CNN Blasts 'Racist' Mt. Rushmore Ahead of Trump's Visit, Praised Obama's 2008 Visit
Network turns on historic monument 'wrestled away from Native American' land
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Ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the historic Mount Rushmore, news network CNN described it as a “monument of two slave owners,” which was "wrestled [sic] away from Native American" land.
But back when the then-Sen. Barack Obama visited on the campaign trail in 2008; the landmark was marveled by the network with no mention of slavery or racism.
CNN anchor Ron Marciano said in 2008:
“Barack Obama is campaigning in South Dakota. That state’s primary is Tuesday. Obama arrived there late last night and got a good look around Mt. Rushmore — it’s quite a sight if you haven’t seen it.”
Fellow CNN anchor Betty Nguyen added:
“Barack Obama is in South Dakota today. He arrived there last night. Take a look at this."
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"He got a good glimpse of the majestic Mount Rushmore," Nguyen added.
"Well, South Dakota and Montana have closed out the primary season on Tuesday.”
Fascinating how CNN called Mount Rushmore "majestic" and "quite a sight" in 2008 when Obama visited, but now its a symbol of slavery and stolen landhttps://t.co/3sV1ZEfW9L https://t.co/GTIH9tzOim pic.twitter.com/5Vu6uQp4XS
— Zach Parkinson (@AZachParkinson) July 3, 2020
But twelve years later, CNN's narrative on the historical monument has changed somewhat.
Senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns said:
[A]t a time of racial unease, when protesters are tearing down statues of slaveholders and calling for the names of Confederate generals to be removed from army bases, the Rushmore event is a reminder that Trump is fighting to preserve these relics of heritage and history that some see as symbols of oppression. And to indigenous people, Mt. Rushmore, with four white presidents, two of whom were slave owners, is one of those symbols.
Sioux Falls Argus Leader columnist Stu Whitney was interviewed by CNN who said:
I think that is a source of concern for people that see this certainly within a state with a Native American population nearly 10 percent and much higher in Rapid City, concerned about a place that has a lot of spiritual significance, And historical significance when you look at what they and most historians consider to be broken promises and broken treaties.
We could check the archives, but safe bet that this is the first time CNN has ever described Mount Rushmore as:
— Tim Murtaugh - Download the Trump 2020 app today! (@TimMurtaugh) July 3, 2020
“A monument of two slave owners and on land wrestled away from Native Americans.”
What changed, @CNN?pic.twitter.com/0ukqhyVH7B
CNN correspondent Leyla Santiago reported:
“President Trump will be at Mt. Rushmore where he’ll be standing in front of a monument of two slave owners and on land wrestled away from Native Americans told that be focusing on the effort to, quote, tear down our country’s history.”
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Also, in 2008, CNN’s Jim Acosta described Mount Rushmore as a “fitting stop for a presidential contender” in 2008.
Also, in 2016, CNN was still marveling at Rushmore during Sen. Bernie Sanders' visit.
Pursuant to the new moral stricture promulgated this week by the NYT & CNN -- that Mount Rushmore is a shameful monument to racism and white supremacy -- both CNN and Bernie Sanders ought to repent for this praise they jointly heaped on it in 2016:pic.twitter.com/0MRNO2PJ2j
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) July 4, 2020
Meanwhile, Rushmore remains under threat from the leftist “woke” mob amid the nationwide toppling of historical monuments and statues.
Monuments like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Christopher Columbus have all fallen victim to Black Lives Matter rioters protesters over the last month.
Last month, Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem vowed to protect Mt. Rushmore from the prospect of demolition.
“Not on my watch," Noem warned.
Not on my watch. https://t.co/U6gGap5Ib6
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) June 23, 2020
“The men on Mt. Rushmore helped make America the greatest country in history."
“They weren’t perfect; nobody is,” she added.
“But we should learn from their example and work together to accomplish their dreams for our country.”
