Many on the left were apoplectic over CNN’s decision to hold a so-called town hall event Wednesday night, not just with the former President Donald Trump, but with a room full of Trump’s supporters all hooting and hollering for their man.
“This is CNN’s lowest moment as an organization,” tweeted writer James Fallows. Even Trump’s niece, Mary L. Trump, weighed in: “CNN is anti-American,” she wrote, absurdly.
With so few defending CNN, we’ll step into the breach. Trump is the leading Republican candidate for president. He has many supporters, and while some viewers clearly were shocked to see them show up in all their glory on their screens, they are not going away anytime soon. CNN has the right, and arguably also the obligation, to interrogate all of that.
And while we sympathize with the argument about delivering oxygen to a liar, that has not worked in the past with this aberration of American politics. We got yet more of Trump’s unhinged blather, insults, offensive observations and lies.
The real scandal this week has not been CNN but the reaction of Republicans to what happened in a New York courtroom this week. In a civil case that concluded Tuesday, a jury of six men and three women awarded writer E. Jean Carroll $5 million in damages after finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. His lawyers have said he will appeal.
Trump called the verdict a “disgrace.” In fact, Trump and his defenders are the disgrace.
To listen to some Republican lawmakers, the verdict merely was the continuance of the political attacks on Trump. “It’s just one more story focusing on my former running mate that I know is a great fascination to members of the national media, but I just don’t think it’s where the American people are focused,” said former Vice President Mike Pence.
Say what, Mr. Pence? As you know, or should know, a jury verdict is not a “story.” And it is not the act of a politically motivated prosecutor, either. Nor a partisan publication. Nor Twitter. Nor a town hall on CNN or any other network.
A jury verdict is a verdict. And, in this case, a verdict that should be cause for Republicans to banish this man from their midst, and their political affections. We’re still waiting for the party to come to its senses.
Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook
More Top Picks Best Transparent Practice Locks
.Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].