Mainstream Media Scream: NBC's Chuck Todd scolds GOP 'politics of fear'
This week's Mainstream Media Scream features NBC Meet the Press host Chuck Todd's slap of Republican presidential candidates for pushing the "politics of fear" and "Islamophobia" after the ISIS attacks in Paris.
On Sunday's show, Todd used clips of GOP candidates to tease a panel discussion. He said, "How will the ISIS threat and the politics of fear impact the 2016 campaign? Also, Syrian refugees and America, are there legitimate reasons to slow the process or is this just Islamophobia?"
And in another plug for the upcoming segment, he said, "The attacks in Paris have shifted the focus of the campaign, at least temporarily, from the economy to terrorism. And while President Obama's response to the Paris attacks was roundly criticized for being a bit tone deaf and dispassionate, the Republican presidential candidates have been playing on the politics of fear and in an extraordinary way."
GOP quotes followed:
Pataki drops out with a shot at Trump
Ex-governor had parting instructions for how to "make America great again."
Donald Trump: A database is okay. And a watchlist is okay. And surveillance is okay. If you don't mind, I want to be – I want to surveil! I want surveillance of these people that are coming in. I want surveillance of certain mosques, okay? If that's okay. I want surveillance. And you know what? We've had it before and we'll have it again.
Sen. Ted Cruz: Those planes that flew into the Twin Towers weren't piloted by a bunch of ticked off Presbyterians.
Ben Carson: If there's a rabid dog running around your neighborhood, you're probably not going to assume something good about that dog, and you're probably going to push your children out of the way. Doesn't mean that you hate all dogs.
Todd wrapped it up this way, "The politics of fear can be effective politically, but when does tough rhetoric turn into Islamophobia?"
Media Research Center Vice President of Research Brent Baker explains our pick: "Not even George Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton operative, was as obsessed on Sunday as was Todd with trying to discredit the Republican reaction to the Paris terrorism. Accusing conservatives of using fear and hatred is a very old media song rarely, if ever, applied against liberals."
Democrat-backing billionaire to raise bucks for Kasich
Ron Bukle has contributed to Democrats' campaigns in the past, including Hillary Clinton's.
Rating: Four out of five screams.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com.
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