As the media were all united in condemning President Trump’s criticism of Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings as racist, reporters across television news also gleefully touted The Baltimore Sun publishing a “scathing” editorial that labeled Trump “vermin.” The nasty article was cited repeatedly by journalists on CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, and ABC on both Sunday and Monday.
CNN’s Reliable Sources host Brian Stelter was particularly enthralled with the hit piece, gushing on his Sunday morning show: “So let’s close with what The Baltimore Sun said about this is today. The Baltimore Sun’s editorial is one for the history books. The editorial making a statement on behalf of the city and the region...” He then eagerly recited excerpts:
“Finally,” the editorial ends, “while we would not sink to name-calling in the Trumpian manner – or ruefully point out that he failed to spell the congressman’s name correctly, we would tell the most dishonest man to ever occupy the Oval Office, the mocker of war heros, the gleeful grabber of women’s private parts, the serial bankrupter of businesses, the useful idiot of Vladimir Putin and the guy who insisted there are ‘good people’ among murderous neo-Nazis that he’s still not fooling most Americans into fooling that he’s even slightly competent in his current job. Or that he possesses a scintilla of integrity. Better to have some vermin living in your neighborhood than to be one.”
Stelter concluded: “The Baltimore Sun’s editorial this morning. It’s gone viral online.”
Appearing earlier on the CNN show, The Sun’s David Zurwik warned that the President was “so far down this road of evil” that the media needed to “change voters’ minds for 2020.”
Filling in for Craig Melvin on MSNBC Monday morning, anchor Chris Jansing declared: “And The Baltimore Sun’s editorial is scathing, particularly the closing paragraph.” Like Stelter, she read a lengthy portion of the hostile op/ed.
In addition to cable, all three network morning shows on Monday promoted The Sun’s attack on Trump. On NBC’s Today show, correspondent Hallie Jackson proclaimed: “Baltimore’s local newspaper, in a scathing editorial, blasting the President, writing, quote, ‘Better to have some vermin living in your neighborhood than to be one.’”
Reporting for CBS This Morning, correspondent Nancy Cordes uttered a nearly identical phrase: “Baltimore’s mayor called the President’s tweets an insult and in a scathing editorial, The Baltimore Sun said, ‘Better to have a few rats than to be one.’”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, correspondent Mary Bruce joined her NBC and CBS colleagues in hyping: “The Baltimore Sun publishing this scathing editorial. The headline: ‘Better to have a few rats than to be one.’” She also highlighted CNN anchor Victor Blackwell delivering an emotional denunciation of the President:
People get up and go to work there. They care for their families there. They love their children, who pledge allegiance to the flag just like people who live in districts of congressmen who support you, sir. They are Americans too.
Wrapping up the GMA coverage, co-host George Stephanopoulos scolded: “It’s almost as if the President refuses to accept that he’s the president of every state, every city in the United States, including Baltimore.”
With Trump in the White House, the press are ready to drop any pretense of objectivity and civility at a moment’s notice.
Here is a full transcript of Stelter hailing The Sun’s editorial at the end of the July 28 Reliable Sources:
11:58 AM ET
(...)
BRIAN STELTER: So let’s close with what The Baltimore Sun said about this is today. The Baltimore Sun’s editorial is one for the history books. The editorial making a statement on behalf of the city and the region, saying this: “The White House has far more power to affect change in this city for good or ill, than any single member of Congress, including Mr. Cummings. If there are problems here, including rodents, they are as much his responsibility as anyone’s, perhaps more because he holds the most powerful office in the land.” “Finally,” the editorial ends, “while we would not sink to name-calling in the Trumpian manner – or ruefully point out that he failed to spell the congressman’s name correctly, we would tell the most dishonest man to ever occupy the Oval Office, the mocker of war heros, the gleeful grabber of women’s private parts, the serial bankrupter of businesses, the useful idiot of Vladimir Putin and the guy who insisted there are ‘good people’ among murderous neo-Nazis that he’s still not fooling most Americans into fooling that he’s even slightly competent in his current job. Or that he possesses a scintilla of integrity. Better to have some vermin living in your neighborhood than to be one.” The Baltimore Sun’s editorial this morning. It’s gone viral online. Maybe that will be the subject of the President’s next tweet.
(...)
