CNN's Amnesia on Misuse of the Word 'Treasonous'

February 6th, 2018 3:26 PM

During a panel discussion on Inside Politics Tuesday, host John King criticized the President for referring to the Democrats as “treasonous” and “un-American” for not applauding during his State of the Union speech. King seemed to forget that less than a year ago, he himself carelessly tossed around the word “treasonous” when discussing a member of the Trump administration.

On the May 28, 2017 edition of Inside Politics, King and his panel discussed The Washington Post report that Jared Kushner intended to set up a back channel with Russia. King asked his panel, “Is this a little odd, but okay, or is this the act of someone, as you just heard from the former CIA Director, someone on a treasonous path?” King’s question referred to a statement made by Former CIA Director John Brennan during his testimony before a Congressional Committee. King also referred to the idea of a “back channel” as “un-American.” Maybe President Trump decided to use those words after watching Inside Politics.

 

 

During Tuesday’s discussion on Inside Politics, King said that Trump “doesn’t have a history of...tying anything he said previously to what he’s saying now.” Apparently, neither does King. Panelist Molly Ball said that President Trump does not understand the definition of treason. Once again, it appears as if the geniuses on CNN don’t really understand the definition of treason either.

Jeff Zeleny, who served as a panelist on both the May 28 episode and Tuesday’s edition of Inside Politics, suggested that the President might be “treasonous” and “un-American” because of his involvement in the “birther” conspiracy regarding the authenticity of President Obama’s birth certificate; arguing that “the President does not have a lot of credibility” when it comes to using the terms “treasonous” and “un-American.” CNN appears to really enjoy taking on the role of the pot calling the kettle black.

 

Inside Politics

02/06/18
12:58 PM

 

JOHN KING: Sorry, Mr. President, it’s not un-American, it’s not treasonous. It might be partisan. It might not be respectful to you but it’s not un-American and it’s not treasonous and to Joe Manchin’s point, you want more bipartisanship, I don’t think he agrees.

JEFF ZELENY: And the White House is not going to stay out of that West Virginia race. They believe that that’s a good pickup opportunity but treasonous, un-American. How about accusing the President of not being a U.S. Citizen? That might also rank up there so the reality is President Trump does not have a lot of, of credibility on this subject. 

KING: Well, he doesn’t have a history of paying a...tying anything he said previously to what he’s saying now, at least, at a minimum. But that’s, that’s a...we can laugh about this because we laugh...It’s the President of the United States saying it’s un-American not to stand and cheer for him? That it’s treasonous not to stand and cheer for him? No, we all have the First Amendment right; you can say it’s disrespectful, you can attack them but Un-American, treasonous?

MOLLY BALL: Well, yeah, I mean, he clearly, (a) doesn’t know the Constitutional definition of treason, I am not shocked by that, and (b) everything to him is about him, you know, and some have called this an autocratic tendency that he views the government as his personal organ and either you swear fielty and loyalty to him and cheer for the things that he does, or you don’t love the country.

SAHIL KAPUR: The White House says it’s a joke. I think the President still doesn’t understand the gravity of his words. 

KING: He’s the President. You’ve got to be careful about your jokes. Thanks for joining us on Inside Politics. We’ll see you back here this time tomorrow.