In an encore of their performance from earlier in the day CBS and NBC heaped their praises on to President Barack Obama Tuesday evening. “He eulogized the slain police officers of Dallas, but he seized this moment of national attention to plea for reason from both sides of a racial divide,” proclaimed Anchor Scott Pelley on CBC Evening News. Pelley seemed to be in awe of the president during his report.
“Mr. Obama eulogized the five officers, but he also brought into the room the memory of the two men killed by police this month who were the reason for the Dallas protest,” Pelley continued, “The president said we must reject despair. We are not as divided as we seem.”
The coverage of Obama’s speech was similar on NBC Nightly News. “President Obama faced an even more difficult challenge in Dallas today, paying tribute to the five policemen murdered in Thursday's ambush,” stated Anchor Lester Holt, “while at the same time speaking frankly about racial bias and invoking the names of African-American men killed by police.”
NBC reporter Gabe Gutierrez did note that, “Some of his comments drew mixed reactions from an audience filled with law enforcement. Also receiving mixed reactions online” The only problem is that Gutierrez failed to interview one person, or get one quote, from anyone who disagreed with something the president said.
ABC’s reporting was vastly different from their competitors. The network focus on both President Obama and former President George W. Bush. “President Obama and President Bush, both men clearly moved as they paid their respects to the police officers killed in Dallas,” said David Muir on World News Tonight, “First ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush on-hand, too.” The theme continued throughout their report.
Spanish-language network Telemundo decided to shatter to solemnness of the ceremony by giving attention to the anti-cop protesters outside the venue. “Nobody says anything, everyone is frightened by the arrogance of the police,” yell an unidentified protester to the network.