Opinion: Why is ’60 Minutes’ amplifying the views of Marjorie Taylor Greene? | CNN

Editor’s Observe: Dean Obeidallah, a former legal professional, is the host of SiriusXM radio’s each day program “The Dean Obeidallah Present.” Observe him @[email protected]. The opinions expressed on this commentary are his personal. View extra opinion on CNN.

CNN
 — 

Final 12 months, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia spoke at a white nationalist occasion organized by Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes that precipitated Republican leaders to denounce her.

Final week, Greene’s Twitter account was quickly suspended by the Elon Musk-headed platform over a tweet with a graphic referring to a “Trans Day of Vengeance,” as she denounced a deliberate transgender rights rally.

And are available Tuesday, Greene has introduced plans to protest in New York Metropolis when former President Donald Trump is predicted to be arraigned on an indictment of greater than 30 counts, calling the proceedings towards him an “unconstitutional WITCH HUNT!”

However on Sunday, Greene was featured on CBS’ “60 Minutes” in an interview the long-running present promoted on Twitter with the tease: “Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, nicknamed MTG, isn’t afraid to share her opinions, irrespective of how intense and in-your-face they’re. She sits down with Lesley Stahl this Sunday on 60 Minutes.” The pictures hooked up to this tweet by “60 Minutes” embody Greene and Stahl strolling by way of the US Capitol, taking a stroll exterior and Greene exhibiting Stahl one thing on her cellphone.

Within the section that aired Sunday evening, Stahl famous the congresswoman had moved from the perimeter to the GOP’s entrance row in two years regardless of a “sharp tongue” and “some fairly radical views” in addition to “excessive” feedback reminiscent of “the Democrats are a celebration of pedophiles.” Stahl additionally referred to video of Greene chasing a Parkland, Florida, faculty capturing survivor, nonetheless sustaining that the 2020 election was stolen and failing to criticize Trump over spending. (The interview was carried out earlier than information of his indictment.)

However Stahl didn’t point out Greene spoke at a white nationalist occasion a 12 months in the past whereas a member of Congress or her excessive anti-Muslim views and her protection of January 6 rioters.

Criticism of CBS for amplifying Greene has been swift and well-deserved even earlier than this system aired. Former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois tweeted beforehand: “Wow. Insane that 60 min would do that.” (Kinzinger is a CNN senior political commentator.)

Journalist Molly Jong-Quick additionally slammed “60 Minutes” with the tweet: “Consideration is forex and 60 minutes is spending its forex on the Jewish house lasers girl.” (Jong-Quick was apparently referring to Greene’s previous declare {that a} large California wildfire was began by “a laser” beamed from house managed by a distinguished Jewish banking household.)

David Hogg, who survived the 2018 horrific faculty capturing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive Faculty in Parkland and has since develop into an activist towards gun violence, responded, “I stay up for your questions on why she thinks faculty shootings are faux and why she’s supported QAnon.”

Greene amplified the conspiracy concept — two years earlier than being elected to Congress — that the Parkland capturing that took 17 lives was staged. And in 2019, Greene appeared on video confronting Hogg exterior the Capitol when he was championing legal guidelines to avoid wasting lives from gun violence, screaming that the then-teenager was a “coward.” She additionally referred to as Hogg “#littleHitler” on social media.

Greene’s personal tweet selling Sunday’s section was not stuffed along with her typical smears of “faux information” when she doesn’t just like the protection. Relatively, Greene urged folks to tune in as she praised “60 Minutes” host Stahl (and misspelled her first title): “It was an honor to spend just a few days with the legendary icon Leslie Stahl and gifted crew @60Minutes.” Greene added, “Leslie is a trailblazer for girls in journalism. And whereas we might disagree on some points, I respect her significantly.”

Now, it’s true that “60 Minutes” over its 50-plus-year historical past has featured what the present has dubbed “controversial” visitors. These embody a 2000 interview with Oklahoma Metropolis bomber Timothy McVeigh, whose 1995 terrorist assault left 168 lifeless, together with 19 kids. And the present did a 1979 interview with Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Maybe “60 Minutes” views Greene — who has repeatedly downplayed and even defended the January 6, 2021, assault plus referred to as for the GOP to develop into the get together of “Christian nationalism” — within the vein of its lengthy record of controversial visitors. (CBS had not responded to a request from CNN for remark at time of publishing.)

Nevertheless, the selection of Greene as a visitor immediately remembers the feedback of then-CBS CEO Les Moonves throughout Trump’s 2016 presidential marketing campaign when he admitted that Trump’s candidacy “will not be good for America, but it surely’s rattling good for CBS.” Moonves added, “The cash’s rolling in and that is enjoyable. … (T)his goes to be an excellent 12 months for us,” concluding, “Sorry. It’s a horrible factor to say. However convey it on, Donald. Preserve going.”

Moonves could also be gone from CBS, but it surely seems his mindset continues at “60 Minutes.” And which may be good for “60 Minutes,” but it surely’s positively not good for America.