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NBC’s Holt Lectures Viewers on the Meaning of the Statue of Liberty
Newsbusters ^ | 1/30/17 | Nicholas Fondacaro

Posted on 01/31/2017 3:00:23 AM PST by markomalley

With the debate over the legality of President Donald Trump’s immigration and travel ban still raging Monday evening, NBC broadcasted their Nightly News program “from the shadow of the Statue of Liberty” accompanied by a lecture from anchor Lester Holt. “Behind me the Statue of Liberty, which for nearly 130 years, has symbolized the welcome arms of a country of immigrants,” he opined at the start of the program, “But tonight she also stands as a symbolic flashpoint in a country in the midst of soul searching over the limits of its generosity in an age of international terrorism.”

NBC, much like its competitors ABC and CBS, spent most of their Monday night program centered on the White House’s controversial executive order. “The White House calls it a necessary step to protect Americans at home from threats from abroad,” Holt continued, “Critics call it a solution in search of a problem and an unconstitutional and thinly disguised ban on Muslims.”

But neither ABC nor CBS treated it as a time to seemingly pontificate about the morality of the issue, let alone march out to the Statue of Liberty and use it as a prop:

And a final thought before we leave you tonight. There's been a lot of talk about who we are as a country and how we should represent ourselves to the world. For many, the ideals inscribed on the statue behind me frame that discussion. For others, the threats of a modern era necessitate adapting to a new reality. It is complicated and in many ways forms a new crossroads in America. And we will remain at the intersection of this unfolding story to report it.

Long before the show started, NBC was hyping Lester’s lecture with a video tweeted out by the NBC Nightly News account, where he said of Lady Liberty, “In many ways, it has become a symbol of a country right now wrestling to reconcile its creed versus its security needs.” And of the veracity of their reporting, he claimed, “Tonight we’ve got all the sides covered in this. The legal debate. The debates about what we saw at the airports. As well as the rationale for the president’s decision.” But the only side they covered it from was the left.

If NBC really wanted to cover “all the sides,” then they would have done what CBS Evening News did and actually report on the support for the ban. “Today the White House said that most Americans agree with the immigration ban and a respected poll from Quinnipiac University agrees,” announced anchor Scott Pelley, “It was taken three weeks ago, and by margin of 48 to 42 percent, American voters support suspending immigration from terror-prone regions, even if it means turning away refugees.”

CBS reporter Dean Reynolds actually went out and spoke with supporters of Trump and the travel ban, something NBC and ABC failed to do. “Trump supporters were on hand at Los Angeles International Airport this weekend voicing their belief that the president's immigration order is sensible and overdue,” he reported. Reynolds sat down with Trump voter and internet entrepreneur Vito Glazers who told him, “Well, I don't think it's perfect. I do think it's a great step to creating much-needed action in the right direction.”

When asked if he thought politics was involved with the order’s opposition Glazers joked, “Absolutely. I think that if we were in the middle of a zombie apocalypse that the left would find a way to protest for zombies' rights.”

Instead of lecturing America on the values of liberty, Holt would have been better served by going out and talking to the people. 

Transcripts below: 

NBC Nightly News
January 30, 2017
7:01:20 PM Eastern

LESTER HOLT: Good evening. Behind me the Statue of Liberty, which for nearly 130 years, has symbolized the welcome arms of a country of immigrants. But tonight she also stands as a symbolic flashpoint in a country in the midst of soul searching over the limits of its generosity in an age of international terrorism. This evening protesters joined by some members of Congress have gathered outside the Supreme Court in Washington. Following a weekend of fierce and emotional reaction and confusion over president Trump's temporary ban on travel to the United States by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries. The White House calls it a necessary step to protect Americans at home from threats from abroad. Critics call it a solution in search of a problem and an unconstitutional and thinly disguised ban on Muslims. Tonight we'll hear from both sides.

7:28:44 PM

HOLT: And a final thought before we leave you tonight. There's been a lot of talk about who we are as a country and how we should represent ourselves to the world. For many, the ideals inscribed on the statue behind me frame that discussion. For others, the threats of a modern era necessitate adapting to a new reality. It is complicated and in many ways forms a new crossroads in America. And we will remain at the intersection of this unfolding story to report it. That will do it for us on a Monday night. I'm Lester Holt. For all of us at NBC News, thank you for watching and good night from Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

...

CBS Evening News
January 30, 2017
6:40:27 PM Eastern

SCOTT PELLEY: Today the White House said that most Americans agree with the immigration ban and a respected poll from Quinnipiac University agrees. It was taken three weeks ago, and by margin of 48 to 42 percent, American voters support suspending immigration from terror-prone regions, even if it means turning away refugees. 53 percent support requiring immigrants from Muslim countries to register with the government. Here's Dean Reynolds.

[Cuts to video]

DEAN REYNOLDS: Trump supporters were on hand at Los Angeles International Airport this weekend voicing their belief that the president's immigration order is sensible and overdue.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: He’s keeping our country safe and lawful.

