Christmas came early for the liberal Big Three Networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) on Thursday when former President George W. Bush spoke out against the Donald Trump administration. In a disgusting display of sudden respect for a long time political foe, the network’s championed Bush’s hammering of the current president. And the icing on their anti-Trump cake was former President Obama doing the exact same thing too.
“Today, the 43rd President made no mention of the 45th, but his focus was clear,” touted White House Correspondent Margaret Brennan during CBS Evening News. “He suggested that an America first mindset is distorting our democracy.” She highlighted Bush’s call for “journalists to uphold their integrity for the sake of the republic.”
With an air of righteousness, Brennan reported how Obama “appearing at a Democratic rally in New Jersey, he urged young voters to fight back.” “President Bush said he believes the American spirit will ultimately prevail,” she added before quipping about how the former presidents went against political norms, but ‘oh, well.’ “It is a standard rule for presidents not to criticize their successors. But, perhaps, this is another example where the standard rules no longer apply.”
On ABC’s World News Tonight, Chief White House Correspondent Jon Karl began his report by fawning over Bush’s comments. “George W. Bush has avoided politics since leaving office, but today, the former President seemed to throw down the gauntlet, warning of the rise of, quote, “bullying and prejudice” in America,” he hyped.
“The former President never mentioned the current president, but much of the speech seemed directly aimed at the words and policies of Donald Trump,” Karl praised. “And while Trump has been criticized for being slow to condemn racists, Bush drew a bright line.” ABC too flaunted Obama’s criticism of Trump.
Whereas ABC and CBS started by touting Bush’s comment’s, NBC still couldn’t put him before Obama. “Barack Obama, back on the campaign trail for the first time since leaving office,” announced Anchor Lester Holt during the lead into the segment. “And George W. Bush who has largely stayed on the sidelines in a rare appearance delivering a powerful message.”
“Tonight a pair of past presidents raising concerns about the direction of the country they once led,” NBC White House correspondent Kristen Welker began her report. But she quickly turned to giving Bush most the credit for the criticism. “But the former Republican President spoke with a sharper edge today … Delivering clear condemnation of the current president without mentioning him by name.”
After the liberal media previously mocked the idea of a “compassionate conservative,” Welker held up the term to promote Bush’s words. “In 2000, Bush won the White House on a promise of compassionate conservatism. Tonight taking a not so subtle swipe at the current climate.”
The liberal media treated President Bush as an enemy for 16-years (his term and Obama’s) but now that they had a new enemy in Trump, they suddenly found something worth elevating him for.
Transcripts below:
CBS Evening News
October 19, 2017
6:39:28 PM EasternANTHONY MASON: Former President George W. Bush made a rare appearance today and was sharply critical of the political tone in the country. Here's Margaret Brennan.
[Cuts to video]
GEORGE W. BUSH: Bigotry seems emboldened. Our politics seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories, and outright fabrication.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Today, the 43rd President made no mention of the 45th, but his focus was clear.
BUSH: We've seen our discourse degraded by casual cruelty. At times it can seem like the forces pulling us apart are stronger than the forces binding us together.
BRENNAN: He suggested that an America first mindset is distorting our democracy.
BUSH: We've seen nationalism distorted into nativism, forgotten the dynamism that immigration has always brought to America.
BRENNAN: There was no specific reference to President Trump's mantra.
DONALD TRUMP: That was fake news.
BRENNAN: But President Bush pointedly called on journalists to uphold their integrity for the sake of the republic.
BUSH: Our democracy needs a media that is transparent, accurate, and fair.
BRENNAN: A similar call to arms was made by another senior Republican earlier this week, Senator John McCain.
JOHN MCCAIN: For the sake of some half-baked spurious nationalism, cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems.
BRENNAN: Today, former President Barack Obama also spoke out.
BARACK OBAMA: The world counts on America having its act together.
BRENNAN: Appearing at a democratic rally in New Jersey, he urged young voters to fight back.
OBAMA: We are rejecting a politics of division. We are rejecting a politics of fear. That we are embracing a politics that says everybody counts.
BRENNAN: President Bush said he believes the American spirit will ultimately prevail.
BUSH: The American spirit does not say, "We shall manage." Or "We shall make the best of it." It says, "We shall overcome," and that is exactly what we're going to do.
[Cuts back to live]
BRENNAN: It is a standard rule for presidents not to criticize their successors. But, perhaps, this is another example where the standard rules no longer apply.
...
ABC
World News Tonight
October 19, 2017
6:39:22 PM EasternDAVID MUIR: Meantime, after President Trump spoke about his predecessors earlier this week, two of them are making rare public appearances. George W. Bush here in New York City, who has kept a very low profile since leaving office, now breaking his silence on what he's seeing in America today. Here's ABC's Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl.
[Cuts to video]
JON KARL: George W. Bush has avoided politics since leaving office, but today, the former president seemed to throw down the gauntlet, warning of the rise of, quote, “bullying and prejudice” in America.
(…)
KARL: The former President never mentioned the current president, but much of the speech seemed directly aimed at the words and policies of Donald Trump.
(…)
KARL: And while Trump has been criticized for being slow to condemn racists, Bush drew a bright line.
(…)
KARL: Former President Obama was also making a rare public appearance today, campaigning for Democratic candidates in New Jersey and Virginia.
(…)
KARL: No mention of President Trump, but also no mistaking his target.
BARACK OBAMA: Some of the politics we see, now we thought we put that to bed. It's the 21st century. Not the 19th century. Come on.
(…)
...
NBC Nightly News
October 19, 2017
7:07:24 PMLESTER HOLT: As President Trump deals with that fallout, two of his predecessors were back in the spotlight today. Barack Obama, back on the campaign trail for the first time since leaving office. And George W. Bush who has largely stayed on the sidelines in a rare appearance delivering a powerful message. NBC News White House Correspondent Kristen Welker has the story.
[Cuts to Video]
KRISTEN WELKER: Tonight a pair of past presidents raising concerns about the direction of the country they once led.
(…)
WELKER: Former President Obama, campaigning for New Jersey's Democratic candidate for governor.
(…)
WELKER: But the former Republican President spoke with a sharper edge today.
(…)
WELKER: Delivering clear condemnation of the current president without mentioning him by name.
(…)
WELKER: In 2000, Bush won the White House on a promise of compassionate conservatism. Tonight taking a not so subtle swipe at the current climate.
(…)
WELKER: In a bruising primary, President Trump defeated former President Bush's brother, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.(…)
WELKER: Today, Mr. Bush calling for an end to angry words.
(…)
WELKER: Two former leaders making their voices heard once again. Kristen Welker, NBC News, the White House.
