NBC's Reid, MSNBC's Carlson focused on Democratic "divisions" over leadership elections, ignored this year's second GOP leadership battle

In reporting and commenting on the Democratic leadership elections for the upcoming session of Congress, specifically the contest between Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and John P. Murtha (D-PA) for House majority leader, NBC News congressional correspondent Chip Reid and MSNBC host Tucker Carslon portrayed these elections as evidence that the Democrats are lacking "unity" and are "divided." Reid and Carlson ignored, however, the "divisions" caused by the Republicans' reshuffling of their leadership in Congress.

The Los Angeles Times noted on November 14 that Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) is seeking to unseat House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and become the next House minority leader. According to the Times:

Republicans, meanwhile, plunged into a round of recriminations provoked by their election losses. House leadership contests were developing, pitting more conservative party members against those who have been at the helm.

"We did not just lose our majority -- we lost our way," said Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who is trying to oust Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) as the GOP leader in the next Congress.

In his case against Boehner, Pence contends that public disaffection over the growth in government spending under the GOP-controlled Congress paved the way for the election losses.

In a November 13 TPM Muckraker entry, blogger Greg Sargent noted that "CNN is already reporting that Dems are 'divided,' " adding:

Actually, what's happening is known as an "election." Some Dems are backing one candidate for House Majority Leader; others are backing another candidate. [...] It's also worth noting that Republicans are going through more leadership battles than Dems are -- yet CNN's chosen storyline is that Dems are "divided."

On the November 13 broadcast of NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams, Reid reported:

REID: In the House, though, Democrats returned not to unity but to a battle between Steny Hoyer of Maryland and John Murtha of Pennsylvania to be majority leader next year, the number two position. Number one -- the speaker -- is expected to be Nancy Pelosi, who, in a weekend surprise, formally endorsed her old friend Murtha, even though Hoyer is the front-runner.

But Democrats don't take over till January. For the rest of this year, this will be a Republican-controlled lame-duck Congress.

On the November 13 broadcast of Tucker, Carlson previewed an upcoming segment, saying: "And Nancy Pelosi backs Jack Murtha for majority leader. Is it a sign Democrats already are divided before they've even come to office?" In the ensuing discussion with Democratic strategist Victor Kamber, Carlson again pushed the idea that the leadership elections show that Democrats are divided.

From the November 13 broadcast of MSNBC's Tucker:

CARLSON: Well, she's not officially in charge yet, but already House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi is rustling feathers in her own party. Her first move: endorsing Pennsylvania Congressman Jack Murtha for House majority leader, marching right past her current second-in-command, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland. Could Pelosi already be alienating the more moderate Democrats, a group rapidly growing in both number and power in the Democratic Party?

Joining me now from Washington to discuss this -- Democratic strategist Vic Kamber. Vic, welcome. What is this -- what's the subtext here? Why would she be endorsing Jack Murtha?

KAMBER: There's one thing about Nancy Pelosi that everyone's known who's ever worked with her, and that's loyalty. And John Murtha was a mentor, was her campaign manager for speaker and, in many ways, she's repaying him.

She may also agree with him on certain issues. The irony is, though -- your description of alienating the moderates. Mr. Murtha happens to be much more moderate on the social issues --

CARLSON: Yes, that's right.

KAMBER: -- than he is -- than Steny Hoyer is. So, I'm not --

CARLSON: He's actually pretty conservative on the social issues.

KAMBER: Yeah. I'm not sure it's easy to define moderate and liberal. I think you have two ambitious men that are running to be the number two in the party, and she's chosen one that she endorses.

—S.S.M.