Just when 69-year-old presumptive GOP and real estate tycoon Donald Trump thought he’d have it easier after winning the May 3 Indiana Primary, the mainstream media has piled on echoing Democratic front-runner former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s narrative: Trump’s a racist. Coming from all quarters, Trump finds himself accused of racism for criticizing U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel currently handling a class action lawsuit against Trump University. Badgering Trump in CNN interview June 3, news anchor Jake Tapper pushed Hillary’s racism charge. “If you are saying he can’t do the job because of his race, is that not the definition or racism?” asked Tapper repeatedly. “No, I don’t think so at all,” said Trump, refuting that idea that complaining about a judge’s bias has anything to do with racism. Tapper shows no concern for Trump’s right to a fair trial.
Embroiled in a class action lawsuit over Trump University fraud claims, Trump declined to settle because he had testimony from former students saying they were satisfied with the program. Tapper, or other members of mainstream press, don’t ask Trump about his peripheral involvement in Trump University, largely using his name to market real estate seminars. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), who dropped out after losing his home state of Florida March 15, hammered Trump for the lawsuit, calling Trump a fraud. When you watch CNN’s lineup led by Anderson Cooper, you see unmistakable bias against Trump. Cooper’s pundits like ripping Trump for almost anything, fixating on out-of-context remarks about Muslims, Mexicans or controversial statements about U.S. foreign policy. Whatever the issue, CNN’s in the forefront of assassinating Trump’s ideas and character.
Since Trump became the presumptive GOP nominee after Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich dropped out May 4, the mainstream media has gotten worse, believing the once long-shot now has a good chance to make it to the White House. CNN’s feisty reporter Brianna Keilar set the tone Jan. 28, ripping Trump for skipping the Fox News Debate before the Iowa Caucus to host a fund-raiser for military charities. After raising nearly $6 million, CNN led the charge against Trump, insisting he didn’t follow through. Despite raising nearly $6 million, CNN routinely blasts Trump for not following through with the entire amount. When it became obvious Trump actually raised most of the promised cash, they accused him of racism for criticizing Latino Judge Curiel. Tapper continued to hammer Trump for raising Curiel’s Mexican heritage as a form of racism.
CNN knows it’s difficult to get a fair trial for anyone in the media, let alone a high profile presidential nominee like Trump. “He’s proud of his heritage. Ok? I’m building a wall,” Trump told Tapper. “He’s a Mexican. We’re building a wall between here and Mexico,” accounting for why Judge Curiel should recuse himself from the case. Skewering Trump for calling Curiel a Mexican, Tapper knew what he meant and how Curiel might be too offended by Trump’s statements to objectively weight the facts in the Trump University case. Reminding Trump that Curiel was born in Indiana, Tapper hammered Trump on his racist remarks. “We live in a society that’s very pro-Mexico, and that’s’ fine. That’s all fine,” said Trump. “But I think he should recuse himself,” because of his personal biases. “Because he’s Latino?” said Tapper, insisting Trump’s remarks were racist.
Trapper’s tirade against Trump mirrors a systemic attempt by CNN to discredit his candidacy. No one in the 2016 presidential campaign sustained more bad publicity by the mainstream media than Trump. Withstanding withering attacks from his Party, Trump’s got a thick skin for the avalanche of bad publicity coming from CNN and other liberal outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post. Trump won the GOP’s nomination in spite of the Party establishment, looking for any opportunity to over-scrutinize his public remarks, especially his rallies often called racist by violent protesters at some of his campaign rallies. CNN often analyzes the violence as proof that Trump’s a racist hell-bent on suppressing Free Speech. When Trump has disruptive protesters at rallies evicted, CNN and other liberal news outlets report the event as racial intolerance, even right wing militancy.
Before the campaign proceeds to the national convention, CNN needs to take inventory of its bias toward Trump. It’s one thing to have a liberal bias for broadcast and print outlets, it’s another thing to deliberately distort the facts and skew reports against one candidate in preference for another. Across the board, CNN’s talk shows stack the deck with anti-Trump pundits. Instead of going with preconceived notions about Trump’s racism, Tapper should have listened to Trump’s concerns about getting a fair trial, something guaranteed by the Constitution. Trump’s the first candidate to take on the media, especially Fox News President Roger Ailes for setting him up in the first GOP debate Aug. 6, 2015. When Trump was blindsided by Megyn Kelly, Trump called foul, accusing the media of dishonesty. Trump’s critiques have invited the media to inappropriately lash out with impunity.
