With the recent firing of Curt Schilling from ESPN and the fight over North Carolina’s transgender bathroom ban still looming, many were shocked to hear Donald Trump’s liberal position on the issue that a person who considers themselves transgendered can use any bathroom they wish, not just the one corresponding with what is on their birth certificate.
And in an effort to continue their post-New York primary narrative, of Trump being more presidential, they rushed to label him a moderate. “Trump's comments appear to signal a more moderate shift and some are asking is it a sign of things to come,” speculated NBC’s Lester Holt while starting the segment.
“Donald Trump moving towards the middle sounding moderate on social issues criticizing North Carolina's transgender bathroom ban,” stated NBC’s Katy Tur as she began her report. Tur’s entire report was about how Trump was transitioning to a more moderate candidate. The report pointed to the position on abortion that Trump also took on Today, to allow exceptions for rape, incest and life of a mother. “Trump 2.0 in full effect,” Tur said of the Trump campaign’s new efforts to woo RNC members in Florida this week.
On World News Tonight, ABC reporter Cecilia Vega drew considerable attention to Trump’s opposition to the controversial North Carolina law. “The GOP front-runner saying that if a transgender person like Caitlyn Jenner came into Trump tower, she could use any bathroom she wants … Trump says the North Carolina law hurts businesses.”
By saying Trump is taking a moderate position on the transgender bathroom bans they are continuing to push the narrative that Trump is pivoting for the general election. The narrative serves to help Trump get the nomination by dressing his liberal positions as moderate ones. An MRC study from back in January documents a similar phenomenon in which the liberal media does not report the liberal positions Trump has taken in the past, which would be unfavorable with conservatives.
Transcripts below:
ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir
April 21, 2016
6:30:42 PM Eastern[Teaser]
TOM LLAMAS: Culture war. The battle over transgender rights rips into the GOP race for president. Trump and Cruz, on opposite sides.
6:38:48 PM Eastern [2 Minutes 36 Seconds]
[Full report]LLAMAS: We do turn now to the race for president and the new war of words exploding between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Trump speaking out today against North Carolina's controversial law targeting transgendered people. Cruz accusing him of bowing to political correctness.
The new battle erupting when former World Series hero Curt Schilling was fired for weighing in on the law online. ABC’s Cecilia Vega on the new battle, and this one has nothing to do with counting delegates.
[Cuts to video]
CECILIA VEGA: He is the all-star who famously pitched the Red Socks to victory, bloody sock and all. But tonight, Curt Schilling smack in the middle of the Republican campaign with this social media post. A graphic image showing a man dressed as a woman and the words, "Let him into the restroom with your daughter." The post in support of North Carolina's law banning transgender people from using bathrooms that do not correspond with the gender on their birth certificates. Schilling writing, "A man is a man no matter what they call themselves.
CURT SCHILLING: I stated a fact. Men's bathrooms were designed for people that stand up and women's weren't.
VEGA: But Schilling quickly fired from his ESPN analyst job. And today Texas Senator Ted Cruz coming to his defense.
TED CRUZ: The idea that grown men would be allowed alone in a bathroom with little girls, you don't need to be a behavioral psychologist to realize bad things can happen.
VEGA: But Donald Trump now making it clear he doesn't agree and is against North Carolina's bathroom ban.
DONALD TRUMP: You leave it the way it is. There have been very few complaints the way it is.
VEGA: The GOP front-runner saying that if a transgender person like Caitlyn Jenner came into Trump tower, she could use any bathroom she wants. Cruz pouncing.
CRUZ: He thought that men should be able to go into the girls' bathroom if they want to. Now let me ask you. Have we gone stark raving nuts?
[Cuts to live]
VEGA: And Ted Cruz said that Donald Trump was being quote, “no different than politically correct leftist elites.” But Trump says the North Carolina law hurts businesses. And by some estimates Tom, these boycotts could cost the state tens of millions of dollars.
LLAMAS: Cecilia Vega, from Philadelphia tonight. Cecilia thank you.
And one more headline tonight about North Carolina's controversial law. NBA commissioner Adam Silver today saying next year's all-star game may be moved out of Charlotte if the law isn’t changed. He did not specifically say when that decision would be made.
...
NBC
Nightly news with Lester Holt
4/21/16TEASER: HOLT: Strategy shift, what Donald Trump said on NBC news about transgender people that has many asking is this a new Trump?
7:07:42 PM Eastern [2 Minutes 11 Seconds]
LESTER HOLT: Let's turn now to the race for president and Donald Trump making major waves with something he said this morning on Today. It concerns North Carolina's controversial law that dictates which bathrooms transgender people may use. Trump's comments appear to signal a more moderate shift and some are asking is it a sign of things to come? Here’s NBC’s Katy Tur.
KATY TUR: Donald Trump moving towards the middle sounding moderate on social issues criticizing North Carolina's transgender bathroom ban.
TRUMP: People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate.
LAUER: So if Caitlyn Jenner were to walk into trump tower and want to use the bathroom, you would be fine with her using any bathroom she chooses?
TRUMP: That is correct.
CRUZ: Have we gone stark raving nuts?
TUR: Ted Cruz wasted no time attacking, painting the front runner as a liberal.
TRUMP: Donald Trump agreed with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in attacking the state of North Carolina for passing their bathroom ordinance.
TUR: But Trump went further. On abortion he told the Today show the Republican platform should expand to allow exceptions for rape, incest and life of a mother.
TRUMP: Yes I would. Absolutely. I would absolutely for the three exceptions.
TUR: Trump 2.0 in full effect. The campaign trying to mend fences with the establishment at the RNC's spring meeting in Florida.
MANAFORT: We're here really to let him know we'll run a traditional campaign with him.
TUR: A traditional trump was once unthinkable but new aide, Paul Manafort telling NBC’s Kasie Hunt, it's time to adjust.
MANAFORT: It's going to be a Trump brand of the party, we're Republicans running as a team.
TUR: Trump's new strategy, more substantive and less unnecessary exposure.
GUTHRIE: What's the one habit you wish he’d give up?
MELANIA TRUMP: Tweeting.
TUR: Trump is about to take the stage here in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania tonight and yet in another sign to the campaign is turning more traditional. They hired a speech writer and Donald Trump will practice on a teleprompter. The campaign telling Republican insiders tonight you can't change somebody's character but you can change the way somebody presents themselves. Lester?
