CBS Notices Electors 'Pressured' To Change Vote; Omits Death Threats

NewsBusters.org ^ | November 23, 2016 | Matthew Balan

[Kaslin]

Wednesday's CBS This Morning was the sole Big Three morning newscast to report that Hillary Clinton supporters are lobbying members of the Elector College to not vote for Donald Trump. Charlie Rose cited a USA Today article that disclosed how "some Electoral College members are being pressured to change their votes....Hillary Clinton supporters want Donald Trump electors to change sides, but there are apparently no takers." However neither Rose, nor the original USA Today report, mentioned that some electors have received death threats in recent days.

The previous evening, Fox Business Network's Lou Dobbs spotlighted the threats against electors in several states during a lead-in for an interview of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee [video below]:

LOU DOBBS: Left-wing activists [are] now resorting to threats of violence against Electoral College voters — electors — in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Texas. Of all — well, many of them have reported receiving death threats, after Clinton supporters posted their personal information on social media....[Donald] Trump last week called on his supporters, who might have incited violence, by the way, to — quote, 'Stop it.' No word from the President, other than to say he has nothing to add to the conversation and he doesn't want folks to be silent. What can you make of it?

CBS Notices Electors 'Pressured' To Change Vote; Omits Death Threats

Dobbs later asked Huckabee for his take on the death threats. The Republican replied, "Somebody ought to be investigating these crimes....they are public officials doing a public job; and therefore, the penalty is enhanced. So, people can't ignore this; and the best way to stop this kind of hateful, vile, venomous activity is to grab a couple of them; prosecute them to the hilt; send them to the slammer for five to ten; and let be that a lesson."

The Fox Business host also read a response from Alex Kim, one of the electors targeted by the anonymous threats: "You may all go to hell, and I shall go to Texas." NBC's Dallas-Fort Worth affiliate quoted Kim in a November 17, 2016 article about the sometimes-vicious harassment of Electoral College members:

...In Texas, unlike some other states, electors may change their mind, and it has Democrats from around the country urging them to do just that, said Alex Kim, an elector for Texas' 24th Congressional District.

"At first everyone was kinda enchanted by it," Kim said. "Now all the electors are starting to get beaten down. There are some electors who have been threatened with harm or with death."

A Michigan elector received at leat one threat, according to a Detroit News report

The USA Today report on Wednesday from correspondents Joseph Gerth, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, and Joseph Baucum noted the effort by some "supporters of Hillary Clinton" to get 38 electors to "switch their votes." However, they pointed out that the "problem with this particular political fantasy" was the fact that the Electoral College members are "among the Republican Party's most loyal members."

Later in the article, Gerth, Sanchez, and Baucum noted how "some Trump electors consider the drama more as harassment." They noted how "Sharon Geise, an elector from Mesa, Ariz....estimates 8,000 emails have flooded her inbox." Geise called on Mrs. Clinton to issue a message: "She has to stop all of this...This is ridiculous." However, the USA Today journalists left out any mention of the death threats.

The transcript of Charlie Rose's 21-second news brief from CBS This Morning on November 23, 2016:

CHARLIE ROSE: USA Today reports that some Electoral College members are being pressured to change their votes. Twenty-eight states do not require electors to back the winner of the state's popular vote. Hillary Clinton supporters want Donald Trump electors to change sides, but there are apparently no takers. They will meet on December 19 to make the election result official.

[rockrr]

Shine the spotlight on the harassers. Harass the crap outta them. Post and publicize their names and addresses. Post where they work. If they’re government drones then contact their place of “employment”.

Fight fire with napalm.

[ealgeone]

They can’t expose the truth!

[EDINVA]

Lobbying, death threats ... what’s the difference?

[\/\/ayne]

The presidential election is over but, unfortunately, the vitriol remains. Our office has received numerous reports of individuals hurling insults and threats at Georgia’s electors because they are unsettled with America’s choice for president of the United States.

This is absolutely unacceptable, and those participating in or encouraging these efforts should stop. The electoral process in America has worked, and everyone — Republicans, Democrats, Independents and others — should respect the will of Georgia’s voters and the electors who represent them.

- Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp


I've written my AZ Secretary of State to ask them to make a similar statement.

[rockrr]

Unfortunately my state (Washington) is one of the worst for vote fraud. There’s little point in asking them to investigate when they’re likely in on it!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

However, they pointed out that the "problem with this particular political fantasy" was the fact that the Electoral College members are "among the Republican Party's most loyal members."

Oh, that's "the" problem. Hillary and USA Today are unaware that HILLARY ALREADY CONCEDED the election to Trump.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Police matter, once the threat is made it should be reported to the police.

[Travis McGee]

Cue "You say you want a revolution?"

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Do it you filthy Rat bastards. Try and get Hitlery in the WH. The next Civil War would make the original one look like Romper Room.

[tumblindice]

As with the violence against Trump supporters, the MSM is AWOL.
Explained by newsgirl Katie Tur:
`We’re just doing our jobs, fact-checking and filtering the news.’
Filtering out anything that reflects badly on `rats, checking at the door any facts that might possibly help Trump.

We and Trump would like to get both sides out there, that’s what she calls “spinning the truth in his favor,” and this has Katie’s panties in a twist.
We don’t need fake but accurate MSM fact-checked “filtered news”. The e-MSM has made itself as obsolete as our hometown newspapers.

A great election and a great two weeks. A happy Thanksgiving, and finally a Merry Christmas. 2017 is going to rock like a hurricane.

[MayflowerMadam]

That’s the problem. They have no intention to “recount” any ballots. They’re simply putting the wheels in motion to slip in the necessary ballots to achieve their desired results. They thought they’d rigged the system well enough before Nov. 8, but it turns out they hadn’t gone far enough. There’s still work to be done.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

Part of Maine on that map should be red.

[bjcoop]

Is the Trump campaign working to keep these electors in line? We can’t afford to have the dems pull a surprise. They are experts at stealing elections.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

>> Part Most of Maine on that map should be red.

[jsanders2001]

Trump is what America needs right now. Hillary and her rabid up porters have shown thir true colors and exactly why she is what we don’t need right now. The divisiveness and immaturity needs to stop.

[Kaslin]

exactly

[jsanders2001]

< Do it you filthy Rat bastards. Try and get Hitlery in the WH. The next Civil War would make the original one look like Romper Room.

It won't last near as long tho. I give it 1 week and that's with Obama assisting them.

[vette6387]

“Part of Maine on that map should be red.”

Looks like most of it is!

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

You’re right!....Maine’s Second Congressional district is roughly 80% of the state and, from what I heard, the largest congressional district in area east of the Mississippi River.

I live in this district and voted for our new President.