REYNOLDS: Vito Glazers is a Chicago internet entrepreneur who voted for the president. What do you think of this executive order on immigration?

VITO GLAZERS: Well, I don't think it's perfect. I do think it's a great step to creating much-needed action in the right direction.

REYNOLDS: Mr. Trump's stand on immigration was important in winning Glazers' support, and while he's only one voice, polls say his views are representative of many fellow Trump supporters.

GLAZERS: I don't want America to end up in a place where political correctness is being used against us to destroy us.

REYNOLDS: Do you think politics is at work here?

GLAZERS: Absolutely. I think that if we were in the middle of a zombie apocalypse that the left would find a way to protest for zombies' rights.

[Cuts back to live]

REYNOLDS: He also said something else that probably a lot of Trump supporters agree with, Scott, that it’s ironic that so many people are upset with a president who is merely following through on promises he made during the campaign.

PELLEY: Dean Reynolds in Chicago, thanks



TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: bordersecurity; condescendingliberal; immigration; media; molesterdolt; msm; nbcnews; travelban; trump
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To: pepsionice

The script comes from the globalist subversives inside the intelligence communities - usually the CIA. The CIA has totally penetrated the news media in the USA and around the world.

Some of these people are good, and some aren’t.


61 posted on 01/31/2017 6:18:03 AM PST by greeneyes
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To: markomalley

I don’t remember many Japs and Germans freely entering the country in 1943? We are at war for our sovereignty and western civilization.


62 posted on 01/31/2017 6:20:45 AM PST by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed)
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To: Mr. K; laconic
The good news is that less than half the country believes the Lester Holts of #FakeNews.

Perhaps their employers should take that into account at the next salary negotiation...

63 posted on 01/31/2017 6:24:58 AM PST by kiryandil (Will Hillary's BrownShirt Media thugs demand that The Deplorables all wear six-pointed Orange Stars?)
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To: odawg; Lazamataz
About twenty years after it was placed, Emma Lazarus, a one worlder, placed the plaque on the Statute without any authorization

Thanks for the history lesson. For most of my life, I have been blaming the French for this cruel joke...

I should have been blaming Emma Lazarus.

Is our own Laz related in any way?

64 posted on 01/31/2017 6:25:33 AM PST by SomeCallMeTim ( The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them!)
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To: markomalley
soul searching over the limits of its generosity in an age of international terrorism.

"The Snake"

On her way to work one morning Down the path along side the lake A tender hearted woman saw a poor half frozen snake His pretty colored skin had been all frosted with the dew "Poor thing," she cried, "I'll take you in and I'll take care of you" "Take me in tender woman Take me in, for heaven's sake Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake

She wrapped him all cozy in a comforter of silk And laid him by her fireside with some honey and some milk She hurried home from work that night and soon as she arrived She found that pretty snake she'd taken to had bee revived "Take me in, tender woman Take me in, for heaven's sake Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake

She clutched him to her bosom, "You're so beautiful," she cried "But if I hadn't brought you in by now you might have died" She stroked his pretty skin again and kissed and held him tight Instead of saying thanks, the snake gave her a vicious bite "Take me in, tender woman Take me in, for heaven's sake Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake "I saved you," cried the woman "And you've bitten me, but why? You know your bite is poisonous and now I'm going to die" "Oh shut up, silly woman," said the reptile with a grin "You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in "Take me in, tender woman Take me in, for heaven's sake Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake

65 posted on 01/31/2017 6:42:52 AM PST by super7man (Madam Defarge, knitting, knitting, always knitting)
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To: markomalley

The left, putting their agenda above people’s safety and well-being for decades.


66 posted on 01/31/2017 6:55:25 AM PST by headstamp 2 (Fear is the mind killer.)
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To: Getready

It’s a symbol of freedom within the law. Not a symbol of personal or national anarchy without consequence.
........................................................

It was originally simply a symbol of friendship between two countries. France gave us the Statue of Liberty over a hundred years ago.


67 posted on 01/31/2017 7:03:23 AM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
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To: RummyChick

The statute was meant for Egypt and she was going to be wearing the dress of a slave. Did Holt mention that
.................................................................
What are you talking about? The statue was a gift from France in 1887. The engineering was done by Eiffel, same guy who designed the Eiffel tower.


68 posted on 01/31/2017 7:09:05 AM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
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To: spintreebob; pepsionice; quesney; Liz; greeneyes

Great points, all of you. Thanks.

Other factors conveniently ignored by progs/subversives:

1. 1798. Alien and Sedition Acts provided for DEPORTATION of “dangerous” aliens.
2. 1882. Convicts, lunatics, and those who were UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES were barred from entering.
3. 1885. Illegal to import unskilled aliens as laborers.
4. 1891. Those who had financial assistance in getting here were barred from entry. (i.e., if you are poor and dependent on others, you are not welcome)
5. 1892. Women traveling alone and not met by a man were immediately deported.
6. 1903. Anarchists, epileptics, polygamists, beggars denied entry to U.S.
7. 1906. English proficiency required.
8. 1907. People with physical defects, mental defects, tuberculosis barred from entry. UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN barred from entry.
9. 1917. Literacy tests.
10. 1940. All aliens fingerprinted and registered.

