CBS is drawing criticism today after news that the outlet held onto a clip that shows Donald Trump calling for peace, choosing instead to publicize his comments on ObamaCare.
President-elect Trump sat down with CBS on Friday for the taping of a 60 Minutes segment. At one point in the interview, host Lesley Stahl grilled Trump on the attacks against minorities that have reportedly occurred following his election victory.
The key word there is reported. Several of those reported incidents have been revealed to be completely non-related to Donald Trump. Some have even turned out to be outright hoaxes.
But nonetheless, debatable nature aside, Donald Trump still addressed the increase in hate crimes that supposedly followed his presidential victory.
“I hate to hear it,” Trump responded. “I am so sorry to hear it, and I say stop it. And I say right to the camera. stop it.”
You’d think CBS would want to get that clip out as soon as possible – especially as tensions related to the election reached a boiling point over the weekend.
Anti-Donald Trump protests sweep US for 4th day; arrests and violence in some cities https://t.co/PQJBP6ElMN pic.twitter.com/hQx5JgeOE2
— ABC News (@ABC) November 13, 2016
But no. Instead, CBS chose to tease their segment with a clip in which Donald Trump comments on Obamacare
Even CNN’s Brian Stelter found the official CBS explanation for publicizing that clip rather unfulfilling.
CBS's underwhelming answer: "We chose to release a quote on the issue that affects the most Americans & that was his statement on Obamacare"
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 14, 2016
Archie Bland of The Guardian also weighed in.
Trump tells supporters responsible for violence to 'stop it' and CBS releases various other bits of footage but holds that for two days.
— Archie Bland (@archiebland) November 14, 2016
Additionally, several other users on Twitter criticized the network for what they deemed an irresponsible decision.
CBS could have released this earlier. https://t.co/xJLuFDXA3C
— Lizzie O'Leary (@lizzieohreally) November 14, 2016
Good to hear this. CBS should have released sooner.:Amid reports of some supporters' violence, Trump says: "Stop it" https://t.co/r5ouBb7InC
— Abigail Arrington (@AbbyArrington) November 14, 2016
#60Mins great @realDonaldTrump intv. Made news-But him telling militant supporters to cool it should've been a bulletin released immediately
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 14, 2016
Meanwhile, as CBS sat on this clip, the President-elect continued to face accusations of inciting hate speech.
Hate speech inciting violence is illegal. Donald Trump should be held accountable. #Thug #ElectionNight #TrumpRiot https://t.co/kVX8mej7ET
— United States (@USforFreedom) November 11, 2016
I don't care if he's president, if there's hate crimes and violence I pray they charge Donald Trump for inciting it
— Jimmy Streich (@RealStreicher) November 13, 2016
Interestingly, CBS did not seem to address the wave of violence that has been committed by Donald Trump detractors.
Last week, a mob in Chicago beat a man while shouting anti-Trump phrases. Three days ago, a shocking video emerged that showed a black student savagely beating up a white peer upon learning that peer supports Trump.
Between CBS’s lack of coverage concerning issues like those and the fact that they sat on a rather pertinent clip that puts Trump’s responsibility on display, could it be that the network has – gasp – a bias?
Sources:
Reason.com
CBS