On Monday, ABC’s Good Morning America quickly exploited the horrific shooting at a Buffalo grocery store on Saturday to push President Biden’s anti-gun agenda and suggest “politicians and the members of the media,” like former President Donald Trump, were responsible for “an epidemic of violence and hate in this nation.”
Turning to chief justice correspondent Pierre Thomas during coverage of the shooting, co-host George Stephanopoulos argued the tragedy was “more evidence we’re facing just an epidemic of violence and hate in this nation.” Thomas agreed as he hyped gun violence statistics:
The numbers tell the story. From Friday through 9:30 last night, there were 312 gun violence incidents in the U.S. where 127 people were killed. At least 294 wounded. Seventy-two hours in America, stunning chronic epidemic gun violence...
Minutes later, fellow co-host Robin Roberts turned to senior White House correspondent Mary Bruce and touted: “President Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden are heading to Buffalo tomorrow....we know the White House wants to address what happened on two fronts, including gun control?”
“They do, Robin,” Bruce replied. She then suggested there was direct line between the hate-filled shooter and unnamed elected officials and media figures:
But there is no question there will be fresh scrutiny here in Washington this week, not only on the debate over gun reforms but also on the question of hateful rhetoric and on the politicians and the members of the media who have embraced racist fringe theories, like replacement theory, which was espoused by the alleged Buffalo shooter.
Bruce then decided to be more blatant in her politicization of the attack: “I think it’s important for us all to remember that President Biden said he was inspired to run for president because of how former President Trump responded to white supremacists marching through Charlottesville, Virginia.” She promoted how “Biden made this issue a real centerpiece of his campaign” but that “advocates say it’s simply not enough.”
“They want to see this administration and the president put more political muscle behind this issue and the issue of guns,” Bruce declared of left-wing activists. However, she lamented that Biden’s agenda was stalled: “But we have seen this many times, Robin, despite repeated efforts by some in Washington, there simply is no appetite from Republicans and some Democrats to enact meaningful gun reform.”
In the wake of such horrendous killings, the leftist media instinct is always to bemoan “gun violence” or political rhetoric but never to discuss the surge in crime across the nation and the public policies responsible for the rise.
ABC’s push to politicize the Buffalo shooting was brought to viewers by McDonald’s and Macy’s. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.
Here is a transcript of the May 16 coverage:
7:11 AM ET
(...)
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Let’s bring in our chief justice correspondent Pierre Thomas. Pierre, more evidence we’re facing just an epidemic of violence and hate in this nation.
PIERRE THOMAS: George, good morning. The numbers tell the story. From Friday through 9:30 last night, there were 312 gun violence incidents in the U.S. where 127 people were killed. At least 294 wounded. Seventy-two hours in America, stunning chronic epidemic gun violence, George.
(...)
7:17 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: President Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden are heading to Buffalo tomorrow. Let’s go to our senior White House correspondent Mary Bruce. And, Mary, we know the White House wants to address what happened on two fronts, including gun control?
MARY BRUCE: They do, Robin. And you are right, the President and the First Lady will be in Buffalo tomorrow to meet with victims’ families and to try to begin the process of healing for this community and for the country. And the President, as we have heard, has labeled this a racially motivated act of white supremacy.
But there is no question there will be fresh scrutiny here in Washington this week, not only on the debate over gun reforms but also on the question of hateful rhetoric and on the politicians and the members of the media who have embraced racist fringe theories, like replacement theory, which was espoused by the alleged Buffalo shooter.
I think it’s important for us all to remember that President Biden said he was inspired to run for president because of how former President Trump responded to white supremacists marching through Charlottesville, Virginia. Biden made this issue a real centerpiece of his campaign and he has taken steps so far. He has launched the first-ever national strategy to counter domestic terrorism but advocates say it’s simply not enough. They want to see this administration and the president put more political muscle behind this issue and the issue of guns.
But we have seen this many times, Robin, despite repeated efforts by some in Washington, there simply is no appetite from Republicans and some Democrats to enact meaningful gun reform, Robin?
ROBERTS: As you said, we have seen this many, many times. Mary, thank you.
