UPDATE: ABC News finally got around to sharing former President Obama's criticism of "open border," but only after midnight during Nightline.
In their overly hyped Tuesday interview between former President Barack Obama and Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts about the groundbreaking for his presidential center, ABC News edited out part of the former President’s comments on the current southern border crisis in which he opposed “open borders,” calling them “unsustainable.” Of course, ABC did their due diligence to protect the current Democratic President but Fox News Channel’s Jacqui Heinrich called them out. The network would relegate his critical comments to Nightline after midnight.
“As the crisis continues at the southern border, former President Obama says the idea the U.S. can have open borders is unsustainable. In response, asked about that statement, the Biden White House deflected,” announced FNC Special Report anchor Bret Baier
In her report, Heinrich noted that ABC did leave in the part where Obama placed all the blame for the crisis on Republicans:
HEINRICH: Days after the Biden administration cleared 15,000 Haitians from the Del Rio migrant camp, former President Obama defended his VP’s handling of the border crisis passing blame to the GOP.
OBAMA: Comprehensive immigration reform has consistently gotten stuck partly because we can't get enough Republicans to support it.
She followed up by calling out how ABC only acknowledged his criticism of open borders online. “But cut from that interview and published only in the online article was President Obama saying, quote, ‘At the same time, we're a nation-state. We have borders. The idea that we can just have open borders is something that, as a practical matter is unsustainable.’”
Within the article in question, they buried Obama’s comment down in paragraph 12:
"Immigration is tough. It always has been because, on the one hand, I think we are naturally a people that wants to help others. And we see tragedy and hardship and families that are desperately trying to get here so that their kids are safe, and they're in some cases fleeing violence or catastrophe," Obama said. "At the same time, we're a nation state. We have borders. The idea that we can just have open borders is something that ... as a practical matter, is unsustainable."
Surprisingly, the CBS Evening News actually mentioned Obama’s comments. “The 44th President also spoke in an interview about the immigration crisis saying, that ‘Americans want to help others but the idea that we can just have open borders is unsustainable,’” reported anchor Norah O’Donnell.
And during ABC’s World News Tonight, anchor David Muir stayed clear of the immigration issue, choosing only to focus on Obama talking about himself:
MUIR: President Obama telling our Robin Roberts he hopes the foundation and helping future generations will be his legacy.
[Cuts to video]
ROBIN ROBERTS: What's most important for your next act?
BARACK OBAMA: The single most important thing I can do is grab the next thousand or 10,000 or 100,000 or a million Baracks and Michelles and maybe make the path just a little easier for them, to make a difference.
[Cuts back to live]
The former President telling Robin, “Chicago is where almost everything that is most precious to me began.”
This omission of criticism came after ABC forcefully peddled the lie that Border Patrol Agents were “whipping” migrants.
ABC only got around to sharing Obama's comments on "open borders" nearing 1:00 a.m.
ABC’s blatant editing and omission of Barack Obama’s criticism of open borders was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Ensure and WeatherTech. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The relevant portions of the transcript are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
September 28, 2021
6:46:45 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: Next tonight here, breaking ground for the Obama Presidential Library in Chicago. Former President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama on-hand today. The $500 million facility will be on Chicago's south side, where the Obamas have deep roots. President Obama telling our Robin Roberts he hopes the foundation and helping future generations will be his legacy.
[Cuts to video]
ROBIN ROBERTS: What's most important for your next act?
BARACK OBAMA: The single most important thing I can do is grab the next thousand or 10,000 or 100,000 or a million Baracks and Michelles and maybe make the path just a little easier for them, to make a difference.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: The former President telling Robin, “Chicago is where almost everything that is most precious to me began.”
CBS Evening News
September 28, 2021
6:49:09 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: All right. Today, in Chicago, former President Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama grabbed shovels to help break down for his presidential library. The 44th President also spoke in an interview about the immigration crisis saying, that “Americans want to help others but the idea that we can just have open borders is unsustainable.” He said, “it's time Congress got serious about dealing with the immigration problem.”
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
September 28, 2021
6:06:20 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: As the crisis continues at the southern border, former President Obama says the idea the U.S. can have open borders is unsustainable. In response, asked about that statement, the Biden White House deflected. Here's White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich.
[Cuts to video]
JACQUI HEINRICH: Days after the Biden administration cleared 15,000 Haitians from the Del Rio migrant camp, former President Obama defended his VP’s handling of the border crisis passing blame to the GOP.
BARACK OBAMA: Comprehensive immigration reform has consistently gotten stuck partly because we can't get enough Republicans to support it.
HEINRICH: But cut from that interview and published only in the online article was President Obama saying, quote, “At the same time, we're a nation state. We have borders. The idea that we can just have open borders is something that, as a practical matter is unsustainable.” Little reaction from the Biden White House.
Does President Biden agree with President Obama that open borders is unsustainable?
PRESS SECRETARY JEN PSAKI: We don't have open borders. So yes, he agrees.
HEINRICH: Republicans say the numbers speak for themselves.
REP. JIM JORDAN (R-OH): March was the largest month on record for illegal crossings, until April. April was the largest month until May, May until June, June until July when 212,000 illegal migrants encountered on our border.
