On Monday, NBC’s Today put coverage of Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in Texas on hold to allow correspondent Peter Alexander time to devote a full report to bashing President Trump’s controversial decision to pardon former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Amid news of actual storm damage, Alexander hyped the supposed “political storm” swirling around the White House.
Fill-in co-host Craig Melvin introduced the three-minute segment by proclaiming: “As President Trump gets set to head to Texas tomorrow, in Washington, he is facing quite the backlash from both sides of the aisle this morning over his decision to pardon controversial former Sheriff Joe Arpaio.” Alexander declared: “Arpaio, like President Trump, an incredibly polarizing figure....only deepening divisions, at least according to critics that include top Republicans.”
“President Trump returning to the White House after whipping up a fierce political storm, granting his first presidential pardon to controversial former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio,” the reporter announced moments later. Alexander touted: “Leading Democrats insisting the pardon condones racism. And both Arizona Republican senators arguing the President undermines the rule of law by pardoning Arpaio...”
As the President was preparing to visit Texas on Tuesday to tour areas ravaged by Harvey, Alexander emphasized: “That pardon enraging critics, not just for its message, but its timing, announced just as Hurricane Harvey barreled toward Texas.”
Wrapping up his report, Alexander eagerly promoted Joe Biden slamming Trump over the weekend:
Punctuating weeks of criticism, a sharply-worded op/ed from former Vice President Joe Biden, writing, “We saw the truth of this president: He won’t stop. His contempt for the U.S. Constitution and willingness to divide this nation knows no bounds.” Biden also writes, “We are living through a battle for the soul of this nation.” Adding, “We have to do what our president has not, and we have to remember our kids are watching.”
During a 7:30 a.m. news brief on the topic, a clip played of correspondent Kelly O’Donnell remarking: “President Trump is monitoring two storms, one is of course Hurricane Harvey, and the other is of his own making.”
While Alexander’s report featured a brief soundbite of White House adviser Tom Bossert noting that “Just about every modern president ends up with some controversial pardons,” at no point were viewers reminded of such past controversies:
> Before leaving office in January, President Obama sparked outrage by pardoning convicted FALN Puerto Rican terrorist Oscar Lopez Rivera.
> Also in January, Obama commuted the 35-year prison sentence of convicted national security leaker Chelsea (Bradley) Manning.
> Bill Clinton was widely denounced for his pardon of international fugitive and tax cheat Marc Rich in the waning days of his administration in January of 2001.
Amazingly, none of these scandalous leniencies from Democratic presidents were acknowledged.
Unlike NBC’s decision to devote a full report to the Arpaio pardon during an unfolding natural disaster, ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS This Morning only offered seconds on the controversy. On GMA, co-host George Stephanopoulos fretted: “Most controversial tweet around 10 p.m. on Friday night as the hurricane was coming in, the President decided to make his first pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio out of Arizona, drawing a lot of criticism.” Correspondent Cecilia Vega replied: “Yeah, this tweet came right as the storm was barreling at Texas, George, on Friday evening.”
On This Morning, Major Garrett lamented: “The President, two hours before Harvey made landfall, pardoned controversial Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, that’s Joe Arpaio....taken in the midst of all the news coverage of Hurricane Harvey. Democrats said the President tried to bury it among all that news coverage.” Fill-in co-host Margaret Brennan regretted that there was not more time for the story: “Significant news on Friday, but because of this storm, so much of this is getting put to the sidelines.”
Alexander’s biased report on the Today show was brought to viewers by Mazda, Chex Mix, and Tropicana.
Here is a full transcript of the August 28 segment:
7:12 AM ET
CRAIG MELVIN: As President Trump gets set to head to Texas tomorrow, in Washington, he is facing quite the backlash from both sides of the aisle this morning over his decision to pardon controversial former Sheriff Joe Arpaio. That’s just one of the things that NBC’s Peter Alexander is keeping an eye on from the White House. Peter, good morning to you.
PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Craig, good morning to you. The President sparing Joe Arpaio the prospect of serving jail time by granting that pardon. Arpaio, like President Trump, an incredibly polarizing figure. And President Trump’s move, just days after he delivered a speech insisting it’s time to heal the wounds that divide us, is only deepening divisions, at least according to critics that include top Republicans.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Critics Blast Trump for Arpaio Pardon; WH Defends Decision to Release Controversial Fmr. Sheriff]
President Trump returning to the White House after whipping up a fierce political storm, granting his first presidential pardon to controversial former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
DONALD TRUMP: Was Sheriff Joe convicted for doing his job?
ALEXANDER: House Speaker Paul Ryan’s office writing, “The Speaker does not agree with this decision.” Leading Democrats insisting the pardon condones racism. And both Arizona Republican senators arguing the President undermines the rule of law by pardoning Arpaio, who’s expressed no remorse after his conviction last month of contempt for defying a judge’s order to stop racially profiling Latinos. The 85-year-old, who’s political partnership with the President dates back to the birther movement, has long been accused of harsh tactics, including inhumane treatment of prisoners.
White House aides defend the President’s decision that did got through the usual review process at the Department of Justice.
TOM BOSSERT [WHITE HOUSE ADVISER]: Just about every modern president ends up with some controversial pardons. I certainly don’t think it’s fair to characterize him as not caring about the rule of law.
ALEXANDER: That pardon enraging critics, not just for its message, but its timing, announced just as Hurricane Harvey barreled toward Texas. A Friday night news dump that included the President formalizing his order banning transgender military recruits and the departure of another White House aide, nationalist Sebastian Gorka, a Steve Bannon ally.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared to distance himself from Mr. Trump when discussing the international impact of the President’s response to Charlottesville.
REX TILLERSON: I don’t believe anyone doubts the American people’s values or the commitment of the American government or the government’s agencies to advancing those values and defending those values.
CHRIS WALLACE [FOX NEWS SUNDAY]: And the President’s values?
TILLERSON: The President speaks for himself.
ALEXANDER: Punctuating weeks of criticism, a sharply-worded op/ed from former Vice President Joe Biden, writing, “We saw the truth of this president: He won’t stop. His contempt for the U.S. Constitution and willingness to divide this nation knows no bounds.”
Biden also writes, “We are living through a battle for the soul of this nation.” Adding, “We have to do what our president has not, and we have to remember our kids are watching.”
Back here at the White House ths afternoon, President Trump’s gonna host the president of Finland. The two leaders are expected to hold a joint news conference with plenty of topics to discuss. Craig, Savannah?
MELVIN: Peter Alexander for us from the White House. Peter, thank you.
