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Here we go again. On Oct. 7, 60 Minutes host Bill Whitaker’s interview with Vice President Kamala Harris aired on CBS. It seems a day earlier a trailer was released with a completely different answer to a question about Israel. CBS is not denying that they edited the story and the Harris campaign said it doesn’t control CBS decisions. CBS hasn’t released the original version for America to see yet. Someone made a mistake releasing different texts.
I’ve seen many times the media taking things out of context, which changes the whole quote. This is not just editing or out of context changes. I believe this is 60 Minutes becoming part of a political campaign, and that it is election interference at the least. I think the FCC should get involved; there must be a rule or law against this.
The media has a special privilege under the First Amendment, “Freedom of the Press.” All Americans share “free speech” and I think it has never been more threatened than with this apparent political activism by a media outlet. Interviews should be released unedited, and with edited ones it should be stated clearly.
Former President Donald Trump does many rallies, all live and unedited. I would like to see Vice President Harris do the same, being asked serious questions. She has not done this yet.
Trust is everything in science, education, elected officials, and especially the media. If we allow this to become the norm then nothing or no one can be trusted. Do we really want this in the U.S., the land of the free?
Dean Curtis
Hampden