NBC defends Andrea Mitchell as unbiased, despite blast at GOP

MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell was not biased when she said on a national broadcast that Republicans who don’t support expansive immigration reform “ought to be ashamed” of themselves, NBC company executives said.

She also wasn’t biased when she preceded that comment with another in support of Sen. John McCain, calling him “heroic” for fighting against his own party and bucking the conservative call for more border security, NBC executives said, Politico reported.

Ms. Mitchell, an NBC News correspondent and an MSNBC host, made the comments on Thursday on “Morning Joe.”

Her statement: “The piecemeal approach [to immigration reform] is basically saying, ’Let’s throw a lot of money at border security. John McCain has pointed out — and he’s been heroic on this issue — he has pointed out that it is a total waste of money, what they did in the Senate, but it is political cover. But just to do border security and nothing else — these fiscal conservatives ought to be ashamed.”

NBC issued a statement to Politico about the comments, claiming they were not biased.

“Andrea has not taken a position on this issue,” said Erika Masonhall, the director of NBC News communications. “In the full context of her comments, she was noting that business and agriculture interests, clergy, and labor communities have all said the current policy is unsustainable, and that there is no economic argument for doing nothing or only adding to border security.”