and that "guns for everyone" legislation he signed. But now he's outdone even himself.
Today -- and we quote here from the Texas Tribune -- he vetoed a bill known as the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act. The bill would have made it illegal -- and if you've ever loved a dog, this will appear to you to be common sense -- it would have made it illegal to chain up dogs and leave them outside without drinkable water, adequate shade or shelter. It also called for a ban on tethering dogs with heavy chains.
Quote, "Texas is no place for this kind of micromanaging and overcriminalization, said the governor in the veto statement." That goes right to the base -- or at least it's designed to. Now, tonight the hashtag #AbbottHatesDogs is trending. Remember the rules -- when you're trying to appeal to that Trump base, nothing can be shocking or outrageous enough because Abbott figures apparently dogs can't vote. And, really, what have dogs ever done for us? The latest news from Texas to take us off the air tonight. That is our broadcast for this Tuesday evening with our thanks for being here with us.
