President Barack Obama was in Dallas Tuesday to speak at the memorial service to the five police officers who were killing in last Thursday’s ambush. All the networks in the “big three” sung the president’s praises. “The president clearly in the role of preacher-in-chief today talking about what a raw moment this is for the country,” stated ABC’s Senior Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas, during ABC’s special coverage.
ABC Anchor George Stephanopoulos played to the hearts of his audience saying Obama was, “Fighting through tears to remember lives lost, plead for unity, and hope. It was a meditation on hope.” His guest Sunny Hostin also praised the president, “He was melding social issues and messages and trying to meld communities. I think it's striking that while he was eulogizing these five officers, he was able to discuss black lives matter.”
On NBC, Anchor Lester Holt said Obama walked along, “A difficult line between acknowledging the sacrifice of police officers and at the same time, acknowledging the black lives matter movement.” Holt noted that the president mentioned Philando Castile and Alton Sterling numerous times throughout his speech.
Anchor Scott Pelley on CBS claimed Obama walked through the “middle ground.” “The President addressed both sides of this divide, criticizing them equally for ignoring the truths that can be found in the middle, in the common ground,” Pelley said. But Obama did spend an arguably long segment of his speech politicizing the memorial by calling for gun-control. He even exclaimed that a Glock was easier to get than a book.
Transcripts below:
ABC
Special Report
July 12, 2016
3:25:56 PM EasternGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: President Obama wrapping up something he admitted he's done too many times before. Fighting through tears to remember lives lost, plead for unity, and hope. It was a meditation on hope. The president quoting the scriptures to try to call Americans to perseverance and character and hope saying we cannot despair, the center must hold. And the president speaking to all sides in this fight. I’m joined here by Sunny Hostin. The president eulogized, as we hear “The battle hymn of the republic.” The president eulogized those officers, but also remembered Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, the African men killed last week by police.
SUNNY HOSTIN: That’s right. I mean, he's such a gifted speaker. He has done this before. And this, I think, eulogy was very much about bridging the divide. He was melding social issues and messages and trying to meld communities. I think it's striking that while he was eulogizing these five officers, he was able to discuss black lives matter. He was also able to discuss protesters. He was able to discuss the talk that African-American families have with their children to discuss the difficult job that police officers have and how we need them in those communities. And so I think he struck the right tone and a message that I think this nation really needs now about bridging the gap.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And he had a question that was really a plea, “can we open our hearts to each other?” I also what to go to Senior Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas. And Pierre, this is something you live every day but the president really striking a chord with that line when he said, “we ask police to do too much, ask too little of ourselves.”
PIERRE THOMAS: Yes George, the president clearly in the role of preacher-in-chief today talking about what a raw moment this is for the country. Police officers under too much danger, facing difficult circumstances. People of color frustrated that they don't receive the same treatment, in some cases where routine can turn in to death. Trying to bridge this gap that is so clearly there in the country in a situation where there's chronic violence. Difficult moment, the president trying to thread the needle, George.
STEPHANOPOULOS: “Knowing that the words,” even as he said, “may dissipate over time we need actions, not words.” We’re going to return to our regular programming. Much more tonight on World News and I will see you tomorrow on GMA.
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NBC
News Special
July 12, 2016
3:29:13 PM Eastern [49 Seconds]
LESTER HOLT: A demonstration of their own moment of unity, the president, first lady, former President George W. Bush, Laura Bush, the Bidens, the Mayor Michael Rawlings, David Brown the Police Chief, all holding hands and singing "The battle hymn of the republic."
The president concluding his remarks. A call for unity and walking sometimes a difficult line between acknowledging the sacrifice of police officers and at the same time, acknowledging the black lives matter movement. And several times mentioning the names of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, black men who had been shot by police last week. We'll have a lot more on this dramatic day in Dallas, including the latest on the investigation, when we see you later for NBC Nightly News. For now, I'm Lester Holt in New York. Good day everyone.
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CBS
News Special Report
July 12, 2016
3:25:48 PM EasternSCOTT PELLEY: President Obama at the memorial service for the five slain Dallas police officers at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center there in Dallas. The President taking this opportunity to walk the middle ground, praising the five officers, but also honoring the two men who were slain by police recently, the police shootings that resulted in the Dallas protest to begin with. The President addressed both sides of this divide, criticizing them equally for ignoring the truths that can be found in the middle, in the common ground. “We must reject despair,” the President said, “we are not as divided as we seem.”
