CBS made their position on protests against President Donald Trump pretty clear during Wednesday’s Evening News. “President Trump has been an inspiration to many, including many of his opponents, motivating them to speak out,” mocked anchor Scott Pelley to start off the segment. Reporter Dean Reynolds touted the widespread efforts of ‘progressives’ to organize and rally against the Republican president. Something they actively shunned during the rise of the Tea Party eight long years ago.
“Every day after he packs his son and daughter off to school on Chicago's north side, 40-year-old Jeremy Reid settles onto his living room couch to get his marching orders,” Reynold’s reported, “[From] Progressive websites that seek to marshal his energy and meld it with millions of other opponents of the new president.”
The website Reynolds highlighted by name was “Indivisible Guide, a new website designed to fight the Trump administration by employing the same pressure tactics the Tea Party used against President Obama.” But the network’s praise of such organized activists was frowned upon when the Tea Party was pioneering the practice in 2009, with CBS’s Ben Tracy warning:
Yet, websites - such as Recess Rally, which is planning a nationwide health care bill protest - lists Freedom Works as part of its coalition. That's an organization led by former Republican Congressman Dick Armey … Also, a conservative group in Connecticut posted an online memo called, "Rocking the Town Halls." The playbook outlines tactics to give Congressmen, quote, "a reality check from we-the-people." The memo advises to "watch for an opportunity to yell out ... the goal is to rattle him."
Reynolds seemed to enjoy how Reid had not taken part in any liberal protests until the election of Trump. “From petition drives to mass rallies and more, these websites attack the system from the left, to keep people like Jeremy off the sidelines and in the streets,” he praised.
But in 2009, CBS’s Chip Reid parroted Democratic Party talking points that disparaged the Tea Party’s anger as ‘AstroTurf.’ “Democrats say activists are orchestrating the protests. The evidence - websites of conservative groups that list Democratic town halls and urge critics to go and be heard,” he spat while accusing conservative radio hosts of “whipping activists into a frenzy.” Something they glorify Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren for having a knack for.
Fast forward to 2017 and CBS is advertising protest times and causes. “The next big protests are being planned for April 15th, Scott, when demonstrators will be demanding that Mr. Trump release his tax returns,” Reynolds announced at the end of his report.
The network seemed to be pleased with the protests’ results so far, Reynolds noted that “the advice seems to be sinking in with mass protests and confrontational congressional get-togethers becoming more common.” Yet in 2009, the network’s Russ Mitchell cautioned the viewers that “Democratic lawmakers pushing [health care] reform are being jeered at testy town hall meetings. President Obama is urging Americans to ignore those who he says are trying to scare and mislead.”
The liberal media’s lusting for a progressive Tea Party movement proves their bias without a shadow of a doubt. The only protests they deemed “ugly,” “unruly,” and “nasty” were the ones whose politics they hated. But when it came to reporting the hate and bomb threats coming from the Woman’s March they ignored it and threw their weight behind it.
Transcript below:
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CBS Evening News
February 15, 2017
6:42:36 PM EasternSCOTT PELLEY: President Trump has been an inspiration to many, including many of his opponents, motivating them to speak out. Here's Dean Reynolds.
[Cuts to video]
JEREMY REID: Let's get to school.
DEAN REYNOLDS: Every day after he packs his son and daughter off to school on Chicago's north side, 40-year-old Jeremy Reid settles on to his living room couch to get his marching orders.
REID: Literally delivered right to me every day.
REYNOLDS: He's talking about the Progressive websites that seek to marshal his energy and meld it with millions of other opponents of the new president.
REID: I've signed up and really kind of latched on to a lot of different things.
REYNOLDS: Among them, Indivisible Guide, a new web site designed to fight the Trump administration by employing the same pressure tactics the Tea Party used against President Obama.
INDIVISIBLE GUIDE VIDEO: You will have three simple targets, your two U.S. Senators and your representative.
REYNOLDS: From petition drives to mass rallies and more, these web sites attack the system from the left, to keep people like Jeremy off the sidelines and in the streets. Up until the election, were you particularly politically active?
REID: Never. I never actually set foot in a protest or a rally up until this year.
REYNOLDS: The advice seems to be sinking in with mass protests and confrontational congressional get-togethers becoming more common.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: It's clear every day they don't respect the judiciary.
REYNOLDS: Near Minneapolis this week...
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I'm very concerned about social security.
REYNOLDS: Voters vented at the local office of their Republican representative Erik Paulsen.
JENNA MARTIN: We had 1,860 people sign a request.
REYNOLDS: Jenna Martin, a doctor with two children was there along with newlywed Clara Seversen, a warehouse worker. They both participated in women's marches last month.
CLARA SEVERSEN: Right now everybody is so ready to go, but they just need a little direction.
MARTIN: We're not an angry mob. We're really just engaged and concerned constituents.
[Cuts back to live]
REYNOLDS: The next big protests are being planned for April 15th, Scott, when demonstrators will be demanding that Mr. Trump release his tax returns. Information the White House says people don't care about anymore.
PELLEY: Dean Reynolds in Chicago. Dean, thanks.
