Using the same language they would use for an impending natural disaster, ABC, CBS, and NBC all feared for the safely of Kenosha, Wisconsin because President Trump was set to survey the damage left by leftist extremists. Failing to mention that the governor and mayor are both staunch Democrats, the networks also boosted their opposition to Trump’s arrival and not their lack of leadership that led to widespread destruction.
The CBS Evening News was hands down the worst. After praising her presidential nominee (Joe Biden) for calling Trump a “toxin,” anchor Norah O’Donnell whined: “Trump is headed to Kenosha tomorrow despite protests from officials there who think his presence will only enflame matters.”
Three minutes later, White House correspondent Paula Reid refused to note how Democrats were against Trump’s visit. “Wisconsin's governor and Kenosha's mayor have both warned the President's visit tomorrow would hinder the healing process,” she huffed. Again, both Governor Tony Evers and Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian are Democrats, with the former failing to call in the National Guard until it was too late.
When it was correspondent Mola Lenghi’s turn to gripe about the visit, he busted out the language used to describe impending hurricanes. “As protests in Kenosha enter their second week, the city braces for a controversial presidential visit,” he suggested. And he was appalled that would “meet with local law enforcement and business owners and tour damage from the protests.”
Wait a second. The “protests” left damage? But the media told us they were “mostly peaceful” and the rioters shouldn’t be lumped in with the protesters… Good thing that was the only time he slipped up and made that admission.
“Pastor David Montgomery's church barely survived as fires from protests tore through this mostly minority neighborhood last week.”
Oops.
The pastor Lenghi spoke to wasn’t keen on Trump’s visit, but he did speak with a victim of the protest who was. “Yeah, I think it will be helpful that President Trump comes her, he can see the destruction that is caused by the violence,” said Scott Carpenter, who watched his 32-year-old family business get turned to ashes for “justice”… or something.
ABC’s World News Tonight also leaned on the hurricane descriptors. Correspondent Alex Perez also failed to identify the mayor as a Democrat, even on-screen:
PEREZ: And in Kenosha, officials tonight bracing for the President's planned visit tomorrow amid protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, and days later, the fatal shooting of two demonstrators, allegedly by 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse.
JOHN ANTARAMIAN (mayor of Kenosha): The timing on this we felt was not good, and so we did make the request for him to do it at a different time.
Meanwhile, on NBC Nightly News, White House correspondent Peter Alexander warned of “mounting tensions” across the country “as President Trump prepares to visit Wisconsin following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.”
Though he had soundbites from residents who were on opposite sides, Alexander came down on the side the opposition party with failing to note Mayor Antaramian’s party affiliation:
ALEXANDER: In a letter to the president, Wisconsin's governor writes in part, “I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing.”
ANTARAMIAN: I think that Kenosha, at the present time, needs peace.
At the same time, none of them called out Biden for what many were calling a threat; suggesting that voting for him would end the violence, while a reelection of Trump would see it continue.
This ridiculous hyperbole from the networks was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from IMB on ABC, Allstate on CBS, and ADT Security Services on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about what they’re funding. CBS Evening News has also asked that people “text Norah” at this number: (202) 217-1107.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
August 31, 2020
6:33:15 p.m. Eastern(…)
ALEX PEREZ: President Trump headed to visit with law enforcement in Kenosha tomorrow, a visit the governor and mayor have asked him to reconsider amid concerns the city will see more protests and violence like that seen in Portland overnight.
(…)
6:34:58 p.m. Eastern
PEREZ: And in Kenosha, officials tonight bracing for the President's planned visit tomorrow amid protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, and days later, the fatal shooting of two demonstrators, allegedly by 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse.
JOHN ANTARAMIAN (mayor of Kenosha): The timing on this we felt was not good, and so we did make the request for him to do it at a different time.
(…)
CBS Evening News
August 31, 2020
6:32:11 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: Good evening and thank you for joining us. We're going to begin tonight with the battle for America's vote. We are just nine weeks away from Election Day. And Joe Biden today making his most forceful attack yet on the President. Both campaigns digging into the central question, who will keep America safe?
Biden on his first campaign trip since accepting the Democratic nomination calling President Trump a, quote, “toxin” who is fanning the flames of violence. Telling voters he would keep America safe from Donald Trump. President Trump firing back calling Biden weak, accusing him of blaming the police and giving, quote, “moral aide” to vandals.
And that violence referring to the unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the shooting of Jacob Blake. Trump is headed to Kenosha tomorrow despite protests from officials there who think his presence will only enflame matters.
(…)
6:35:15 p.m. Eastern
PAULA REID: Wisconsin's governor and Kenosha's mayor have both warned the President's visit tomorrow would hinder the healing process.
JOE BIDEN: Donald Trump has been a toxic presence in our nation for four years. Poisoning how we talk to one another. Poisoning how we treat one another.
(…)
6:36:40 p.m. Eastern
O’DONNELL: Let's go now, to Kenosha, Wisconsin, because the county sheriff says more than 200 arrests have been made during protests that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake. 1,500 National Guard members have been deployed to keep the peace as the city now braces for this presidential visit. Here's CBS's Mola Lenghi.
[Cuts to video]
MOLA LENGHI: As protests in Kenosha enter their second week, the city braces for a controversial presidential visit. The White House say there are currently in plans to meet with Jacob Blake's family. Instead, the President will meet with local law enforcement and business owners and tour damage from the protests.
(…)
LENGHI: Pastor David Montgomery's church barely survived as fires from protests tore through this mostly minority neighborhood last week.
Before Jacob Blake was shot what were the racial dynamics in this town? I mean was it a tinder box ready to burst?
DAVID MONTGOMERY: I didn't think it was a tinder box but the truth were evident. When you look at a community where you have African-American and Hispanic and there is a lack of financial resources in there, education, godlessness. And then something like this happens, it is kind of like opening a box. You know what is in the box.
LENGHI: Montgomery says he hopes President Trump's planned visit is more than just a photo-op.
MONTGOMERY: What fruit is going to manifest from you coming? What is your plan?
LENGHI: Scott Carpenter's family furniture store, 32 years, is in ruin. He wants the President to see it for himself.
Do you think it will be helpful?
SCOTT CARPENTER: Yeah, I think it will be helpful that President Trump comes her, he can see the destruction that is caused by the violence.
(…)
NBC Nightly News
August 31, 2020
7:02:16 p.m. Eastern(…)
PETER ALEXANDER: From Kenosha to Portland, tonight's mounting tensions as President Trump prepares to visit Wisconsin following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: We need him here. We need strong leadership.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: A president visiting down obviously takes a lot of resources that could be put someplace else.
ALEXANDER: In a letter to the president, Wisconsin's governor writes in part, “I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing.”
JOHN ANTARAMIAN (mayor of Kenosha): I think that Kenosha, at the present time, needs peace.
(…)
