For hundreds of years, some form of question about citizenship has been included in the United States census form. But now that Donald Trump was President, it’s suddenly a problem of epic proportions, that’s according to the liberal media.
During Tuesday’s CBS Evening News, anchor Jeff Glor stoked fear of the question and the “conservative justices” on the Supreme Court that would allow it to be included.
“The 2020 census will include a question about citizenship if the Trump administration wins a Supreme Court battle,” he reported. “Three lower courts have blocked the plan. The Supreme Court heard arguments on this case today. Conservative justices are expected to vote in favor of upholding the proposal.”
Glor concluded the news brief by declaring as fact the liberal suggestion that “The citizenship question could leave millions uncounted in this year's census.” Do you see how that statement was presented? No qualifier framing it as something critics of the proposal charge. It was stated as fact without mention of the question’s history on the form.
Meanwhile, on Fox News Channel’s Special Report, chief legal correspondent and Fox News @ Night host Shannon Bream explained that “the citizenship question has been included on various census forms, nearly uniformly between 1820 in 1950, and in a more limited way since then,” and how it was part of the consideration by those conservative justices.
Instead of stoking fear of those conservative justices, Bream shared their philosophical considerations:
Justice Kavanaugh, noting that the statute passed by Congress gives the commerce secretary enormous discretion in putting together the census form, asked why if Congress objects it hasn’t already outlawed the question.: “Why doesn't Congress prohibit the asking of a citizenship question in the same way that Congress has explicitly provided that no one can be compelled to provide religious information?”
“Critics of the move say it will discourage people from completing the forms, predicting it will lead to an undercount primarily minority populations,” Bream reported. Noticed how she framed that properly?
Bream also shared the considerations of the liberal justices:
Today, several of the liberal-leaning justices said the administration can get the information it’s seeking from other government databases. Of Ross’s decision, Justice Sotomayor said, quote, "This seems like he thought of something, I want to add a citizenship question." Adding, “This is a solution in search of a problem, I’ve got to find a problem that fits what I want to do.”
It's disappointing that CBS didn’t share both sides of the discussion, choosing only to present liberal concerns.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
April 23, 2019
6:42:45 p.m. EasternJEFF GLOR: The 2020 census will include a question about citizenship if the Trump administration wins a Supreme Court battle. Three lower courts have blocked the plan. The Supreme Court heard arguments on this case today. Conservative justices are expected to vote in favor of upholding the proposal. The citizenship question could leave millions uncounted in this year's census.
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
April 23, 2019
6:15:37 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: The fate of a proposed citizenship question on next year’s census is now in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. Justices, they heard arguments today. Right now, Fox News chief legal correspondent and anchor of Fox News @ Night Shannon Bream tells us what was said today.
[Cuts to video]
DALE HO (ACLU Voting Rights Project): It is not about a line on a form. It is about whether or not everyone in America counts.
SHANNON BREAM: But therein lies the problem, the nine justices must untangle. Whether Commerce Secretary Wilber Ross overstepped his authority by adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census. Critics of the move say it will discourage people from completing the forms, predicting it will lead to an undercount primarily minority populations.
Today, several of the liberal-leaning justices said the administration can get the information it’s seeking from other government databases. Of Ross’s decision, Justice Sotomayor said, quote, "This seems like he thought of something, I want to add a citizenship question." Adding, “This is a solution in search of a problem, I’ve got to find a problem that fits what I want to do.”
But a number of the more conservative justices noted that the citizenship question has been included on various census forms, nearly uniformly between 1820 in 1950, and in a more limited way since then.
Justice Kavanaugh, noting that the statute passed by Congress gives the commerce secretary enormous discretion in putting together the census form, asked why if Congress objects it hasn’t already outlawed the question. Quote: “Why doesn't Congress prohibit the asking of a citizenship question in the same way that Congress has explicitly provided that no one can be compelled to provide religious information?”
Opponents traced the entire debate back to the issue of immigration and claim the administration’s sole purpose in asking about citizenship is to silence people in the U.S. illegally. The administration says the President's priorities are both legal and fair.
HOGAN GIDLEY (White House Deputy Press Secretary): We want to know who’s in this country. And I think as a sovereign nation we have that right.
[Cuts back to live]
BREAM: Well, a decision from the court is due by late June and time is of the essence. The census forms, whether they contain with the citizenship question or not will head to the printing process this summer. Brett,
BAIER: Shannon, thank you.
