As Twitchy reported Monday, CNN’s Brian Stelter was spending the day fretting over which networks would carry President Trump’s Oval Office speech on the border situation live. And it certainly must have been a disappointment to learn that all of the broadcast networks and CNN were going to give the president airtime; although Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi invited themselves to deliver a Democrat response.
Considering CNN is a “facts first” news outlet, you’d think they’d be reasonably OK with the president getting eight minutes of airtime during prime time, but … now we have social media.
Ted Koppel says the networks ought to give Trump "the benefit of the doubt."
"When the president of the United States asks for airtime, you've got to do it," Koppel told the NYT… https://t.co/qxtrssmlS5
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 8, 2019
Again, we have to view everything through the media’s lens that Hillary Clinton is actually in the Oval Office running the country.
Why? If it were to discuss an urgent national security issue or national emergency, I could see the rationale. But for him make a political statement? I’m not sold the networks need to do anything — particularly when Trump & his admin have already misled on issue he will discuss. https://t.co/vOP0cz3uZc
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) January 8, 2019
As Michelle Malkin pointed out Monday night, no one seemed to make a fuss when President Obama requested prime time to talk about the stimulus package or the economy or airstrikes in Iraq or an oil spill or Obamacare.
Worth also pointing out that previously, presidents relied on networks a lot more to address country. A lot more tools are at disposal today with social media. Trump, as he has demonstrated, can address the nation & get message out anytime he wants on Twitter/Facebook/YouTube.
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) January 8, 2019
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Imagine if YouTube and Twitter and Facebook had been around during the Obama administration! The president could have just posted all of his addresses online, next to the girl in green lipstick who bathes in cereal.
If Trump recorded the same message he is going to deliver tonight and uploaded it online, would any network take it? If not — why pre-empt prime time programming to air?
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) January 8, 2019
Um, because he’s president and he has something to say to the nation? Is that so hard?
This is absurd. When the President wants to give an Oval Office address you carry it live. It’s his first one. The bias is staggering. Would never have this argument about anyone else. https://t.co/yN4amddb0N
— Zach Skaggs ?? (@ZachSkaggZ) January 8, 2019
Have you seen this tweet from DNC propagandist @oliverdarcy over at @CNN?https://t.co/1FTR6JHXTI
— Des (@Des64341142) January 8, 2019
Who died and gave you the right to decide what is urgent? https://t.co/Kf6UgbSMz4
— ML, MD (@super_mario_21) January 8, 2019
More anti-@realDonaldTrump advocacy…. https://t.co/tOIgXrKdTz
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) January 8, 2019
This is an advocate .. not a reporter. https://t.co/3dE7JpeP8Z
— Oak Wood (@WoodOak1999) January 8, 2019
“Journalism” ⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/RdicfvmkWk
— Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) January 8, 2019
Like CNN has anything better to fill their airtime with? Get serious and just stop covering Trump if it’s that much of a burden.
Related:
‘Boo hoo hoo’! Brian Stelter’s text from Trump-scarred network exec fails to generate much sympathy https://t.co/o81u5aoCwG
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 8, 2019
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