On Tuesday's CNN Tonight, Mark Preston touted President Obama's supposed ability to bring people together in the wake of the mass murder of the police officers in Dallas: "He is uniquely qualified right now...to create a legacy for himself...He is uniquely positioned, given the fact of where he came from...the history that he made; and his ability to bring people together." Preston also predicted, "This could be quite a moment for Barack Obama; and, honestly, probably a moment that this nation needs." [video below]
Don Lemon turned to the CNN Politics executive editor and correspondent Dana Bash for their take on the President's speech at the memorial service for the deceased Texas law enforcement officers. Midway through the segment, Lemon played up how the ongoing chief executive was "remarkably candid about how complex and difficult the issue of race is." He continued by playing a clip of Mr. Obama asserting that even after the civil rights achievements of recent decades, "we know that bias remains."
The anchor replied to the soundbite by underlining that the President "had to walk a tight rope there," and asked Bash, "How tricky is it, in this very highly-charged environment — political environment, this climate, to — to both honor the lives of the police who were murdered; while supporting the efforts of those who want reform?"
The CNN journalist answered by trumpeting the President's background and apparent abilities:
DANA BASH: Incredibly, incredibly complex — and look...no matter what you think of Barack Obama politically, I think it's hard to listen to and watch that speech and not understand how he is able to tackle these complex issues and use the words that he used...in his autobiography...all those years ago that put him on the national stage.
...[T]he other thing that I thought was so fascinating about his speech is him admitting — this man who, again, became who he is because of his ability to speak; because of his eloquence; admitting that his words have not been enough. To me, that was such a moment for any president — particularly, this president — given who he is.
And just one last thing, Don: the fact that he was talking about how we've come so far, and not saying what is the most obvious thing about that statement — which is that he's a black president.
Lemon then turned to Preston and wondered, "Will his message at home, or will the messenger get in the way of this — in that people will hear what they want to hear in this President's words?" The editor replied with his "uniquely qualified" line and his "quite a moment" prediction about President Obama.
The transcript of the relevant portion of the panel discussion from CNN Tonight on July 12, 2016:
DON LEMON: He had to tackle the — the issue of — of race, Dana Bash. He was remarkably candid about how complex and difficult the issue of race is. Let's listen to another clip; and then, we'll discuss.
[CNN Graphic: "Dallas Memorial Service: President Pays Tribute To Fallen Officers; ObamaL 'We Know That Bias Remains'"]
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA (from memorial service in Dallas, Texas): We know that the overwhelming majority of police officers do an incredibly hard and dangerous job fairly and professionally. They are deserving of our respect, and not our scorn. (audience applauds) And when anyone — no matter how good their intentions may be — paints all police as biased or bigoted, we undermine those officers we depend on for our safety.
We also know that centuries of racial discrimination — of slavery and subjugation and Jim Crow — they didn't simply vanish with the end of lawful segregation. They didn't just stop when Dr. [Martin Luther] King made a speech, or the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act were signed. Race relations have improved dramatically in my lifetime. Those who deny it are dishonoring the struggles that helped us achieve that progress. But we know — (audience applauds) But, America, we know that bias remains. We know it.
LEMON: Dana — yeah, I mean, he had to walk a tight rope there. How tricky is it, in this very highly-charged environment — political environment, this climate, to — to both honor the lives of the police who were murdered; while supporting the efforts of those who want reform — you know, in bias in policing; and then, racism elsewhere?
DANA BASH: Incredibly, incredibly complex — and look, you know, no matter what you think of Barack Obama politically, I think it's hard to listen to and watch that speech and not understand how he is able to tackle these complex issues and use the words that he used in his — in his book; in his autobiography — you know, all those years ago that put him on the national stage.
The one thing that I — speaking of words, the other thing that I thought was so fascinating about his speech is him admitting — this man who, again, became who he is because of his ability to speak; because of his eloquence; admitting that his words have not been enough. To me, that was — that was such a moment for any president — particularly, this president — given who he is.
And just one last thing, Don: the fact that he was talking about how we've come so far, and not saying what is the most obvious thing about that statement — which is that he's a black president given that — given those comments.
LEMON: Yeah. He said that I've seen the example — part of the examples in my own life — but he didn't specifically say that—
BASH: Yeah — exactly—
LEMON: Mark, will his message at home, or will the messenger get in the way of this — in that people will hear what they want to hear in this President's words?
[CNN Graphic: "Obama: 'We Are Not As Divided As We Seem'"]
MARK PRESTON: You know, I certainly think, in the wake of tragedy, we all come together for a moment; and then, that moment passes, and we forget about it until the next tragedy. You know, what's interesting is that we're heading into these two politically-charged weeks coming up ahead — where we're going to see Democrats attacking Republicans; Republicans attacking Democrats — at a time when the country does need to come together.
Now, there is this big racial divide in the country. There's no doubt about it. But I would even say it's worst than that, Don, There is an economic divide in this country right now that goes beyond the color of a person's skin, where you have white — poor whites that are feeling disadvantaged and angry and frustrated as well.
And I would say this for — for Barack Obama: he is uniquely qualified right now, in the six and a half months that he has left in office, to create a legacy for himself — as well as when he leaves office — to try to bring the country together. He is uniquely positioned, given the fact of where he came from; what — the history that he made; and his ability to bring people together. This could be quite a moment for Barack Obama; and, honestly, probably a moment that this nation needs.
