Media Research Center President Brent Bozell appeared on Varney and Co., Friday, to hammer the media’s response to the death of terrorist leader Qasem Soleimani. Regarding press outlets that have called him “iconic” and “revered,” an exasperated Bozell concluded, “The media refuse to award the United States the moral high ground in this existential fight between good and evil, this existential fight between those who believe in freedom and those who believe in terrorism.”
Regarding the drone strike that killed Soleimani, Bozell critiqued the media: “You just saw [Trump] take out one of the most vicious, horrific men on the planet Earth whose got the blood of hundreds of Americans on his hands and they still can't unequivocally give this president, this commander-in-chief, the credit for putting an end to this man.”
Regarding the Post calling Soleimani “revered,” Bozell reminded:
This is not the first time that The Washington Post has done this. Remember, when al Baghdadi was taken out, they called him an “austere religious scholar.” And then they also called him “a conservative academic,” and this guy was the founder of ISIS responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of people.
A transcript of the Bozell segment is below. Click "expand" to read more.
Varney and Co.
1/3/20
10:30STUART VARNEY: let's turn to the media. Mainstream media reporting on the air strikes that killed that Iranian general they call the shadow commander. Brent Bozell, Media Research Center president is with us now. Okay, you cover this stuff. This is what you do. Tell us, what's the media saying about Soleimani's death?
BRENT BOZELL: Yeah I think it's interesting because this is a snapshot into the soul of the media themselves and what you're seeing across-the-board is a truncated ‘Trump did the right thing, but,” “America did the right thing, but.” “He was a terrible person, but.” They can't unequivically, they refuse. The media refuse to award the United States the moral high ground in this existential fight between good and evil, this existential fight between those who believe in freedom and those who believe in terrorism.
They just simply can't do it. And this, by the way, is not a new phenomenon. Go back to 9/11, in the Reuters report where they said that they were going to not use the term "terrorist" because they said, “One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.” So this goes back to that point. The whole world those who believe in freedom are rejoycing America is wrapping its arms around Donald Trump. They are cheering in Baghdad and yet in the United States there is this sober reflection as to whether or not we did the right thing.
VARNEY: Now Brent, I know you've seen it, but for the benefit of our viewers who have not seen this I want to roll some tape and show some headlines at the media's coverage thus far of the killing so roll that tape, please.
[Video montage.]
VARNEY: Wait a second, Brent? Did I hear that right? “Right decision, wrong commander-in-chief?” Did I hear that right? Am I interpreting that correctly?
BOZELL: That's precisely the case and this, by the way, is the commander-in-chief, who has been so restrained, and in some peoples views, too restained in his reaction to terrorism since he's been in office. This is not a flame throwing, hand grenade-tossing crazy president we have. We have a very sober, thoughtful president. This is something that was planned, that was considered, that was debated, and was agreed upon and you know, the flames were still flaming in that car, they were still ablaze and already CNN was finding fault with Donald Trump. It’s a stunning phenomenon.
VARNEY: Well, it’s continuing, isn’t it?
BOZELL: There’s nothing — I've said it before. I've said it before, Stu I'm sorry to interrupt. I've said it before on your show there's not a thing Donald Trump will ever do for which he will be commended for by the national media, and you just saw him take out one of the most vicious, horrific men on the planet Earth whose got the blood of hundreds of Americans on his hands and they still can't unequivocally give this president, this commander-in-chief the credit for putting an end to this man.
VARNEY: Now look at this, it's a headline from the Washington Post and it reads as follows. “Breaking news: Air strike at Baghdad air force kills Iran's most revered military leader. Qasem Soleimani.” Most revered military leader. I find that extraordinary because the Washington post no problem calling our president a racist, bigot and a liar. But he, the terrorist, is a revered military leader. Astonishing frankly.
BOZELL: Again speaking to the hundreds of people who have lost their lives, talk to their wives talk to their fathers mothers their brothers and sisters, their children. Ask them what they think of this man, who killed. Ask them if they think he's a revered religious leader. This is not the first time, that the Washington Post has done this. Remember, when al Baghdadi was taken out, they called him an “austere religious scholar.” And then they also called him “a conservative academic,” and this guy was the founder of ISIS responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of people. Yes he was an austere religious scholar.
VARNEY: I keep asking this question of media people. Will this change. How can this go on? I simply can't believe that America's mainstream media is so overwhelmingly critical of our president to the point where they will call him names but call a terrorist a revered military leader. I can't believe this goes on.
BOZELL: It's one thing to talk about how they won't give Donald Trump credit for the economy, which they won't and how they attack him on impeachment, which they have. But it’s quite another when you're talking about the existential war that is going on now between radical terroristic Islam and the west. For them not to be able to take the unequivocal position that we are the force of good and the west is the force of good, against the forces of evil, they can't take that position and that's a snapshot, Stuart into the soul of the press and that's a dark soul.
VARNEY: You know, in the past, we've often cut you short, I've given you at least a minute or two less than I wanted to give you. Today, we'll let you run and I'm real happy about it because what you had to say was just right on , son, right on. Thank you very much for joining us, Brent Bozell.
