Ignoring how numerous states across the country had their elections laws unconstitutionally changed in 2020 and certain changes led to mass confusion, Monday’s CBS Evening News was on a mission to smear the Republican Party with lies about them being against the right to vote. With the false claim of “rolling back voter rights,” anchor Norah O’Donnell gaslighted her audience in the opening tease about a supposed “Republican push in more than 40 states to limit voting access.”
When she finally got around to the story 10 minutes later, O’Donnell painted the GOP as radicals targeting minorities.
“Tonight, Republican lawmakers in dozens of states are taking extreme steps to change voting laws. They claim they're trying to prevent fraud. Well, Democrats accuse them of trying to limit turnout, especially among minority groups,” she proclaimed, without evidence.
The report itself was conducted by senior White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe, who proved himself to be quite the Biden-ally during the election.
And without explaining any details of the Republican proposals, O’Keefe proudly took the claims of Democrats and treated them as the facts:
Tonight heated debate in Georgia as Democrats accuse Republicans of making it harder to vote.
(…)
Republicans claimed fraud in November, without evidence, and demanded changes like limiting early voting hours.
“Republicans in more than 40 states are now pushing more than 250 proposals to curb at least some voter access. In Florida, Republicans want to limit the use of ballot drop boxes, while in Iowa voters could end up with less time to return mail-in ballots,” he continued.
What’s the “limit” on drop boxes and how much “less time” for mail-in ballots? O’Keefe insisted the GOP was trying to “curb” “voter access” but never explained how that was happening. Drop boxes could still be used and people could still mail in their ballots.
And at no point, did he back up O’Donnell’s suggestion that the GOP was “especially” targeting “minority groups.”
O’Keefe’s goal was to just smear Republicans and stoke fear of their policies. Additional proof of that was the fact he didn’t interview any Republicans who drafted such legislation. According to his number, there were at least 250 people he could have spoken to.
Instead, the only policy expert he spoke to was longtime, far-left lawyer Marc Elias, an election lawyer whose Twitter account announces he’s “fighting for Democrats.” “What we're seeing right now is an all-out assault on voting,” he hyperbolically told CBS.
Of course, O’Keefe closed out his report by praising Democrats and chiding Republicans. “Here in Washington, House Democrats are poised to pass legislation this week that they say expands voting rights, but Senate Republicans may eventually block it,” he said, without spelling out what their objections would be.
“And tomorrow with the U.S. Supreme Court, justices are set to hear challenges to two Arizona election laws. It’s a key test of how the now-conservative court interprets the Voting Rights Act,” he added, attempting to slime the conservative justices.
Again, he only told only part of the story, skipping any detail, and chose to stick to parroting Democratic talking points as if they were facts.
CBS’s untrue smears of Republicans across the country were made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Procter & Gamble and Fidelity. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund. CBS Evening News has also asked people to “text Norah” their thoughts at this number: (202) 217-1107.
The transcript is below, click “expand” to read:
CBS Evening News
March 1, 2021
6:31:16 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: Rolling back voter rights, the Republican push in more than 40 states to limit voting access.
(…)
6:41:37 p.m. Eastern
O’DONNELL: Tonight, Republican lawmakers in dozens of states are taking extreme steps to change voting laws. They claim they're trying to prevent fraud. Well, Democrats accuse them of trying to limit turnout, especially among minority groups. Here’s CBS’s Ed O’Keefe.
[Cuts to video]
ED O’KEEFE: Tonight heated debate in Georgia as Democrats accuse Republicans of making it harder to vote.
REP. DONNA MCLEOD (D-Georgie General Assembly): It was predicated on a big fat lie.
O’KEEFE: Republicans claimed fraud in November, without evidence, and demanded changes like limiting early voting hours.
REP. ALAN POWELL (R- Georgie General Assembly): If you didn't see confusion this year, I don't know what you saw.
O’KEEFE: It's part of a nationwide push to change election laws by Republicans unhappy with the 2020 result.
DONALD TRUMP: This election was rigged.
O’KEEFE: The move endorsed by former President Trump in his first speech since leaving office.
TRUMP: One of the most urgent issues facing the Republican Party is that of ensuring fair, honest, and secure elections!
O’KEEFE: As the former President continued his false claims about last year, Republicans in more than 40 states are now pushing more than 250 proposals to curb at least some voter access. In Florida, Republicans want to limit the use of ballot drop boxes, while in Iowa voters could end up with less time to return mail-in ballots. Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias slammed the proposals.
MARC ELIAS: What we're seeing right now is an all-out assault on voting.
O’KEEFE: As for whether Trump's name will be on a future ballot, he wouldn't commit.
TRUMP: We will take back the House, we will win the Senate, and then a Republican president will make a triumphant return to the White House, and I wonder who that will be?
[Cuts back to live]
O’KEEFE: Here in Washington, House Democrats are poised to pass legislation this week that they say expands voting rights, but Senate Republicans may eventually block it. And tomorrow with the U.S. Supreme Court, justices are set to hear challenges to two Arizona election laws. It’s a key test of how the now conservative court interprets the Voting Rights Act. Norah.
O’DONNELL: Ed O’Keefe, thank you.
