CBS News seemed as though they were still maintaining a death grip on the Russian collusion delusion after Wednesday’s impeachment of President Trump. As if he were weighing in on the impeachment of his mole, CBS Evening News was in a tizzy Thursday night as they warned viewers that Russian President Vladimir Putin was spouting “Republican talking points” in Trump’s defense.
“It wasn't just Americans who were tuned into President Trump's impeachment. So were the Russians. Today, Vladimir Putin mocked the Democratic Party and echoed a number of Republican talking points,” huffed anchor Norah O’Donnell.
The report was filed by correspondent Elizabeth Palmer, who had previously done reports suggesting Iran was a victim of a “bullying and belligerent United States.” So, her level of objectiveness was apparent.
After first touching on a shootout outside the Moscow headquarters for Russia’s spy agency, she noted, “It happened shortly after President Putin's annual marathon press conference where he veered off the domestic agenda and straight into U.S. politics.”
Acting as a translator for a soundbite of Putin, Palmer griped about the Russian leader using a Republican argument against impeachment:
"The Senate," he said "is unlikely to remove Donald Trump from office,” for what he called “absolutely farfetched reasons.” And then he tossed out a favorite Republican talking point: "The Democrats only decided to impeach President Trump," he said, "Because they'd lost the election."
“In the past, President Trump has been just as supportive of President Putin,” she added as if it were evidence. She then played a soundbite of Trump from a joint press conference with Putin declaring: “Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing.”
Meanwhile, on NBC Nightly News, following a report about the Moscow shootout, chief global correspondent Bill Neely briefly touched on Putin’s comments. “Putin also weighing in on impeachment saying, he expects President Trump to stay in office and accusing Democrats of making up reasons to get rid of him,” he reported plainly.
ABC’s World News Tonight only reported on the shootout.
Putin likely echoed something he heard on TV because he knew he could get this type of reaction from an American press hostile to their own President. By seemingly trying to suggest Republicans and Russia were singing from the same sheet music, the CBS newscast helped to further divide America, doing Putin’s work for him.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
December 19, 2019
6:43:48 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: It wasn't just Americans who were tuned into President Trump's impeachment. So were the Russians. Today, Vladimir Putin mocked the Democratic Party and echoed a number of Republican talking points. Add to that, a dramatic shootout right outside of Russia's spy agency. Elizabeth Palmer reports tonight from Moscow.
[Cuts to video]
ELIZABETH PALMER: Drivers were trapped in their cars and pedestrians ran for cover as a gunman opened up right in the heart of Moscow, outside Russia's security headquarters, and a stone's throw from the Kremlin. Reports say at least one officer was killed, and so was the gunman.
It happened shortly after President Putin's annual marathon press conference where he veered off the domestic agenda and straight into U.S. politics.
"The Senate," he said "is unlikely to remove Donald Trump from office,” for what he called “absolutely farfetched reasons.” And then he tossed out a favorite Republican talking point: "The Democrats only decided to impeach President Trump," he said, "Because they'd lost the election."
In the past, President Trump has been just as supportive of President Putin.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing.
PALMER: But this personal warmth masks a deep political chill. U.S. sanctions are hurting Russia, and the Kremlin wants them lifted. To try to start a dialogue, President Putin today offered to extend the START nuclear missile treaty which expires soon.
[Cuts back to live]
But so far, Norah, the U.S. administration is signaling that it's not ready to deal.
O’DONNELL: All right, Elizabeth, thank you.
