On Monday's Erin Burnett OutFront, CNN National Correspondent Jason Carroll delivered a heavily one-sided report highlighting charges by the Council on American-Islamic Relations that GOP presidential candidates -- specifically naming Ben Carson, Chris Christie and Donald Trump -- have been partly to blame for inspiring a recent spate of attacks against Muslims in the U.S.
The report oddly did not even mention the ISIS-inspired San Bernardino terrorist attack, even though such a high-profile act of violence by those claiming to act on behalf of a Muslim extremist group would be much more likely to inspire retaliatory attacks against innocent Muslims.
At one point, the report even seemed reminiscent of a political attack ad as a short clip of Chris Christie faded from color to black and white, and went to slow motion, as if trying to display a menacing image of the New Jersey governor.
Host Erin Burnett introduced the report:
Tonight, the FBI launching an investigation after at least three mosques were vandalized in California. The growing number of assaults targeting the Muslim community now the worst since 9/11. Some are blaming escalating anti-Muslim rhetoric, including that from Donald Trump. Jason Carroll is "Out Front."
Carroll began the piece by recalling several anti-Muslim acts ranging from vandalism to violence, including soundbites of assault victim Sarker Haque in Queens, New York. Carroll then used the attacks to take aim at Republicans, starting with Trump as the CNN correspondent continued:
Haque believes Donald Trump, who is from Queens, is partly responsible. Muslim leaders say Trump's recent plan to temporarily ban Muslims from the United States is part of a continued effort to demonize their faith.
Then came clips of Nihad Awad of CAIR invoking Nazi Germany and specifically naming Trump and Dr. Ben Carson:
NIHAD AWAD, COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS: This echoes the policies enacted by Nazi Germany against the Jews.
AWAD CLIP #2: Trump's and Carson's mainstreaming of Islamophobia in the election inciting real discrimination, real hate crimes.
The report then turned to implicating Governor Christie:
JASON CARROLL: Nihad Awad called out not only Trump and GOP candidate Ben Carson for his claim of Muslims should not be President, but also New Jersey Governor and GOP candidate Chris Christie.
NIHAD AWAD, CAIR: I think many Muslims in New Jersey feel a sense of betrayal for what Governor Christie has done.
A clip of Christie changed from color to black and white, and slowed down, as Carroll elaborated:
Why betrayal? Many New Jersey Muslims thought Christie was an ally, but now disappointment over this comment from Christie about Syrian refugees.
After an audio clip of Christie voicing opposition to bringing Syrian refugee children into the U.S., then came a soundbite of Jim Sues of the New Jersey chapter of CAIR bashing Republicans:
In the Republican primary campaign, Muslim bashing seems to be the red meat the candidates are throwing to some of their supporters.
After noting a survey showing most Republicans support Trump's proposal to temporarily ban Muslim immigration, followed by a soundbite of Trump claiming his Muslim friends have been supportive of the plan, Carroll concluded the report:
But for Sarker Haque, his problems are just beginning. He's on his way to speak to the district attorney, hoping his attacker gets the punishment he deserves.
As Carroll appeared live in studio, Burnett related that Muslims in the U.S. "have been trying to assimilate," leading him to conclude:
Yeah, and I will tell you something else. Despite what Trump says, they are not happy about what he is advocating here, and some of the Muslim-Americans that we spoke to, Erin, have been here for three generations. They so desperately want someone within the GOP field to really speak out on their behalf, and they're hoping that will happen tomorrow. But, given the way that things have been going so far, they really just don't have much hope at this point.
Below is a complete transcript of the report from the Monday, December 14, Erin Burnett OutFront on CNN:
7:50 p.m.
ERIN BURNETT: Tonight, the FBI launching an investigation after at least three mosques were vandalized in California. The growing number of assaults targeting the Muslim community now the worst since 9/11. Some are blaming escalating anti-Muslim rhetoric, including that from Donald Trump. Jason Carroll is "Out Front."
JASON CARROLL: American Muslims are becoming increasingly concerned about being targeted because of their faith. In the past few days, three mosques vandalized in California, one set on fire, a 23-year-old under arrest. In Philadelphia, a severed pig's head thrown at a mosque. Then, there was this attack on Sarker Haque.
SARKER HAQUE, ATTACK VICTIM: I am standing and he just in a second, I mean a minute or less, you know, he turn and he punch me here.
CARROLL: Haque owns a convenience store in Queens, New York. He says last Saturday a man attacked him because he is Muslim.
HAQUE: He say, "I kill Muslims."
CARROLL: Wait, I'm sorry. He said, "I kill Muslims"?
HAQUE: "I kill Muslims."
CARROLL: Is that how you got the black eye?
HAQUE: This is, he punch me.
CARROLL: Oh, so he punched you?HAQUE: Then, he punched me I don' t know how many times. I said, "Help, help, help," you know.
CARROLL: This man, who did not want to be identified for his safety, heard those cries for help.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: The guy was just angry. He wanted to keep hitting him and keep hitting him until the cops came.
CARROLL: Haque believes Donald Trump, who is from Queens, is partly responsible. Muslim leaders say Trump's recent plan to temporarily ban Muslims from the United States is part of a continued effort to demonize their faith.
NIHAD AWAD, COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS: This echoes the policies enacted by Nazi Germany against the Jews.
AWAD CLIP #2: Trump's and Carson's mainstreaming of Islamophobia in the election inciting real discrimination, real hate crimes.
CARROLL: Nihad Awad called out not only Trump and GOP candidate Ben Carson for his claim of Muslims should not be President, but also New Jersey Governor and GOP candidate Chris Christie.
AWAD: I think many Muslims in New Jersey feel a sense of betrayal for what Governor Christie has done.
CARROLL: Why betrayal? Many New Jersey Muslims thought Christie was an ally, but now disappointment over this comment from Christie about Syrian refugees.
CHRIS CHRISTIE AUDIO FROM THE HUGH HEWITT SHOW: I don't think orphans under five should be admitted into the United States at this point.
JIM SUES, CAIR NEW JERSEY DIRECTOR: In the Republican primary campaign, Muslim bashing seems to be the red meat the candidates are throwing to some of their supporters.
CARROLL: As for Trump, a new ABC/Washington Post poll finds nearly 60 percent of Republicans support his plan. The frontrunner himself says he has support among the Muslim community.
DONALD TRUMP: I have many friends that are Muslims, and I will tell you, they are so happy that I did this because they know they have a problem.
CARROLL: But for Sarker Haque, his problems are just beginning. He's on his way to speak to the district attorney, hoping his attacker gets the punishment he deserves.
BURNETT: And of course so many of the Muslim-American community have been trying to assimilate.
CARROLL: Yeah, and I will tell you something else. Despite what Trump says, they are not happy about what he is advocating here, and some of the Muslim-Americans that we spoke to, Erin, have been here for three generations. They so desperately want someone within the GOP field to really speak out on their behalf, and they're hoping that will happen tomorrow. But, given the way that things have been going so far, they really just don't have much hope at this point.
BURNETT: All right, Jason Carroll, thank you very much.
