On Wednesday, all three network morning shows wailed about President Trump daring to criticize former Democratic Congressman and 2020 presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke. However, none of broadcasts had any problem with the wildly irresponsible rhetoric that O’Rourke and other Democrats have employed since the mass shootings in Texas and Ohio over the weekend.
“President Trump is sparking new controversy overnight as he heads to the scene of those deadly shootings,” co-host George Stephanopoulos breathlessly proclaimed at the top of ABC’s Good Morning America. He decried the President “targeting Democratic candidate Beto O’Rourke before heading to Beto’s hometown El Paso this morning.”
In the report that followed moments later, correspondent Kyra Phillips touted how “some members of the El Paso community not necessarily rolling out the welcome mat for the President’s visit, citing his history of inflammatory rhetoric.” She lamented: “...as he prepares to deliver another message of unity, President Trump is also ramping up attacks on one of El Paso’s own.”
“President Trump lashing out at former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, a staunch critic of the President and one of the most high-profile members of this grieving community,” Phillips proclaimed, as if criticism of the Democrat was an affront to the victims. A clip followed of O’Rourke ranting: “People in El Paso by and large do not want to see him there. Understand that he is part of the problem, part of how we got to this point.”
Phillips then described the back and forth between Trump and O’Rourke on social media:
The President tweeting O’Rourke, “has a phony name to indicate Hispanic heritage,” telling the 2020 Democratic candidate to “be quiet.” O’Rourke firing back in a tweet of his own, saying, “22 people in my hometown are dead after an act of terror inspired by your racism. El Paso will not be quiet and neither will I.”
Completely skipping over O’Rourke directly blaming the President for having “inspired” the El Paso shooter, the reporter instead exclusively scolded Trump: “Those comments from the President happening on the heels of his own calls for unity amid tragedy just two days ago.”
On NBC’s Today show, correspondent Peter Alexander hyped: “And new overnight, President Trump, just hours before he’s expected to honor the victims in El Paso, took to Twitter to mock Beto O’Rourke for his Hispanic nickname.” The fact that Robert O’Rourke is not Hispanic in any way seemed lost on the reporter.
Alexander fretted Trump “on the eve of his visit” to Texas “slamming Beto O’Rourke, attacking the Democratic presidential candidate in a late-night tweet.” He then read the President’s tweet and O’Rourke’s response. There was no concern about O’Rourke “slamming” the President ahead of Wednesday’s visit.
CBS This Morning joined the ABC and NBC morning shows in the hand-wringing over Trump’s rhetoric while boosting divisive language from Democrats. Correspondent Ben Tracy promoted Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley declaring how the President’s “rhetoric has been painful for many in our community.” He then highlighted Texas Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, who represents El Paso, asserting that Trump’s “words that he has used to describe Mexicans and immigrants are racist words that fuel hate.”
“El Paso native and Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke says the President should not come visit El Paso today,” Tracy announced before reciting the tweets from the President and the 2020 contender.
The fact that O’Rourke, and most Democrats, have spent the past few days exploiting the devastating shootings to score political points against the President was not a problem for the networks. Probably because liberal journalists have been so eager to join in the blame game themselves.
Here is a transcript of the August 7 coverage on ABC’s GMA:
7:02 AM ET
STEPHANOPOULOS: We’re going to begin with President Trump. He’s under pressure, facing protests as he heads to Dayton and El Paso today to meet with families and first responders after those deadly mass shootings. It could be a tense day, the President already targeting his critics on Twitter. And Kyra Phillips is at the White House with the latest. Good morning, Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS: Good morning, George. Well, some members of the El Paso community not necessarily rolling out the welcome mat for the President’s visit, citing his history of inflammatory rhetoric. So now, as he prepares to deliver another message of unity, President Trump is also ramping up attacks on one of El Paso’s own.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Trump Heads to El Paso; President Lashes Out at Beto O’Rourke Amid Backlash Over Visit]
Hours ahead of his trip to the border town of El Paso, Texas, President Trump lashing out at former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, a staunch critic of the President and one of the most high-profile members of this grieving community.
FMR. REP. BETO O’ROURKE [D-TX]: People in El Paso by and large do not want to see him there. Understand that he is part of the problem, part of how we got to this point.
PHILLIPS: The President tweeting O’Rourke, “has a phony name to indicate Hispanic heritage,” telling the 2020 Democratic candidate to “be quiet.” O’Rourke firing back in a tweet of his own, saying, “22 people in my hometown are dead after an act of terror inspired by your racism. El Paso will not be quiet and neither will I.”
