As NewsBusters documented Tuesday, the liberal broadcast networks completely blacked out Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s blowout fiasco, where video exposed her flouting local COVID regulations by getting her hair done inside a San Francisco salon, without a mask. ABC, CBS, and NBC only covered the controversial incident Wednesday after the Speaker held a press conference and did her best impression of former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, claiming her hair appointment was “a setup.”
Of course, the liberal media took the marching orders from their political queen and pushed the narrative.
The CBS Evening News showed their hand early. In the opening tease, and with the chyron that read "Salon Set Up?" anchor Norah O’Donnell announced: “And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is caught on video getting her hair done indoors, violating San Francisco restrictions. Tonight, why she says she was set up.”
The #PelosiBlowout, as it was described on Twitter, was covered in a 2020 election report by political correspondent Ed O’Keefe. He pitched it as something President Trump was talking about and played Pelosi’s defense:
O’KEEFE: He hammered House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Twitter for getting her hair done in a San Francisco salon and without a mask, as seen here, violating the city's COVID rules. Pelosi said the salon told her she could be inside.
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): They said, “We’re able to accommodate people, one person, at a time,” and that we can set up that time. I trusted that. As it turns out, it was a setup.
On ABC’s World News Tonight, fill-in anchor Tom Llamas seemed sorry they were doing the story. “Back now with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused of a double standard. Speaker Pelosi seen getting her hair down inside a salon in San Francisco despite COVID restrictions keeping them closed. The owner releasing the video. Pelosi calling it ‘a setup,’ saying the stylist told her it was legal,” he said before playing the same soundbite as CBS.
He added: “Critics say Pelosi getting her hair done, while businesses are closed, is an insult to struggling owners."
The staunchest defense of Pelosi came from NBC Nightly News and Capitol Hill correspondent Kasie Hunt, who went after the salon:
The salon wasn't following the rules. Even though indoor services are allowed by the state of California, the city of San Francisco only started allowing any hair appointments on Tuesday, and they must be outdoors. Shampooing isn’t allowed. And masks are required. Pelosi was pictured without one.
To her credit, Hunt was the only one to note how the salon owner called Pelosi’s actions “a slap in the face.”
But, Hunt also played a soundbite of Pelosi defended herself for going maskless. “I don't wear a mask when I'm washing my hair. Do you wear a mask when you're washing your hair,” she angrily asked the press.
This author has indeed worn a mask when getting his hair washed at a salon multiple times since Virginia allowed them to reopen. It’s the rule.
This pushing of Pelosi’s ridiculous, self-preserving allegation was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Nutrisystem on ABC, Ford Motor Company on CBS, and Advil on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about what they’re funding. CBS Evening News has also asked people to “text Norah” at this number: (202) 217-1107.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
September 2, 2020
6:53:03 p.m. EasternTOM LLAMAS: Back now with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused of a double standard. Speaker Pelosi seen getting her hair down inside a salon in San Francisco despite COVID restrictions keeping them closed. The owner releasing the video. Pelosi calling it “a setup,” saying the stylist told her it was legal.
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): It was clearly a setup. I take responsibility for falling for a setup by a neighborhood salon that I've gone to for years.
LLAMAS: Critics say Pelosi getting her hair done, while businesses are closed, is an insult to struggling owners.
CBS Evening News
September 2, 2020
6:30:58 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is caught on video getting her hair done indoors, violating San Francisco restrictions. Tonight, why she says she was set up.
(…)
6:37:49 p.m. Eastern
ED O’KEEFE: He [President Donald Trump] hammered House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Twitter for getting her hair done in a San Francisco salon and without a mask, as seen here, violating the city's COVID rules. Pelosi said the salon told her she could be inside.
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): They said, “We’re able to accommodate people one person at a time,” and that we can set up that time. I trusted that. As it turns out, it was a setup.
(…)
NBC Nightly News
September 2, 2020
7:10:24 p.m. EasternHALLIE JACKSON: Back home, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing back against the backlash after she was caught on camera getting her hair done inside a salon, even though salons were not legally allowed to open where she lives. Pelosi saying today she was “setup.” Kasie Hunt is on Capitol Hill.
[Cuts to video]
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): If we wear masks --
KASIE HUNT: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi under fire tonight after security footage showed her inside a San Francisco hair salon that's closed to the general public because of coronavirus. The salon's owner releasing security footage to Fox News. Telling Fox, quote, “It is like a slap in the face.” Pelosi today insisting the salon told her it was allowed.
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): It was clearly a setup. I take responsibility for falling for a setup by a neighborhood salon that I have gone to for years. [Transition] Well, I don't. I think this salon owes me an apology for setting up.
HUNT: The salon wasn't following the rules. Even though indoor services are allowed by the state of California, the city of San Francisco only started allowing any hair appointments on Tuesday, and they must be outdoors. Shampooing isn’t allowed. And masks are required. Pelosi was pictured without one.
PELOSI: Now, I just had my hair washed. I don't wear a mask when I'm washing my hair. Do you wear a mask when you're washing your hair? I always have a mask. I always have a mask.
HUNT: Republicans accusing Pelosi of hypocrisy.
MARK MEADOWS (White House chief of staff): They preach to the American people that it should be one way. And yet, in private, when the cameras are not rolling -- and in this case, I guess, the cameras were rolling, it shows a very different story.
HUNT: And President Trump tweeting, quote, “Pelosi is being decimated for having a beauty parlor opened when all others are closed.”
[Cuts back to live]
This controversy is playing out with coronavirus relief negotiations still stalled here on Capitol Hill. And that's left millions still waiting after unemployment benefits expired at the end of July. Hallie.
JACKSON: Kasie, thank you.
