The Washington, D.C. area and political junkies around the country were left in a state of shock Wednesday, in the wake of the horrific attack on Congressional Republicans at a baseball field. As would be expected, the shooting dominated the evening broadcasts of the Big Three Networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC). But in a pleasant twist, all three avoided pushing the liberal talking points for gun-control, while at the same time, welcoming President Trump’s unifying address.
In fact, the only time gun control was brought up was on NBC Nightly News when White House Correspondent Kristen Welker reminded viewers of when former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot 2011. “The last time a member of Congress was shot, six years ago, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords targeted while meeting constituents in her Arizona district,” Welker reported. “Giffords has become a proponent of tougher gun laws.”
Welker even read part of a statement from Giffords and it didn’t mention gun-control. “Today saying: ‘It don’t matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican… This shooting is an attack on all who serve…’” Welker repeated.
And surprisingly, Welker appeared to throw Virginia’s Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe under the bus for daring to bring up gun-control during a press conference earlier in the day. “And today, others renewing that call,” she said before playing a clip of McAuliffe. “It's another flash point in American politics with clear dividing lines, but today those fractures: forgotten,” she then quipped.
In the clip, McAuliffe stated that “this is not what today is about, but there are too many guns on the street.” The clip omitted the part where he made the outrageous and ridiculous claim that 93 million Americans were killed by guns per day. The population of the United States is over 320 million people. That means, according to McAuliffe’s stat, almost 30 percent of the U.S. population dies every day because of guns.
That’s a pretty good reason for the networks to avoid the subject. But we’ll see how long the peace lasts.
Transcript below:
NBC Nightly News
June 14, 2017
7:12:47 PM Eastern(…)
RODNEY DAVIS: This rhetoric we see in today’s society over policy differences has got to stop.
KRISTEN WELKER: Now a mass shooting once again hitting close to home for America's lawmakers. The last time a member of Congress was shot, six years ago, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords targeted while meeting constituents in her Arizona district. Today saying: “It don’t matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican… This shooting is an attack on all who serve…” Giffords has become a proponent of tougher gun laws. And today, others renewing that call.
TERRY MCAULIFFE: This is not what today is about but there are too many guns on the street.
WELKER: It's another flash point in American politics with clear dividing lines, but today those fractures forgotten.
[Cuts back to live]
While it's expected many will attend tomorrow's Congressional Baseball Game out of support, an administration official says the President won't attend. The White House hasn't given a reason but likely playing a role, it is very difficult to get the proper presidential security in place in such a short time. Lester?
