OPINION
Premium

Ari Melber Levels Defamation Accusations at Accurate Quotes, and Media Cemetery Criticisms Are DOA

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Aug 29, 2024
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.

Get access to Brad Slager's "Riffed From the Headlines," a daily VIP feature where he looks to bring accountability to the mainstream media. Use promo code FAKENEWS to get 50% off your VIP membership.

Pathological Media Amnesia – MSNBC

On “The Beat with Ari Melber,” the namesake host invited on Trump campaign advisor Corey Lewandowski, and during the discussion, Melber accused him of previously misquoting something Melber had said during the Republican National Convention. As Lewandowski began reading the quote directly, Melber stated he had never said this line and that defamation was a lingering possibility over this misquote.

Only problem: Lewandowski quoted him accurately, as video evidence exists of Melber saying the very lines. This is a laughably inept dose of outrage from a pundit who seems oblivious to words he spoke on the air just one month ago.

Both Kinds of Standards – VARIOUS OUTLETS

Recommended

Georgia Conducted a Hand Count Audit of Its Election Results. Guess What it Found? Guy Benson
Tom Cotton Issues 'Friendly Reminder' to ICC After Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant Leah Barkoukis

  • Claiming this has never happened while ignoring the current president did the exact same thing.

The press is in a full-bore meltdown over the fact that Donald Trump attended a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the service members who perished in Afghanistan on the anniversary of the airport bombing during the withdrawal from that nation. What is rather clear is how the press is more outraged that Trump made this appearance as Kamala Harris was campaigning and Joe Biden was ensconced on the beach in Delaware. 

Amid the various accusations hurled at Trump by the media, cameras are not permitted in the cemetery for photo-ops around graves. But then this weak claim is unraveled by the fact that Joe Biden managed to do the same and there was never any outrage seen from news outlets.

Pre-Written Field Reports – NBC NEWS

  • Garrett seems a bit tongue-tied when he realizes criticizing a Gold Star mother is bad form.

Garrett Haake took a break from following J.D. Vance and badgering him over comments to sit in a studio and interview the mother of one of the fallen service members. Kelly Hoover calmly informed the reporter that she was more than fine with Trump appearing to honor her son and the others. Her comments should dispel the media critics of this event.

Anti-Social Media – THE NEW YORK TIMES

  • Now, Maggie, if you are meaning to honor family members...

Joining in on the cemetery criticism was Maggie Haberman, who managed to find a woman who has a perished family member in Arlington. Haberman uses the comments of the woman as a means to impugn Trump for his visit to the cemetery as if he was barging into an area in an unwelcomed fashion.

Except for her dose of outrage, Maggie needs to ignore that numerous family members of the fallen soldiers from Afghanistan invited Trump to the ceremony at Arlington National. So, to insult Trump on the basis of a Gold Star family member, she needs to insult the wishes of numerous Gold Star families in the process.

DNC PR Firm – NBC NEWS / THE TODAY SHOW

  • So she isn't able to be interviewed, but her campaign criticisms manage to make it on the air.

Kamala Harris will sit with Dana Bash on CNN tonight for her first-ever interview since she was hand-selected to run the Democratic ticket. Her avoidance of the press has been notable, yet we see on “The Today Show” that she is still somehow able to get her digs on Trump regarding the cemetery visit.

Not only does the absentee candidate get her cut-and-paste comments on the air, but as seen, these are not considered “attacks” on Trump-Vance.

Democratic Custodial Services – ABC NEWS

  • Oh dear, he used stern language toward the candidate ignoring the fallen service members?!

The dependably defensive Mary Bruce was on the scene to support the Harris camp. After her campaign had some choice criticisms over Trump's cemetery appearance, J.D. Vance delivered a harsh rebuke, going so far as to tell Harris to "go to Hell" as a result. Ms. Bruce saw those words and declared that Vance was "using some harsh language," because, as usual, Democrats use savvy campaign criticisms while Republicans get accused of leveling attacks.

And, of course, we never hear of charging that Trump is a fascist or a Nazi gets described as "harsh language."

Legalized Press-titution – DON LEMON

  • Isn't this considered littering?

Don Lemon has a book out on the market. Also, it's out on the street. He posted a video clip of him being coy as he "hides" copies of his book on the streets of New York City. As Nick Fandacaro points out, Lemon may not approve of a likely utilization of his tome.