President Trump’s calls for law and order, and for governors to crack down on the riots and looting in their cities, had spurred on more liberal media suggestions that he was heading a despotic regime; CNN’s Jim Acosta even thought himself brave enough to ask Trump if America was still a democracy. Further pushing that insinuation on Sunday, ABC chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz appeared on Good Morning America claimed Trump wanted to bring “combat troops” to bear against peaceful protesters.
But while ABC was mischaracterizing Trump’s use of active-duty military, they completely ignored the ambush of sheriff’s deputies in Santa Cruz, California, where one was murdered and two more injured.
Raddatz’s false depiction of what Trump wanted was invited by co-anchor Dan Harris, who gawked at claims Trump was losing the cooperation of the Pentagon:
As you know, the protests have created a lot of friction between the President and both current and former military officials. In fact, the Associated Press has a story this morning with the headline, “White House and Pentagon tensions near breaking point.” You've covered the military for decades. What's your take here?
Of course, it was just cheap talk to gin up anxiety against the President. The active-duty military that were being staged just outside D.C. would have been used to aid with protecting the White House so local law enforcement could focus on stopping rioters and looters in the rest of the city.
But that didn’t stop Raddatz from fawning for the recent political comments of former military leaders against their President. “Well, I think really this week was stunning. When you had Secretary Jim Mattis, General Jim Mattis come out with very harsh, very strong words directed right at the President. You had the former chairman of the joint chiefs, Mike Mullen. So, this seemed like a real inflection point as well,” she gushed.
“Those men were clearly angry about what the President had done, and threatening to put active-duty combat troops on the street face-to-face -- not just National Guard, but bring in active-duty military,” she declared.
But while Raddatz was clutching her pearls, NBC anchor Willie Geist was on Sunday Today reporting on how Santa Cruz sheriff’s deputies were ambushed when they responded to a call about a “suspicious van.”
“Some breaking news overnight near Santa Cruz, California, where a sheriff's deputy was killed and two other law enforcement officers were wounded in what investigators are calling an ambush,” he reported. Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller had arrived at the scene when “a man started shooting and throwing explosive devices at him and at other officers.”
Gutzwiller passed away at the hospital and the suspect will be charged with first-degree murder.
Geist added: “Sgt. Gutzwiller was 38 years old, married, a father to one, and with another child on the way. The Santa Cruz County sheriff said, ‘today we lost a hero.’”
ABC’s priorities were on full display in this instance.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s Good Morning America
June 7, 2020
8:13:12 a.m. EasternDAN HARRIS: As you know, the protests have created a lot of friction between the President and both current and former military officials. In fact, the Associated Press has a story this morning with the headline, “White House and Pentagon tensions near breaking point.” You've covered the military for decades. What's your take here?
MARTHA RADDATZ: Well, I think really this week was stunning. When you had Secretary Jim Mattis, General Jim Mattis come out with very harsh, very strong words directed right at the President. You had the former chairman of the joint chiefs, Mike Mullen. So, this seemed like a real inflection point as well.
Those men were clearly angry about what the President had done, and threatening to put active-duty combat troops on the street face-to-face -- not just National Guard, but bring in active-duty military.
I think you're, you know, you're looking at this photo opportunity right now where the Secretary of Defense there behind him -- I do not think meant to be in that photo opportunity. You've got General Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs behind him in what's called the battle dress uniform. He backed out of the photo-op, but I think both men regret being part of that walk. They want to keep politics away from the Pentagon, and that --that is very important to them.
HARRIS: Such a tense time in this country. Martha, thank you.
