RNC Chair Reince Priebus blames CNN coverage of GOP violence for GOP violence: You "create an environment" in which Trump supporters turn on fellow Americans

CNN "creates an environment" by showing actual incidents of actual violence at actual Trump events

Published March 21, 2016 2:33PM (EDT)

  (AP/Rick Bowmer)
(AP/Rick Bowmer)

As the buildup to what CNN has hilariously branded "Western Tuesday" continues, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus appeared on CNN to chastise the network for encouraging violence at Donald Trump campaign events by airing footage of violence at Donald Trump campaign events.

His logic, such as it is, was that "mentioning [violence] is fine," but that "the 24/7 loop [and] three hours in prime-time every night and every day talking about it" is actually pushing supporters and protesters alike into committing further acts of violence.

"When cable shows are on a constant loop [showing] a couple of knuckleheads pushing other," he said, "you create an environment," and that "just adds fuel to the fire." Admitting that "the fire," as he called it, is already burning suggests that not even Priebus believes that these "cable shows" are responsible for the proclivities of Trump supporters.

But, of course, he couldn't say that. "We're not a party that believes in violence," he offered instead, adding that "violence begets violence," especially when it appears on television, apparently.

"Both sides have to disavow violence," he concluded, planting the suggestion that there have been outbreaks of violence at Democratic campaign events as well, "but I do think the media's obsessed to the point of it being very noticeable, and that's almost bizarre."

Watch the entire interview below via CNN.


By Scott Eric Kaufman

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2016 Gop Primary Cnn Donald Trump Elections 2016 Reince Priebus Republican National Committee Video