Shep Smith Shreds COVID Relief Compromise: ‘Why Is Washington Failing The People?”
Shepard Smith grilled Sen. Joe Manchin over the COVID relief compromise that is not getting emergency relief to Americans: “We have the longest food lines of my lifetime in America, Senator. Why isn’t there help from Washington?”
Sen. Joe Manchin tried to defend the bipartisan compromise by saying, “We’re the only game in town” and that his group is “meeting day and night, every day and night” to come up with a relief package. But Smith pointed out just how much relief is missing:
Manchin argued that the bill is for people who are unemployed and “have nothing.” He called it “an emergency to get us through the first quarter.”
Smith smacked that down harder.
Smith hinted that the answer is to stop trying to compromise and start making demands:
Manchin called the compromise “a down payment." The presumption is that Joe Biden will put together another package after he takes office. “We’ve got to bridge that gap,” Manchin said. He patted himself and his so-called Gang of Eight on the back for being “out there and doing something” when none of the caucuses would.
Smith wasn’t buying that, either.
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SMITH: We don't even have enough masks and gowns and gloves stockpiled for hospital workers. The federal government promised we would but they failed us there too. Who do we hold accountable?
Before closing, Smith reiterated his belief that fighting gets more results than compromising. But he gave a nod of approval to Manchin for having “come up with something” before and wished him good luck.