During Sunday’s Good Morning America, ABC News’ cast of characters exposed just how politically petty they were when they actually complained about President Trump getting positive coverage when he brings American hostages home. Between Tara Palmeri’s sympathies for Venezuela in her report and Martha Raddatz’s huffing about Trump getting a “boost,” their reporting was downright obnoxious.
The American who was released Saturday was Joshua Holt, a man imprisoned on trumped-up charges of espionage and terrorism for two years and subjected to inhumane conditions. “The 26-year-old Mormon imprisoned shortly after marrying a Venezuelan woman he met online,” Palmeri reported. But her tone turned skeptical when talking about America’s reaction to the charges, saying, “The U.S. government, however, contending these charges were inflated.”
Using “inflated” instead of saying, “fabricated” or “trumped-up” gives a sense there was a grain of truth to the socialist regime’s assertions.
When co-anchor Dan Harris brought on Foreign Affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz to discuss the political news, he prompted her to knock how Trump was getting positive coverage for once. “This is the second time in a few weeks we’ve seen Donald Trump next to Americans who have just been released from captivity overseas. Before this, it was the Americans who were freed from North Korea. How much of a boost do these stories give to the president,” he asked.
“Donald Trump, trumpets all of these releases. It’s very unusual, of course, for someone to be released and go straight to the White House for a photo opportunity,” Raddatz opined. But that’s not entirely accurate. President Obama had his own press conference to “trumpet” the release of Bowe Bergdahl, the infamous Afghanistan deserter, which ultimately blew up in his face. Obama actually traded five Taliban commanders for Bergdahl while Trump gave nothing in return for Holt.
“So I would say it is pretty obvious it does give him a boost,” Raddatz continued to whine. “I'm not sure many Americans knew about Joshua Holt and he was held in Venezuela…” It’s interesting and tragic that she would surmise how many Americans knew about Holt because according to a Nexis search of ABC broadcasts from 2016, they never mentioned his capture.
Palmeri also seemed to suggest America was the one at fault of the U.S.’s combative relationship with Venezuela:
The U.S. relationship with Venezuela has been poor, the White House referred to Maduro’s last re-election as a sham. The people of Venezuela are living without food and medicine. But the U.S. just imposed more sanctions this past week and the White House says they will stay in place.
There was no mention of how most of the world considered Maduro’s election as illegitimate as well or how the government there was the cause of its people’s problems.
Raddatz may say they're "all always happy when Americans prisoners are released," but they have a bizarre way of showing it. It’s truly disgusting that ABC would use even a second of airtime to cry about Trump getting positive coverage from the media when they should be focused on Holt and his family. It just goes to show just how petty the liberal media can be.
The relevant portions of the transcript are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC
Good Morning America
May 27, 2018
8:08:24 AM EasternPAULA FARIS: In those comments from President Trump overnight about the negotiations for the North Korean summit you may have noticed he was sitting next to someone. That man right there, his name is Josh Holt. And he was at the White House late on a Saturday night under some dramatic circumstances.
(…)
TARA PALMERI: The 26-year-old Mormon imprisoned shortly after marrying a Venezuelan woman he met online. Venezuelan police arresting him on charges of terrorism. U.S. linked espionage, and illegal possession of weapons including a rifle and grenades. The U.S. government, however, contending these charges were inflated. Holt saying he endured inhumane conditions without trial.
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
PALMERI: The U.S. relationship with Venezuela has been poor, the White House referred to Maduro’s last re-election as a sham. The people of Venezuela are living without food and medicine. But the U.S. just imposed more sanctions this past week and the White House says they will stay in place. Dan, Paula?
DAN HARRIS: It was amazing they were able to get him out in this context. Tara, thank you so much.
So many political issues to talk about on this Sunday morning. So, let's bring in ABC's Martha Raddatz in Washington, where she is going to be hosting This Week later this morning. Martha good morning to you. This is the second time in a few weeks we’ve seen Donald Trump next to Americans who have just been released from captivity overseas. Before this, it was the Americans who were freed from North Korea. How much of a boost do these stories give to the president?
MARTHA RADDATZ: I think you just saw there in Tara's report, extraordinary, they're very thankful to the President, they say it again and again. Donald Trump, trumpets all of these releases. It’s very unusual, of course, for someone to be released and go straight to the White House for a photo opportunity.
So I would say it is pretty obvious it does give him a boost. I'm not sure many Americans knew about Joshua Holt and he was held in Venezuela but we're all always happy when American prisoners are released, all of us are.
