The liberals of ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS Mornings didn’t hide their enthusiasm on Thursday as they celebrated the reinstatement of Tennessee Democratic State Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson after their district leaders voted to send them back until a special election is held. Each network also pushed accusations of racism against Tennessee Republicans; ABC hyped calls for a DOJ civil rights investigation and CBS teed up Jones to play the race card.
“Now to the battle for Tennessee lawmakers who were ousted by state Republicans. Both lawmakers have finally been reinstated,” ABC co-anchor Robin Roberts boasted before handing it off to correspondent Alex Perez.
Perez touted that “Justin Pearson will be re-sworn in and once again, officially have his seat back. Now, Pearson was reinstated by unanimous vote Wednesday afternoon. Shelby County officials in Memphis using their power to return Pearson to his position.”
Despite leading what many have suggested was another insurrection, Perez seemed to hint that the Democratic representatives did the right thing for the right reason:
The Republican-led legislature ousted to two representatives after they violated decorum, protesting on the House floor using a bullhorn calling for gun reform. Now the protests on the heels of the fatal Nashville school shooting that killed six including three nine-year-olds.
Of course, he didn’t mention that the school shooter was a trans terrorist who specifically targeted Christians, but he did note that Pearson and Jones were “both energized and say they will continue to fight to have the voices of their constituents heard.”
Perez concluded by hyping Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and his call “for the DOJ to investigate whether Tennessee Republicans who ousted the representatives violated any laws or civil rights.”
Over on CBS, co-anchor Gayle King also cheered: “Two black lawmakers expelled from Tennessee state legislature after a protest following the Nashville mass shooting have now both been reinstated.”
The report, put together by correspondent Mark Strassmann, highlighted and promoted the ridiculous rhetoric from the Democrats. “They tried to kill democracy!” Pearson shouted in one soundbite.
Strassmann leaned heavily into the false racism accusations. “This comes almost two weeks after the mostly white Republican majority expelled Pearson, and Representative Justin Jones, for violating rules of decorum,” he said.
And in an interview with Jones, Strassmann teed him up to smear the Tennessee Republicans as a racist collective:
STRASSMANN: Is the issue being a member of the minority party or is the issue being a minority state rep.?
JONES: Racism is alive and well in the Tennessee Capitol, and the speaker of the house has been part of it. We have to address that culture and that toxic work environment.
“Jones and Pearson now say they will take action on the original issue at hand, deadly gun violence, like the Covenant School shooting in Nashville,” Strassmann added. And like Perez, he didn’t mention the affiliations of the shooter.
As he was wrapping up, Strassmann found humor in the “interesting, if awkward, moments” that were bound to happen in the chamber since, Jones and Pearson would be “back among all those Republican lawmakers who kicked them out a week ago.”
This celebration of the return of disruptive and disrespectful Democrats was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Verizon on ABC and Progressive on CBS. Their contact information is linked.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s Good Morning America
April 13, 2023
9:05:30 a.m.ROBIN ROBERTS: Now to the battle for Tennessee lawmakers who were ousted by state Republicans. Both lawmakers have finally been reinstated. Alex Perez is alive in Nashville with that story for us. Good Morning, Alex.
ALEX PEREZ: Hey. Good morning, Robin. Later this morning, Justin Pearson will be re-sworn in and once again, officially have his seat back. Now, Pearson was reinstated by unanimous vote Wednesday afternoon. Shelby County officials in Memphis using their power to return Pearson to his position. Now, fellow Democrat Justin Jones was reinstated by Nashville City Council on Monday.
The Republican-led legislature ousted to two representatives after they violated decorum, protesting on the House floor using a bullhorn calling for gun reform. Now the protests on the heels of the fatal Nashville school shooting that killed six including three nine-year-olds.
Pearson and Jones, both energized and say they will continue to fight to have the voices of their constituents heard. Now, because of their ousting, both will have to run for their seats in a special election at a later time.
And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for the DOJ to investigate whether Tennessee Republicans who ousted the representatives violated any laws or civil rights.
CBS Mornings
April 13, 2023
8:12:21 a.m. EasternGAYLE KING: Two black lawmakers expelled from Tennessee state legislature after a protest following the Nashville mass shooting have now both been reinstated. State representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones made national headlines for their stand, and Pearson will be sworn in later today. Mark Strassmann is in Memphis where Pearson was reappointed.
[Cuts to video]
JUSTIN PEARSON (D-TN, state rep.): Let's get back to work!
MARK STRASSMANN: Celebration in Memphis after seven Shelby County commissioners voted unanimously to send Justin Pearson become to the Tennessee House of Representatives.
PEARSON: They tried to kill democracy! They tried to expel the people's choice and the people's vote! And they awakened a sleeping giant!
STRASSMANN: This comes almost two weeks after the mostly white Republican majority expelled Pearson, and Representative Justin Jones, for violating rules of decorum.
PEARSON: Power to the people! [Transition] I'm really grateful to the Shelby County commission for listening to the power of the people and sending a strong message back, that anti-democratic behavior of the Tennessee state Republican Party is unacceptable. [Transition] Thank you so much.
STRASSMANN: In their struggle, Pearson and Jones have found a national platform.
JUSTIN JONES (D-TN, state Rep.): This is a learning opportunity for all Tennesseans and for the Republican leadership.
STRASSMANN: We spoke with Jones ahead of Wednesday's vote.
Is the issue being a member of the minority party or is the issue being a minority state rep.?
JONES: Racism is alive and well in the Tennessee Capitol, and the speaker of the house has been part of it. We have to address that culture and that toxic work environment.
PROTESTERS: If we don't get no justice! Then we won’t give no peace.
STRASSMANN: Jones and Pearson now say they will take action on the original issue at hand, deadly gun violence, like the Covenant School shooting in Nashville. They took their message to this historic civil rights site, the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. Was assassinated.
PEARSON: This is the democracy that's going to lift up the victims of gun violence, instead of supporting the NRA and gun lobbyists.
STRASSMANN: On Tuesday, Tennessee’s Republican governor, Bill Lee signed an executive order strengthening background checks for gun buyers. He's also pushing for a red flag law designed to take away guns from dangerous people.
BILL LEE (R-TN, governor): The truth is that we're facing evil itself. And we can't stop evil, but we can do something.
[Cuts back to live]
STRASSMANN: Today, there could be some interesting, if awkward, moments in the Tennessee legislature. Jones and Pearson back among all those Republican lawmakers who kicked them out a week ago.
