On Friday, NBC’s Today show wanted to make sure that viewers knew what the Democratic Party’s messaging on gun control was in the wake of Wednesday’s tragic Florida school shooting, so anchors and correspondents decided to just read directly from the DNC’s script. President Trump’s response to the massacre was dismissed as “missing the mark,” while liberal lawmakers were hailed for their political exploitation of the horrific event: “Democrats insist it’s time to take action.”
“The gun battle. The tragedy in Florida reigniting that debate across the nation. President Trump taking heat for failing even to mention the issue in his address to the nation,” co-host Savannah Guthrie proclaimed at the top of the broadcast. “How will Washington respond?,” she asked. Minutes later, the anchor reiterated: “The shooting, and what the President did and did not say during his address to the nation, has revived the debate over guns in this country.”
In the report that followed, National Correspondent Peter Alexander critiqued the President’s Thursday address to the nation regarding the shooting: “President Trump notably has not endorsed any new policy ideas, even after three of the deadliest shootings in modern American history all occurring in the last five months of his presidency.”
That criticism echoed similar analysis from Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd immediately following the speech: “That was President Trump, as you heard there, deciding not to address any policy ideas at all in his remarks, leaving it mostly trying to strike an empathetic tone.”
After playing a few brief lines of Trump’s remarks, Alexander immediately used Democratic talking points to reject them: “But some critics say missing the mark. The President, in a seven-minute speech, never mentioning the word ‘gun’ or semiautomatic rifles, like the AR-15 allegedly used to kill 17 at that school in south Florida.”
The reporter went on to repeat the false media narrative that the President rescinding an Obama-era executive order made it easier for those with mental health issues to buy guns: “After last year revoking Obama-era regulations to make it harder for some with mental illness to buy guns and failing to follow up on any changes to federal gun laws in the five months since the Las Vegas massacre.”
All three network evening newscasts seized on that misleading argument Thursday night.
“Now, Democrats insist it’s time to take action,” Alexander eagerly announced. A clip ran of Democratic California Congressman Mike Thompson taking to the House floor on Thursday to lecture his GOP colleagues: “Mr. Speaker, can you tell us when the House may muster the courage to take up the issue of gun violence?”
Touting how the left was “adding renewed pressure” for increased gun regulations, another soundbite was featured of anti-gun Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy ranting: “If you are not working today to try to fix this, to try to stop these shootings, then you’re an accomplice.”
Apparently NBC thought it was perfectly reasonable for the Democrat to accuse his political opponents of being complicit in the mass murder of school children. If you don’t agree with Democrats on an issue, the media will help demonize you.
Here is a full transcript of the February 16 report:
7:00 AM ET TEASE
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: The gun battle. The tragedy in Florida reigniting that debate across the nation. President Trump taking heat for failing even to mention the issue in his address to the nation, while the anguished mother of one victim begs the President to do something.
LORI ALHADEFF [MOTHER OF SHOOTING VICTIM]: President trump, you say, what can you do? You can stop the guns from getting into these children’s hands!
GUTHRIE: How will Washington respond?
7:09 AM ET SEGMENT
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: In the meantime, the President says he is planning to travel to Parkland to meet with families and first responders. The shooting, and what the President did and did not say during his address to the nation, has revived the debate over guns in this country. NBC National Correspondent Peter Alexander’s at the White House for us with that part of the story. Hi, Peter. Good morning.
PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Savannah, good morning you. This shooting, as you know, happened not far away from the President’s Mar-a-Lago estate, where he was already headed for the weekend. He’ll leave later today. President Trump notably has not endorsed any new policy ideas, even after three of the deadliest shootings in modern American history all occurring in the last five months of his presidency.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Pres. Trump to Visit Florida School; Comes Amid Renewed Attention on Gun Control]
DONALD TRUMP: We are here for you.
ALEXANDER: Cast again as comforter-in-chief.
TRUMP: Your suffering is our burden also.
ALEXANDER: President Trump at times, Thursday, targeting his message.
TRUMP: I want to speak now directly to America’s children.
ALEXANDER: But some critics say missing the mark. The President, in a seven-minute speech, never mentioning the word “gun” or semiautomatic rifles, like the AR-15 allegedly used to kill 17 at that school in south Florida. Instead, calling the lone suspect “mentally disturbed,” calling out “neighbors and classmates” for not reporting his erratic behavior.
TRUMP: We are committed to working with state and local leaders to help secure our schools and tackle the difficult issue of mental health.
ALEXANDER: After last year revoking Obama-era regulations to make it harder for some with mental illness to buy guns and failing to follow up on any changes to federal gun laws in the five months since the Las Vegas massacre. Now, Democrats insist it’s time to take action.
REP. MIKE THOMPSON [D-CA]: Mr. Speaker, can you tell us when the House may muster the courage to take up the issue of gun violence? [Cheers and applause]
UNIDENTIFIED MAN [REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF CONGRESS]: The gentleman is not stating a proper parliamentary inquiry.
ALEXANDER: Adding renewed pressure.
SEN. CHRIS MURPHY [D-CT]: If you are not working today to try to fix this, to try to stop these shootings, then you’re an accomplice.
ALEXANDER: While some Republican leaders insist it's too soon.
REP. PAUL RYAN [R-WI, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE]: This is not the time to jump to some conclusion, not knowing the full facts.
ALEXANDER: One senator from Florida affected by this latest tragedy isn’t ready to rule new restrictions out.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO [R-FL]: None of the laws that have been presented here in the past would have prevented any of these attacks, including the one yesterday, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to do.
(...)
