On ABC's This Week, Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise had his clock cleaned by host Jonathan Karl trying to defend Trump's 1st amendment violation by banning many credible news outlets, when Scalise lied and claimed Pres. Biden had banned "400 press members" during his time as president.
The Republican Party, under Trump's leadership, has been reduced to lying repeatedly to defend his unconscionable, antidemocratic actions.
On Friday, Trump ranted like a narcissistic dictator against the NY Times, the Washington Post, and NBC News for covering his administration properly. He started his new banning directive with MS NOW, CNN, and Politico.
"Let me start with what Trump has now done with the press at the White House," Karl said. "Do you support him banning these news organizations because he doesn't like what they're reporting?"
Scalise's first attempt to respond was to blame Biden and lie at the same time. Blame Biden is always their first reflexive action on TV.
"Go look at Joe Biden," Scalise said. "Joe Biden removed the press credentials from over 400 different agencies."
Scalise then claimed that since Trump is always on TV and answering questions he's above reproach.
Jonathan Karl was armed with facts and did his job correctly, not allowing that bullsh*t to stand.
KARL: So first of all, that's actually not true about about Biden. They 400 individual reporters who had credentials did not reapply.
There was only one that was actually denied a credential.
And all of those who didn't reapply were allowed to come in.
They were not banned from the White House.
That did not happen. He's somebody who's taken a lot of questions from reporters.
He is now banning CNN, MSN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House.
Do you support him doing that? Do you think it violates the First Amendment?
How did Scalise respond? He used the Sgt. Schultz defense.
"Well, I don't know why he did it," Scalise claimed. "I don't know what the background is."
"I know nothing," is not a defense since you're on TV and knew you would be asked about the press ban.
Everyone with a brain knows why he did it. Trump wants to banish all criticisms of his actions and he's been taking media organizations to court to bully them into curbing their coverage and cooperate with his propaganda. Some have acquiesced.
Scalise rambled nonsense for another thirty seconds and Karl replied.
"OK, well, I guess he's not going to be taking questions, at least from those three news organizations, because they are banned from the White House."
All TV hosts, please use this as a template.
Stop pretending Republicans are honest brokers of information.
