The powers that be within CNN are usually right in sync on just about every issue, but media correspondent Brian Stelter on Wednesday evening shared even more about ESPN’s decision to pull announcer Robert Lee from a college football game because of his name.
Or was that really the reason? The internal memo says that Lee himself “expressed some personal trepidation” … not to mention, opting to cover another game well inside Union territory would let him get home earlier.
New: internal memo from ESPN prez John Skipper about the Robert Lee decision pic.twitter.com/3yFk4hbDRb
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 24, 2017
So Lee jumped at the chance to get home Saturday night? Makes sense to us, but the fact doesn’t really help the case made by former ESPN vice president Roxanne Jones at CNN.com.
ESPN and Robert Lee's mutual decision to switch games isn't unreasonable in today's America, @CNNOpinion writer says https://t.co/W4zfL7Jftu
— CNN (@CNN) August 23, 2017
Not unreasonable “in today’s America” really does say it all, doesn’t it? Confederate statues that no one gave a second look two weeks ago have to be covered by tarps or spirited away under cover of darkness in today’s America.
Jones writes:
So imagine if you’re scheduled to be the announcer for ESPN’s livestream of the University of Virginia’s season-opener football game against William and Mary in a few weeks and your name is Robert Lee. But you have watched, along with the world, as thousands of torch-wielding, white supremacists screaming hate-filled chants marched around the UVA campus and rallied all their hate at the foot of a statue bearing your name: Robert Lee.
…
Nope, not unreasonable at all. Not in today’s America. Not when we just witnessed heavily armed, swastika-wearing protesters who believe in white supremacy clashing in the streets with counterprotesters, who believed just as passionately that all people are created equal. Not when one woman is dead and dozens more injured because they had the audacity to stand up to the failed notion of white supremacy. Not when a statue, or a team name, or a presidential tweet can incite racial tensions and violence.
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Contrary to the prevailing media narrative, it is possible to criticize some of those counter-protesters as well as the white supremacists (of which there were hundreds, not thousands — at least according to the New York Times, to which Jones links). Yes, some of the counter-protesters believe passionately that all people are created equal, but plenty believe that people will be made equal under the new government once they smash the system. And some of them are heavily armed as well; seriously, check out this crew from outside Trump’s Phoenix rally Tuesday night:
Pic taken ~ 30mins ago. Armed group self-identified as "John Browne Group" said it's 'anti-racist, pro-worker' here to protect protesters pic.twitter.com/XyiqY7P4T7
— Laura GomezRodriguez (@bylauragomezr) August 22, 2017
Both groups are contributing more than their share to what’s wrong with today’s America. But that doesn’t make ESPN’s trepidation any more rational.
To all the people saying ESPN overreacted to outrage that would never come, I give you this: https://t.co/0Jag2QVBC8
— NeoN: Automataster (@neontaster) August 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/mediacritik/status/900513730781368320
It's completely unreasonable and discriminatory garbage. https://t.co/oLmiIBFKjf
— Dan ?? (@danieltobin) August 24, 2017
CNN agreeing with a stupid ESPN decision shocks me. https://t.co/nYQCvpcViM
— BGregory? (@B_gregory) August 23, 2017
They worried *the Left* would be outraged because *the Left* has become a violent bully everyone is terrified of. https://t.co/xPCjS4Nfrg
— Chad Felix Greene (@chadfelixg) August 24, 2017
LITERALLY NO ONE AGREES WITH YOU https://t.co/zgqRo1dHPg
— Benjamin Sano (@Lcoyote93) August 24, 2017
Most of America: This is complete insanity, the press lives in a crazy bubble
Press: This is all very fine and reasonable https://t.co/NEENn6uFIo— PoliMath (@politicalmath) August 24, 2017
"Today's America" is the demented dystopia you knuckleheads have created. Knock it off. This is far too stupid. https://t.co/sI5IP0Ualo
— Pablo (@Pablo_1791) August 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/courrielche/status/900516298534211585
https://twitter.com/JammieWF/status/900512074387910657
"Today's America?" That's the problem.
— Cam Mashburn (@cammashburn) August 24, 2017
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Related:
Is announcer Robert Lee the Confederate general’s doppelgänger or his namesake? Reuters unsure https://t.co/FR8ys9yXPX
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 23, 2017
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