ABC on Thursday exploited the mass shooting in California as a way to tout the gun control advocacy of celebrities and politicians. Good Morning America reporter Jon Karl highlighted Barack Obama’s “frustration” at the inability to pass new restrictions. Correspondent Michael Strahan read tweets from “actor and gun control activist” Amy Schumer, including this one: “It doesn't have to be this way. Join the movement and help us. #Endgunviolence."
In the 8am hour, co-host Robin Roberts talked to psychiatrist Dr. Janet Taylor. She lectured that America “has to understand that gun control is important.”
In an earlier segment, ABC’s Jon Karl highlighted Obama’s complaint: “The President has called the inability to stop gun violence in the United States the greatest frustration of his presidency.” Using nearly identical language on Wednesday, George Stephanopoulos during live coverage reminded Americans: “It has been one of the great frustrations of his presidency.”
On Thursday, without any sense of irony or judgment, Karl explained, “Even before knowing anything about the shooters or how they got their weapons, [Obama] said it is time for Congress to pass tougher gun laws.”
A transcript of one of the December 3 GMA segments, which aired at 7:49am ET, is below:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: It has become the new town square. So many taking to social media to express their sorrow about these mass shootings. Big debates about our gun laws as well. Michael is back and you’ve got that side of the story.
MICHAEL STRAHAN: Yeah. A lot of people have been expressing what they felt about this mass shooting, George. Gabrielle Giffords, a victim of a mass shooting in 2012 tweeted, "America is an extraordinary place. But these shootings make us stand out in the worst of ways." And actress and gun control activist Amy Schumer, she weighed in with these tweets: "This is absolutely heartbreaking. All my love to everyone in San Bernardino, especially the first responders. These shootings must stop. It doesn't have to be this way. Join the movement and help us. #Endgunviolence.” You know, we've seen these memes everywhere. The California bear hugging the state at a time that the state needs it the most. And you feel while this is going on it should be the bald eagle hugging them.
ROBIN ROBERTS: Oh, gosh.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You want to reach out to that community.
ROBERTS: I know some people were getting a little put off because you tweet and you say you're in my thoughts. You're in my prayers. And they’re like, what? Action. So many people are saying, we say those things but when is it going to change? When is it actually going to change?
