Steve Bannon was interviewed by ABC News’ Jonathan Karl this morning and these comments on Martin Luther King, Jr. are raising eyebrows:
Steve Bannon says Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "would be proud of what Donald Trump has done for black and Hispanic working class."@jonkarl: "I think there are a lot of civil rights leaders that would adamantly disagree with you on that." https://t.co/HJOtY0KqH6 pic.twitter.com/qsWapGBUvv
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 17, 2018
Now, that quote is good enough to get clicks all on its own, but ABC News used tweets that Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr., made about Bannon in May as if she just responded to today’s interview. Nothing like a little Twitter back-and-forth to goose the engagement numbers, ‘eh? Note the date in the image:
NEW: Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., responds to Steve Bannon's claim that her father would be “proud” of what Pres. Trump has done for African-American and Latino workers. https://t.co/memeRgE1An pic.twitter.com/A7pDq166bm
— ABC News (@ABC) June 17, 2018
The error is in the write-up as well:
Here is King’s full thread, FWIW:
#SteveBannon has dangerously and erroneously co-opted my father’s name, work and words.
Bannon’s assertion that my father, #MLK, would be proud of Donald Trump wholly ignores Daddy’s commitment to people of all races, nationalities, etc. being treated with dignity and respect.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
My father’s concerns were not sectional, but global. He was an activist for the civil rights of Black people in America, but he was also an activist for human rights. #MLK
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
Further, he would not refer to people as “illegal aliens.” The term is degrading and does not reflect his belief that we are all a part of the human family. #MLK
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
In addition, he would never pit one group against another in the struggle for justice, as Bannon attempts to use him to do in discussing those he termed as “illegal aliens” and Black people. #MLK
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
Bannon’s comments are like feeding someone empty calories, in that they don’t convey a comprehensive view of #MLK as a global humanitarian who cared about the well-being of all people.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
My father would be extremely disturbed by the climate created by leaders, who have emboldened people to easily express and demonstrate cruelty, predominantly toward people of color and immigrants. #MLK
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
Finally, #MLK would be proud of a livable wage for all and not merely a low unemployment rate. #PoorPeoplesCampaign
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018
Or maybe ABC News finally hit 1.21 gigawatts and now anything is possible?
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