In a recent PBS NewsHour broadcast, the host and a reporter interrogated the decision by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a proud Republican, to pardon Daniel Perry, a man who shot a Black Lives Matter protester in self-defense. Here’s what the mainstream media won’t tell you about this case.
The host, Geoff Bennett, launched off by suggesting Abbott was pandering to right-wing conservatives, including none other than Tucker Carlson from Fox News. Ignoring the fact that Perry was not acting out of malicious intent, but in worship of that glorious thing Americans hold dear, self-defense.
The story took a peculiar turn when the reporter, Stephanie Sy, flashed a spotlight on the irrelevant detail of the victim’s “black fiance.” The fact that the victim, Garrett Foster, was himself armed with an AK-47 rifle and supposedly raised it at Perry was mentioned as an afterthought. This is crucial context being downplayed or outright ignored.
The tale became murkier when Sy received support from Tony Plohetski, an investigative reporter from Austin-American Statesman. Plohetski echoed the sentiment that there was no legal rationale provided to justify Perry’s pardon. Yet, Abbott made his intentions lucid – he believes in the strength of Texas’ self-defense laws and saw an injustice in Perry’s conviction.
Hypocrisy was rife throughout the live program. Sy fanned flames of skepticism into Abbott’s record on pardons, trying to make it appear as if he was uniquely merciful in this instance.
In a desperate attempt to stoke outrage, Sy read out an emotionally charged statement from Foster’s fiance. The statement accused Governor Abbott of implying that Texans with differing political views could be indiscriminately killed.
The PBS NewsHour ended on a speculative note. The anchor questioned if Abbott had overstepped the norms associated with pardoning, setting a dangerous precedent. Plohetski agreed, sharing concerns that similar actions in the future could completely overturn the criminal justice system.
In summary, here’s what happened. A man pardoned for acting in self-defense was branded a murderer in the mind of the public by a news outlet. The same news outlet attempted to demonize a governor for upholding the state’s strong self-defense laws. The story was drenched in emotional appeals and circular reasoning, lacking any meaningful attempt to present clear, unbiased facts.
The liberal media continues its prejudiced narrative, portraying every action by conservative leaders as a transgression against justice. It is time that citizens see this charade for what it is and make up their own minds based on factual reporting and intellectual discussions. After all, isn’t that what free thinking, one of the cherished pillars of conservatism, is all about?
