With 2022 being a midterm election year, and historical election precedent not on their side, CBS Evening News decided to run a segment warning about Republicans in Michigan enacting voter identification laws, as well as banning the Michigan Secretary of State from sending unsolicited vote-by-mail applications to registered voters.
The segment started off with CBS White House and political correspondent Ed O’Keefe interviewing Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson about how she believes the “war over the future of democracy” is still ongoing in the United States.
O’Keefe fearmongered that “at least 31 people who rallied in Washington on January 6th are now running for state or federal office.” No doubt that O’Keefe envisions these people storming the Capitol, when in fact they were probably all attended the peaceful rally and Trump speech before things got out of hand at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Later on, the newscast drifted to the topic of conservative activists pushing for election integrity legislation. O’Keefe whined that “Republicans in Michigan are using a quirk in the state constitution to change election laws without the Governor's signature.”
O’Keefe then interviewed Jamie Roe, a local Michigan activist who runs an organization called “Secure MI Vote”. The purpose of the group is to support the passage of voter identification laws and repeal laws that require election officials to send unsolicited mail-in ballot applications to voters.
Of course, when describing Roe’s cause, O’Keefe used a common tactic of covert liberal activist journalists to attack an idea they don’t like without having to do it themselves. They say “critics say”:
Jamie Roe runs the Michigan group, “Secure MI Vote” which critics say is working to make it harder to vote by proposing new voter I.D. Requirements and preventing officials from sending unsolicited absentee ballot applications.
In the end, O’Keefe made sure to give the liberal side the last word by fearmongering:
Republicans have been replacing some local GOP Election officials who certified the 2020 results, sparking fears among Democrats and non-partisan election experts about how ballot counts might go in close elections later this year and in 2024.
Sounds like CBS News won’t be stopping their “end of democracy” screeching any time soon. In fact, they’re just getting started.
This segment of CBS News fearmongering about election integrity legislation was brought to you by CarFax. CBS has also asked that you text Norah O’Donnell and let her know what you think about her biased coverage at (202) 217-1107.
To read the relevant transcript of this segment click “expand”:
CBS Evening News
1/6/2022
6:40:11 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: And with the first primaries in the midterms just a few months away, states are the next fierce battlegrounds for the future of elections. Well, tonight CBS’s Ed O’Keefe shows us the fiery debate already playing out in Michigan.
ACTIVISTS: Stop the count! Stop the count!
ED O’KEEFE: This was the chaotic scene in Detroit the day after the 2020 elections.
JOCELYN BENSON (MICHIGAN SECRETARY OF STATE): The 2020 election is indeed behind us but the war over the future of our democracy continues to escalate.
O’KEEFE: Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson worries it will happen again.
BENSON: We are facing an uphill battle given the real coordinated concerted strategy to lie to individuals to achieve political gain.
O’KEEFE: Well, what's the biggest lie they're being told?
BENSON: That the 2020 election was not accurate (chuckles) when indeed it was.
O’KEEFE: Two-thirds of Republicans believe the 2020 election was fraudulent and CBS News has found at least 31 people who rallied in Washington on January 6th are now running for state or federal office. Six of them are here in Michigan including Jon Rocha, who’s been endorsed by Donald Trump.
JON ROCHA (MICHIGAN HOUSE CANDIDATE): We're there on the grounds and we saw people, you know, climbing the scaffolding.
O’KEEFE: What compelled you to go to Washington in the first place?
ROCHA: I felt there were enough irregularities in the 2020 election that there needed to be a redress of grievances.
O’KEEFE: But no court in the country found evidence of widespread election fraud. Still, Republicans in Michigan are using a quirk in the state constitution to change election laws without the Governor's signature. Jamie Roe runs the Michigan group, “Secure MI Vote” which critics say is working to make it harder to vote by proposing new voter I.D. Requirements and preventing officials from sending unsolicited absentee ballot applications.
JAMIE ROE (GOP ACTIVIST): We need to do some stuff to tighten up the way absentee ballots are handled.
O’KEEFE: Secretary of State Benson called that misguided and unnecessary. Is there widespread fraud in Michigan's elections?
BENSON: No.
O’KEEFE: Also here in Michigan, Republicans have been replacing some local GOP Election officials who certified the 2020 results, sparking fears among Democrats and non-partisan election experts about how ballot counts might go in close elections later this year and in 2024. Norah?
O’DONNELL: Ed O'Keefe, thank you so much.