Those comments from the President happening on the heels of his own calls for unity amid tragedy just two days ago.
DONALD TRUMP: Now is the time to set destructive partisanship aside, so destructive. And find the courage to answer hatred with unity, devotion, and love.
PHILLIPS: Meanwhile this morning, many people in the El Paso community are uneasy about the President’s return to the city.
(...)
Here is a transcript of the coverage on NBC’s Today show:
7:05 AM ET
(...)
PETER ALEXANDER: President Trump heads to Ohio this morning, Texas this afternoon, despite fierce push-back from some lawmakers who say the President and his rhetoric are not welcome. And new overnight, President Trump, just hours before he’s expected to honor the victims in El Paso, took to Twitter to mock Beto O’Rourke for his Hispanic nickname.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: President Faces Protests Over Visits; Travels to Shooting Sites Amid Criticism Over Rhetoric]
Casting himself as consoler-in-chief, President Trump today will visit El Paso and Dayton, the two cities devastated by those back-to-back mass shootings.
DONALD TRUMP: Now is the time to set destructive partisanship aside, so destructive. And find the courage to answer hatred with unity, devotion, and love.
ALEXANDER: But on the eve of his visit, the President’s not heeding that advice, instead slamming Beto O’Rourke, attacking the Democratic presidential candidate in a late-night tweet. President Trump calling Beto a “phony name to indicate Hispanic heritage.” O’Rourke hitting back at the President, writing, “22 people in my hometown are dead after an act of terror inspired by your racism. El Paso will not be quiet and neither will I.”
The President’s already getting a cool reception from some local leaders in both communities. El Paso’s Republican Mayor Dee Margo –
MAYOR DEE MARGO [R-TX]: This the office of the mayor of El Paso, in an official capacity, welcoming the office of the President of the United States, which I consider is my formal duty.
ALEXANDER: And El Paso’s Democratic Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, who this week said the President is not welcome in her hometown, is declining to participate. Speaking out last night on MSNBC –
REP. VERONICA ESCOBAR [D-TX]: But the other thing that I heard, Chris, totally unsolicited from victims still in the hospital, as they’d grab my arm and tell me, “Tell him not to come here.”
ALEXANDER: Dayton’s Mayor, Nan Whaley, says she'll welcome the President and those who want to protest.
MAYOR NAN WHALEY [D-OH]: He’s made this bed and he’s got to lie in it, you know. He hasn’t – you know, his rhetoric has been painful for many in our community. And I think that people should stand up and say they’re not happy, if they’re not happy that he’s coming.
(...)
Here is a transcript of the coverage on CBS This Morning:
7:04 AM ET
(...)
BEN TRACY: The President wants to meet with law enforcement, first responders, and some family members of those who were killed. And of course this is part of a president’s job, the comforter-in-chief. But because of some of the things President Trump has said and done, not everyone is welcoming him with open arms.
MAYOR NAN WHALEY [D-OH]: His rhetoric has been painful for many in our community.
TRACY: Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley says she will tell President Trump directly that he’s been unhelpful in the wake of the mass shooting in her city that left nine people dead.
WHALEY: I think the people should stand up and say they’re not happy, if they’re not happy that he’s coming.
DONALD TRUMP: Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun.
TRACY: The President’s response so far is not going over well with many in either community. El Paso Mayor Dee Margo says he’s receiving calls and emails from residents against President Trump’s visit.
MAYOR DEE MARGO [R-TX]: He’s the President of the United States, so in that capacity, I will fulfill my obligations as mayor of El Paso.
TRACY: Emotions in El Paso are particularly raw. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar says the President should apologize for past comments.
REP. VERONICA ESCOBAR [D-TX]: The words that he has used to describe Mexicans and immigrants are racist words that fuel hate.
TRACY: The accused white supremacist who allegedly killed 22 people at the Walmart there said he was responding to what he called the “Hispanic invasion of Texas.” The President has often used the word “invasion” to justify his border wall and immigration policies.
(...)
7:06 AM ET
TRACY: El Paso native and Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke says the President should not come visit El Paso today. In a tweet last night, Mr. Trump said that O’Rourke “should respect the victims and law enforcement and be quiet.” O’Rourke replied, “22 people in my hometown are dead after an act of terror inspired by your racism. El Paso will not be quiet, and neither will I.” Now, he and Congresswoman Escobar will attend a community action event during the President’s visit.
(...)