At various times, people from certain countries were barred from entering and/or from citizenship, including Chinese, all of Asia, Japan.

One big factor that seems to escape a lot of liberals is that in the past, traveling to the US was a huge undertaking and most often a one-way trip. People arriving here intended to assimilate and become Americans. They did not return to their countries of origin for frequent visits. They did not take advantage of opportunity here in for the primary purpose of sending money back to their HOME countries. Today, the US is looked on by far too many as a place where you can run multiple scams to get easy money and live off the American taxpayers, not as a place that you can become a part of.


69 posted on 01/31/2017 7:28:14 AM PST by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)
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To: spintreebob
The Statue of Liberty does not say: Yearning to be terrorists or Yearning to be welfare parasites or yearning to spread Sharia.

It is an invasion and the purpose is to spread Islam. Muslims will fight for the return of Mohamed. Their child molesting pedophile prophet will not return until all the world is Muslim.

To get there, the Muslims are encouraged to kill, rape, behead, harass etc. Infidels until they either convert to Islam or are killed.

The problem is NOT that Muslims want to live where you live, the problem is they are going to kill you if you don't convert.


70 posted on 01/31/2017 7:29:52 AM PST by politicianslie (What would a terrorist do if he were made POTUS? : Exactly what Obama is doing)
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To: Mollypitcher1

There is a very long history ..and it was not meant for us.

It was meant for Egypt. With a slave dress.


71 posted on 01/31/2017 7:31:44 AM PST by RummyChick
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To: pepsionice

The Statue of Liberty was built to commemorate the end of slavery in America, not immigration, legal or otherwise.


72 posted on 01/31/2017 7:32:20 AM PST by Moonman62 (Make America Great Again!)
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To: RummyChick

It seems a lot of people are clueless about the Statute of Liberty. I suggest you look up the history.


73 posted on 01/31/2017 7:32:43 AM PST by RummyChick
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To: markomalley

NBS, Lester Holt - they are liberal activists pretending to be in the news business. - Sorry, your whining I find amusing, not alarming.


74 posted on 01/31/2017 7:34:48 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: Moonman62

No it wasn’t. Gosh, I cant believe so many here don’t have a clue

Start here
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/statue-liberty-was-originally-muslim-woman-180957377/


75 posted on 01/31/2017 7:35:05 AM PST by RummyChick
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To: markomalley
Emma Lazarus was an avowed socialist.

The Statue of Liberty had nothing to do with immigration. It was not intended to be so. America sought to use it as a symbol of republicanism, not the party but the form of government. It had little or nothing to do with immigration except that Bartholdi placed his statue on Bedloe’s Island in New York Harbor because he knew, if located there, everyone passing in and out of the harbor would see it. It wasn’t until Emma Lazarus wrote her now famous poem that the Statue of Liberty became associated with immigration. Emma Lazarus’ poem shaped the way we see the Statue of Liberty and, in turn, the way many Americans view immigration policy.

What people may not know is that the inspiration for the statue came from another progressive political thinker, Édouard René Lefèbvre de Laboulaye. Laboulaye was a participant in the Paris commune of 1870 and the one who conceived of the idea of a gift to the United States on the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This gift would be in the form of a giant statue depicting Liberty. He convinced his friend, Frédéric Bartholdi to take the commission and create this New Colossus.

So there you have it. One of the most iconic pieces of Americana, conceived by a French communist and commemorated by an American socialist.

76 posted on 01/31/2017 7:35:53 AM PST by kabar
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To: kabar
So there you have it. One of the most iconic pieces of Americana, conceived by a French communist and commemorated by an American socialist.

No wonder Lester Holt worships at her feet.

77 posted on 01/31/2017 7:37:01 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: RummyChick
This is the original design by the designer



78 posted on 01/31/2017 7:42:57 AM PST by RummyChick
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To: kabar

Missing a lot of the story...and it wasnt designed for New york. It was designed for Egypt.

In fact, at one point Boston tried to get it. The designer at one point thought about Philadelphia because there he raised enough funds for the head of the statue.

The designer came to American and tried all kinds of fundraising efforts.

People truly don’t understand how the Statue of Liberty came about.


79 posted on 01/31/2017 7:51:56 AM PST by RummyChick
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To: RummyChick


"“An Isolated and Useless Arm” Despite sparking public interest, the Centennial Exhibition raised concerns about fate of the rest of Lady Liberty’s body and, in September 1876, the New York Times reported that “the statue has been suspended in consequence of a lack of funds.” Bartholdi chose the arm (over other body parts) because it would make an acceptable standalone structure if the project failed, and for some time, it seemed very possible that the arm is all we would have."

https://www.nypl.org/blog/2015/04/07/statue-liberty-pedestal
80 posted on 01/31/2017 7:56:34 AM PST by RummyChick
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