Judging from the liberal media’s behavior, insurrections are good when leftists carry them out. That’s the gist of the tone shared by the broadcast networks on Monday as ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS Mornings, and NBC’s Today celebrated the likely return of former Democratic state Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson after they led a violent and disruptive takeover of the Tennessee State Capitol two weeks ago.
“Local officials in their districts have the power to reinstate the ousted representatives and say that's exactly what they plan to do,” correspondent Alex Perez announced on ABC.
Perez boasted that the Nashville City Council was set to “hold an emergency meeting this afternoon to return Justin Jones to his former seat. A majority of the 40-member body already indicating their support.” “Commissioners in Shelby County and Memphis meet Wednesday to potentially reinstate Pearson,” he added.
Ignoring the violence and the call-and-response chanting the ousted representatives participated in with the crowd that made it into the chamber, Perez suggested that “both men [were] ousted after violating decorum and ignoring warnings from Republican leadership” and simply “used bullhorns after their microphones were turned off.”
ABC apparently thought average Americans were just as invested in the Democrats as they were; with Perez giving another update in the second hour of the show:
Now, both ousted representatives could be back in their seats by the end of this week. Now, Nashville Metro Council has called an emergency meeting this afternoon to discuss reinstating Representative Justin Jones. A majority of the council has expressed support. Officials in Shelby County and Memphis, where Justin Pearson is from, planning to hold a similar meeting on Pearson’s fate this Wednesday.
While Perez did note they were “call[ing] for gun reform on the House floor in the wake of that elementary school shooting here in Nashville that left six dead,” but he refused to admit it was carried out by a liberal, trans terrorist.
To Perez’s credit, he did include criticism of Jones and Pearson from Tennessee State Representative Sabi “Doc” Kumar, a Republican and Indian immigrant. “They disrupted the function, started mobilizing and shouting and creating chaos within the House of Representatives to the point that business could not be conducted,” he said in a soundbite pulled from Fox News.
Over on NBC, correspondent Kathy Parks hyped the anticipated “round of political fireworks in Nashville as we wait to see what happens to those ousted state representatives. Those are the Justins – Justin Pearson and Justin Jones – have vowed to get back to work and now we’re just hours away from a critical vote for one of them.”
“This morning two expelled Tennessee lawmakers are fighting back, determined to be reinstated,” she boasted as she gave Pearson room to make evidence-free claims that racist Republicans were planning to retaliate against his district (Click “expand”):
PARK: Officials in Justin Pearson’s district [in Memphis] plan to hold their own discussions on reappointment Wednesday afternoon. But Pearson’s saying his district faces potential retaliation if he gets reappointed.
PEARSON: I’ve already heard that people in the state legislature and in Nashville are actually threatening our Shelby County commissioners to not reappoint me or they’re going to take away funding.
(…)
PARK: Republican lawmakers say this was not about race, but Pearson says there’s a history of tension within the Tennessee General Assembly, and felt targeted ever since he was elected.
PEARSON: It has always been a toxic work environment to work in the Tennessee state Capitol, where you have people who make comments about hanging you on a tree and hanging black people on a tree as a capital punishment.
She also shared a sound bite of Jones ridiculously comparing himself to Jesus Christ. "The Tennessee House Republicans’ attempt to crucify democracy has instead resurrected a movement led by young people to restore our democracy," he proclaimed.
Meanwhile, on CBS, co-host Vladimir Duthiers only gave their likely reinstatement a 24-second news brief. But he still managed to cram in the false talking point that the decision to expel the men was racist. “Here in this country, two black lawmakers who were expelled last week from the Tennessee state legislature could reclaim their seats as soon as today,” he announced. He too left out crucial details about the affiliations of the school shooter.
This praise for leaders of a violent liberal insurrection was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Chevy on ABC, Nature’s Bounty on CBS, and Verizon on NBC. Their contact information is linked.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s Good Morning America
April 10, 2023
7:10:39 a.m. EasternREBECCA JARVIS: We turn now to Tennessee where the battle over two lawmakers ousted from the Republican-led state assembly enters a new phase today. Nashville City Council is set to hold an emergency meeting. And Alex Perez is in Nashville with the latest. Good morning, Alex.
ALEX PEREZ: Hey. Good morning, Rebecca. Local officials in their districts have the power to reinstate the ousted representatives and say that's exactly what they plan to do.
[Cuts to video]
The Nashville Metro Council will hold an emergency meeting this afternoon to return Justin Jones to his former seat. A majority of the 40-member body already indicating their support.
NOVELLA MCCLINE PAGE (Nashville resident): I'd like for them to be reinstated. No one can take his place.
PEREZ: Commissioners in Shelby County and Memphis meet Wednesday to potentially reinstate Pearson.
JUSTIN PEARSON (D-TN): I do hope to continue to serve District 86 in the reappointment. And if there is a special election, I would definitely run in the special election, because our voters have been disenfranchised.
PEREZ: Over the weekend, Tennessee Republican House members defending their removal.
