EMBEDDED VIDEO STREAM HARDLY POLITICALLY BALANCED
by Sharon Rondeau
(Feb. 28, 2017) — While this writer was reading a balanced, although arguably initially misleading, article in The Hartford Courant on Tuesday morning, a series of videos began to play without prompting featuring a single political viewpoint for more than ten minutes.
Muslim, pro-refugee and anti-Trump activists were shown protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, followed by a Yale University Choir singing at a refugee-support event. Sen. Chris Murphy (D) was then on camera stating that he has not yet seen evidence that Trump and the Republican Congress will work with his party.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) is shown speaking about the the state budget shortfall and distressed cities.
Coverage of the opposing political viewpoint begins with a state senator’s brief statement, a Trump supporter’s comments made during the presidential campaign, and brief remarks by Connecticut Republican Senate Leader Len Fasano.
The video stream then reverts back to exclusive coverage of Democrats, particularly Sens. Murphy and Blumenthal, on their stances on Trump’s cabinet selections.
On Wednesday, Malloy is expected to unveil his proposed budget for the financially-distressed state, which the Center for Immigration Studies reports is a “sanctuary state” for illegal aliens.
Blumenthal and Murphy return with an address obviously given during the Christmas season.
The article focused on a State Senate special election being held on Tuesday, with the opening paragraphs suggesting that a Democrat could win the open seat left by Rob Kane, who became state auditor.
The article later admits that a Democrat win in the 32nd district is highly unlikely given its representation by Republicans since 1936 and Kane’s popularity in his last election.
Later in the video montage was a Hillary Clinton supporter who said there was “subtle discrimination” in U.S. voting processes; pro-choice State Sen. Mae Flexer, and Rep. Liz Linehan touting the Affordable Care Act.
More than 30 minutes in, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D) is shown enthusiastically defending the Act, also known as “Obamacare.”
Blumenthal and Murphy then appear speaking in disappointment the day after the November 8 election. Blumenthal said he believed “we need to bring out country together” and that “we should give the new president-elect a chance to lead.”
Both promised to support initiatives they believed would benefit “the people of Connecticut.”
Until the 2016 elections, Democrats held majorities in both the Connecticut House of Representatives and Senate for many years, but on November 8, the Senate became equally split between Democrats and Republicans for the first time since 1896.
In an uncommon arrangement given the equal split, every state senate committee has two co-equal chairmen, one from each party.
On a 10:00 p.m. Monday newscast on WFSB Channel 3, school officials in New London were shown addressing a large assembly of adults and children concerned about possible deportation under the Trump administration. A school administrator was heard telling those in attendance that every child, regardless of immigration status, can have a free, public education in apparent citation of Plyler v. Doe (1982).
While the broadcast was clearly sympathetic to illegals already here, no opposing viewpoint was presented. However, Mark Boughton, mayor Danbury, was shown stating that those conducting their lives “lawfully” will be “OK.”
More than 40 minutes in, an anti-Trump activist says that “the resistance needs to start now” and that a “National Popular Vote” initiative should be implemented as opposed to the Electoral College.
Murphy is then shown advocating for Syrian refugees on the U.S. Senate floor using a photo of two young girls whose father applied and was approved for political asylum in 2015. Murphy said that “Fadi” paid an additional $1,000 to bring his family to the U.S. ahead of the executive order Trump issued on January 25 which temporarily barred travelers from seven Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, but that the family was returned to Jordan as a result of the order.
Secretary of State Denise Merrill and Blumenthal then speak about the “myth” of voter fraud.
