Chris Cuomo Don Lemon
It was suspected there was a reason the former backers of the protest violence began a new narrative.
It has been a banner week over at the Comedy News Network. CNN has had a tough time with the paradox on how to report on a new batch of riots breaking out, this time in Wisconsin. After months of coverage vacillating between tacit approval and enthusiastic backing, this week saw something approaching schizophrenia. As things initially erupted the network went with its prior stance, that of massaging the messaging about the violence. It became so blatant that this built-in mockery led to this graphic becoming a meme on social media.
Earlier this week, as Kenosha burned on camera for all to see, CNN referred to the riots there as a “fiery but mostly peaceful protest.” (9/) pic.twitter.com/CB4HGIXcin
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) August 28, 2020
Mostly @CNN
✅Mostly Peaceful Riots, Violence & Looting
✅Mostly Partisan – @DonLemon & @BrianStelter even admit because they say their left-wing opinion matters
✅Mostly FictionBrian Stelter even used the "Mostly" Defense.https://t.co/mHXtNsQ062https://t.co/AX0CDzeomh pic.twitter.com/xYbySkqllU
— RoadMN (@RoadMN) August 28, 2020
But then at almost the same time CNN’s primetime hosts Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo suddenly were taking the stance that the riots are something to be rebuked by the Democrats. Not only did Lemon make the astounding declaration that black communities actually wanted to see an increased police presence, he stated the violence was all of a sudden a negative entity.
“I think this is a blind spot for Democrats. I think Democrats are ignoring this problem or hoping that it will go away, and it’s not going to go away,” Lemon said. The sound of jaws falling open was heard in many areas following that announcement. Don then let slip what was motivating his turnabout on the issue — ”It’s showing up in the polling. It’s showing up in focus groups.’’
The Democrats and their allies in the media have been pushing this call for unrest with the common goal of having it reflect on President Trump. They expected to have the narrative of an entire nation on fire — both physically and socially — to reflect poorly on the President in November. It would be a campaign issue of their own making. But they never factored that a fabricated social outrage would hold less interest to voters than their own personal safety.
As I covered during the GOP convention, the message from that event of dedication to law and order was more than just an opposition position; a study from Princeton shows voter preferences for stronger authority and GOP support following riots. Now it is being reflected in the polls.
In the second week of August one poll by Rasmussen showed the preference likely voters held to have police quell the violent outbreaks being seen. Half called for the ending, while 38% supported the protestors. This is a two-pronged assault on the messaging from the left. People are opposed to the rioting, and they are lending support to the police, calling for them to take action against violence. Then more stark numbers arrived that bolstered this reaction.
Another poll, this one by Marquette Law School, conducted in Wisconsin, showed the downward shift in public support for the Black Lives Matter movement. In June the 4-day average saw strong support for the protests, with a 61%-34% approval over disapproval rate. Two months later that support eroded, as it fell to parity at 48%-48%. These are enough to turn heads at party headquarters, but what had to really shock Don Lemon and the DNC was the poll was conducted just days before the controversial police shooting that sparked the latest riots in Kenosha.
The panic is palpable. Just as they learned of this loss of support as a result of rioting another one broke out at nearly the same moment. Then at the GOP convention they witnessed the messaging that called for a support of police and the call to bring law and order back to the cities, and things looked unsettling. Trump’s new approval numbers must be sending a chill.
All of a sudden that permissiveness and the backing of the uproar was taken down, and Don Lemon and company are calling for a change in tactics. The cheerleaders suddenly are waving for the crowds to disperse, and now they are pleading for Kamala Harris and her running mate to adopt the very opposition language that has been labeled as ”racist’’ all summer long.
This is such a revealing moment. For tortuous months anyone calling to curtail violence, destruction, attacks on police, and the threats to communities were deemed intolerant. Only now, when it looks bad for the prospects of Democrats, do the sophisticates in the press consider rioting to be condemnable. When it was politically expedient the burning of cities and violence visited on citizens was an acceptable result.
