CBS, NBC Rage Over Trump’s ‘Outrageous’ ‘Mortal Sin’ on Golf Course

Newsbusters.org ^ | June 23, 2017 | Scott Whitlock

[Kaslin]

The journalists at CBS and NBC have found a new Donald Trump “outrage” to hyperventilate over: The President drove his golf cart onto a green at one of the courses he owns. This, according to CBS This Morning guest host David Westin, is a “mortal sin.” Today's Matt Lauer insisted he was “gasping” over video of Trump. 

On CBS, co-host Norah O’Donnell huffed, “Well, golf is a sport of etiquette, but President Trump appears to have committed a golfing sin.” Continuing the religious language, unusual for liberal journalists, Westin excoriated, “This is a mortal sin, actually, if you're a golfer. A mortal sin.” 

CBS, NBC Meltdown Over Trump’s ‘Outrageous’ ‘Mortal Sin’ on Golf Course

A mortal sin? Even as a joke, this type of language is way over the top. Over on NBC’s Today, Lauer mentioned the story at 7am as the show opened. He hyped, “A golden rule of golf broken. You won't believe who is behind the wheel today.” 

A minute later, he marveled, “As a golfer, I'm gasping over that last story. But I'll save my outrage.” Later in the 7am hour, Lauer returned to the story, still annoyed: “That's not good. That really isn't good. It's a nice golf course, by the way, but to take a heavy golf cart and to ride right across the green, that just breaks every rule of golf.” 

CBS This Morning devoted 41 seconds to freaking out over Trump’s golf cart error. That was just four seconds less than a movie star jokingly encouraging the assassination of the President. Talk about misplaced priorities.  

Transcripts are below: 

CBS This Morning 6/23/17 7:30am ET

NORAH O’DONNELL: Well, golf is a sport of etiquette, but President Trump appears to have committed a golfing sin. Yep, he's driving a golf cart on a putting green. The President will probably get a pass. He owns the Bedminster course. I think that's a violation that can usually get you kicked out of a particular club.

DAVID WESTIN (Bloomberg/CBS guest host): No kidding. This is a mortal sin, actually, if you're a golfer. A mortal sin.

GAYLE KING: David, as Norah knows, I don't play golf. But I’m thinking, are golfers just clutching their pearls? You’re looking at that going, “No!”

O’DONNELL: Yes. Yes, they are

KING: But he owns the course. Does that matter?

O’DONNELL: Well, it’s the green. They are expensive to upkeep

WESTIN: Imagine what the green keepers are thinking.

O’DONNELL: They’re the ones that are really —

KING: They’re really clutching their pearls.

Today 6/23/17 7am

MATT LAUER: A golden rule of golf broken. You won’t believe who is behind the wheel today.

7:01

LAUER: As a golfer, I’m gasping over that last story. But I’ll save my outrage for later.

7:51

MATT LAUER: All right. I need a moment. Dylan's over in the orange room with a story that pains me as a fan of the sport of golf. Dylan?

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: It's all right.

DYLAN DREYER: I'm right there with you, Matt. We all know that President Trump loves the game of golf. He owns nearly 20 golf courses and has held countless tournaments so you would think that he would know the game's etiquette pretty well. Well, a newly surfaced video begs to differ. We have to warn you, for golfers out there, this may disturb you.

So, take a look at this. Driving all over the green at Trump National Golf Club in new Jersey. That is a major no-no for anyone who knows the game and as you can imagine, the reaction online to this video is a mash-up of sports etiquette and politics. So let's dig right in. Chris writes, “This is unacceptable, driving on the green. Sad.” While Aaron tweets, “He owns the course, he can drive wherever he wants on it.” Makes a good point there. Brian writing, “I don't golf and even I know that's not acceptable” and even some Trump supporters saying, “This is the first thing President Trump has done that I didn't like. I feel guilty even walking on the green sometimes. How do you guys feel about this?

LAUER: Yeah, that's not good. That really isn't good. It's a nice golf course, by the way, but to take a heavy golf cart and to ride right across the green, that just breaks every rule of golf.

[FamiliarFace]

I’ve heard of that. I am a nature lover, and I think it does ground me to try to connect on a frequent basis with the world God designed for us.

I’ll tell you, it was a very enjoyable time, walking barefoot on that pristine, well-tended carpet of luscious green grass. I figured I had never walked on any grass so nice, and I wanted to know what it felt like. Fortunately, in Jamaica, you can get away with a lot of “improper” things like that, that you couldn’t do in the US.

[ransomnote]

I objected to Obama using the desk in the oval office as a park bench: http://www.theblaze.com/news/2013/09/01/does-seeing-president-obamas-foot-on-the-oval-office-desk-make-your-blood-boil/

[M Kehoe]

Is it true that you don’t drive carts on the green? Yes.
Because it is someone else’s property, and if everyone did it, the greens would be harmed.

Doesn’t the president’s company own the course?

Well shut my mouth.

5.56mm

[fortes fortuna juvat]

>>I’ve committed a mortal sin on a golf course, too. I took off my socks and shoes and walked the whole course barefoot. It was lovely!

I’ve committed a mortal sin on several golf courses late at night with my Sweetie, and she just loved it, even without a blanket!

[FamiliarFace]

Ah, the things we confess on FR! ;)

[Fitzy_888]

Looks like executive priveledge to me, he does own the place.

[poconopundit]

Yeah, now let’s hope Trump’s got a picture of Obama doing soomething on the golf course.

[musicman]

Thanks!!

[JPJones]

DAVID WESTIN (Bloomberg/CBS guest host):

“No kidding. This is a mortal sin, actually, if you’re a golfer. A mortal sin.

Say Norah, you gotta pool over there at your house...or a pond?”

[hal ogen]

Idiot LIB asshats. He could drive a Caterpillar tractor over it...he owns it.

[octex]

I’ve committed a mortal sin on a golf course, too. I took off my socks and shoes and walked the whole course barefoot. It was lovely!
****************************
Reminded me that former BYU QB Jim McMahon used to play barefoot in charity golf tournaments after (or during) his pro career.

[VideoDoctor]

As Trump can say.. “My Course.. MY Rules.”

[generally]

When I read the headline, my reactions were:

1. How important could this be? It’s golf, fer cryin’ out loud.
2. I really hope he’s not a cheater like 0vomit and Bill.
3. The media continues to show how desperate they are.

After reading the article:
1. It’s his course, he can do whatever he wants to do.
2. I’m happy to find out he’s not a cheater.
3. The media continues to show how desperate they are.

[Let's Roll]

And not only that, he was eating a double scoop ice cream cone as he was driving. Talk about priviledge and decadence.

[oldtech]

No wonder we have problems. So the President who owns the golf course drives a golf cart over a portion normally reserved for foot traffic only. So what? If he owns it,I’m sure he has a hand in the upkeep of it. The groundskeepers there probably make more than I ever did on my best day when I was working. How about worrying about the important things in the life of the country instead of minor stuff like this? Right;I am not a golfer,but I do understand why the green is important.