On Monday’s Situation Room, CNN host Wolf Blitzer brushed aside the latest bombshell Project Veritas videos showing liberal operatives planning to instigate violence at Donald Trump rallies simply because “we haven't confirmed those videos” are real before cornering the Republican National’s Sean Spicer over reporters being harassed at Trump events.
Blitzer began the interview by promoting the fears of violence being inflicted on reporters like CNN’s Jim Acosta and hoping that Spicer shared his concerns that everyone should be uncomfortable and “pretty upset about that.”
Spicer immediately denounced any and all threats because “violence is never acceptable, whether it's at a reporter or any other human being” before turning to the videos by noting that “ironically, I mean, it was Hillary Clinton's campaign, as we found out in a video today, that's been part of an effort with the DNC to — to incite violence at rallies, Trump rallies.”
He then summarized the revelations of the videos that none of the major broadcast networks have covered since they were released Monday afternoon:
The videos that came out today show that there was a coordinated effort from high up in the Democratic operative world between the DNC and Hillary Clinton to incite violence. So, I actually am somewhat shocked that that hasn't been covered more, considering all of the faux outrage from the Clinton campaign over some of the things that have gone on.
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The RNC’s chief strategist admonished “the lack of coverage of this” and concluded that more “questions...need to be asked” about what the DNC and Clinton campaigns knew “should be almost the top story tonight, as far as I'm concerned.”
Like a true liberal journalist, Blitzer swiftly brushed aside these videos because “[w]ell, we haven't confirmed those videos” and pivoted back to wallowing over the exclusive safety of his colleagues in the news business.
Just as the media has done in giving airtime to Trump accusers (as they arguably should), Blitzer illustrated the giant double standard of showing little to no interest in accusations and threats originating or involving figures on the left.
Spicer again expressed disapproval of any violence but pushed back regarding the videos from James O’Keefe’s organization:
I think, look, Donald Trump has a message to get out. Again, I don't think violence has its place in political discourse. Equally, I think Hillary Clinton should answer the questions about whether or not her campaign and the DNC were actively paying operatives to incite violence at rallies. That to me seems like a very, very big question that deserves an answer.
“And it's worthy of reporting, to be sure and we will follow up,” Blitzer responded before moving on with the rest of the interview.
Unfortunately but realistically, we won’t be holding our breaths for his programs to cover the videos as the campaign draws to a close if it’ll bring harm to Hillary Clinton and her lead in the polls.
The relevant portion of the transcript from CNN’s The Situation Room on October 24 can be found below.
CNN’s The Situation Room
October 24, 2016
6:08 p.m. EasternWOLF BLITZER: Don't tell me you're comfortable with Donald Trump's attacks on Jim Acosta and other working reporters who are simply trying to do their job at these events. I assume you're pretty upset about that, as so many of us are.
SEAN SPICER: Well, violence is never acceptable, whether it's at a reporter or any other human being, so, you know, all violence should be denounced, but, ironically, I mean, it was Hillary Clinton's campaign, as we found out in a video today, that's been part of an effort with the DNC to — to incite violence at rallies, Trump rallies. The videos that came out today show that there was a coordinated effort from high up in the Democratic operative world between the DNC and Hillary Clinton to incite violence. So, I actually am somewhat shocked that that hasn't been covered more, considering all of the faux outrage from the Clinton campaign over some of the things that have gone on. The idea that they were part of a process and potentially that it went as high as Secretary Clinton herself, according to these videos, the lack of coverage of this and the questions that need to get asked and the answers that need to come should be almost the top story tonight, as far as I'm concerned.
BLITZER: Well, we haven't confirmed those videos, but I will say this. When you hear some of the things that are uttered at these Trump rallies and the threats that are made at the working news media, the reporters, the photographers, the journalists who are there, it gets pretty scary from time to time. I know you have been there, I know you’ve heard it, and I know you want it to tamp down. Don't you think Donald Trump should tell the people at these rallies, look, these guys are just doing their jobs?
SPICER: I think, look, Donald Trump has a message to get out. Again, I don't think violence has its place in political discourse. Equally, I think Hillary Clinton should answer the questions about whether or not her campaign and the DNC were actively paying operatives to incite violence at rallies. That to me seems like a very, very big question that deserves an answer.
BLITZER: And it's worthy of reporting, to be sure and we will follow up.