SABI KUMAR (R-TN, state rep., via Fox News): PEREZ: Both men ousted after violating decorum and ignoring warnings from Republican leadership. Using bullhorns after their microphones were turned off to protest and call for gun reform on House floor. In the wake of the Nashville elementary school shooting that left six dead.
PEARSON: It was a historical abuse of power. And the super-majority Republican legislator who would rather expel our voices and try to expel our people's voices from the people's house rather than address the issue of gun violence.
PEREZ: Jones telling our Faith Abubey the expulsion has ignited his passion to serve and speak up for those that elected him.
JUSTIN JONES (D-TN): There are people who don't have anyone to do their constituent affairs anymore. We definitely have unfinished business.
[Cuts back to live]
PEREZ: If reinstated, Jones and Pearson would serve until there’s a special election, and they could run for their seats again.
(…)
8:06:00 a.m. Eastern
JARVIS: Now we turn to the latest on the Tennessee lawmakers ousted from the Republican-led state assembly. Nashville city council is set to hold an emergency meeting and we’re going to head back to Alex Perez, who is in Nashville with more. Good morning, Alex. Nice to see you again.
PEREZ: Hey. Good morning once again, Rebecca. Now, both ousted representatives could be back in their seats by the end of this week. Now, Nashville Metro Council has called an emergency meeting this afternoon to discuss reinstating Representative Justin Jones. A majority of the council has expressed support. Officials in Shelby County and Memphis, where Justin Pearson is from, planning to hold a similar meeting on Pearson’s fate this Wednesday.
Jones and Pearson, both Democrats ousted from the Tennessee House of Representatives by the Republican-led legislature for violating decorum, using a bullhorn after their mics were turned off to protest and call for gun reform on the House floor in the wake of that elementary school shooting here in Nashville that left six dead.
Now, local officials in their respective districts have the power to reinstate the ousted representatives. If reinstated, they would serve until a special election and they could run for their seats again.
CBS Mornings
April 10, 2023
7:14:57 a.m. EasternVLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Here in this country, two black lawmakers who were expelled last week from the Tennessee state legislature could reclaim their seats as soon as today. Democrats Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were removed by the Republican majority for taking part in a protest inside the House chamber after last month's school massacre in Nashville. Now, they both could be reappointed on an interim basis. Jones and Pearson say they will run in a special election for their seats in the months ahead.
NBC’s Today
April 10, 2023
7:13:13 a.m. EasternSAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Much more to get to including new developments on the expulsion of those two Tennessee state lawmakers for protesting for stricter gun laws. Officials in Nashville are expected to vote to reinstate one of them today. NBC’s Kathy Park got the details on this. Kathy, good morning.
KATHY PARK: Savannah, good morning to you. We’re expecting to see another round of political fireworks in Nashville as we wait to see what happens to those ousted state representatives. Those are the Justins – Justin Pearson and Justin Jones – have vowed to get back to work and now we’re just hours away from a critical vote for one of them.
[Cuts to video]
This morning two expelled Tennessee lawmakers are fighting back, determined to be reinstated.
JUSTIN PEARSON (D-TN): This moment where our democracy is at stake.
PARK: Today the Nashville Metro Council could vote to reappoint Justin Jones in a special meeting. A majority of its members indicated they want the representative to reclaim his seat in the Tennessee legislature.
JUSTIN JONES (D-TN): The Tennessee House Republicans’ attempt to crucify democracy has instead resurrected a movement led by young people to restore our democracy.
PARK: Officials in Justin Pearson’s district [in Memphis] plan to hold their own discussions on reappointment Wednesday afternoon. But Pearson’s saying his district faces potential retaliation if he gets reappointed.
PEARSON: I’ve already heard that people in the state legislature and in Nashville are actually threatening our Shelby County commissioners to not reappoint me or they’re going to take away funding.
PARK: If reappointed they would hold the interim position until a special election is held. The two men and Gloria Johnson known as “The Tennessee Three,” faced expulsion after rallying for stricter gun control measures on the House floor, a move the Republican majority called a breach of decorum and House rules. Following the political showdown, only Johnson held on to her seat by one vote.
JOHNSON: It might have to do with the color of our skin.
PARK: Republican lawmakers say this was not about race, but Pearson says there’s a history of tension within the Tennessee General Assembly and felt targeted ever since he was elected.
PEARSON: It has always been a toxic work environment to work in the Tennessee state Capitol, where you have people who make comments about hanging you on a tree and hanging black people on a tree as a capital punishment.
PARK: As the nation watches the political fallout in Nashville, Vice President Harris made a surprise visit, praising the lawmakers for their actions.
KAMALA HARRIS: It wasn't about the three – of these leaders! It was about who they were representing! It's about whose voices they were channeling!
[Cuts back to live]
PARK: Now if Justin Jones is reappointed by the Nashville Metro Council later on today, the political battle isn't over. The special election comes next and a date has not been set. We’re expecting another round of rallies in Nashville right before that vote.
