Scott Pelley's anti-MAGA commencement speech drives Trump fans to new levels of bile

[Magats_Love_NHB]

Scott Pelley's anti-MAGA commencement speech drives Trump fans to new levels of bile

In 1861, the American Republic tottered. It was a house divided. It took four years of civil war, the death of thousands of soldiers, and the suffering of their families to save the noble experiment. In 2025, the state again faces an existential...

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Scott Pelley speaks at Wake Forest's 2025 Commencement
In 1861, the American Republic tottered. It was a house divided. It took four years of civil war, the death of thousands of soldiers, and the suffering of their families to save the noble experiment. In 2025, the state again faces an existential crisis. And once again, the people will have to choose which side of the fight they want to be on.

Many have caved. Major law firms have bent the knee. The GOP House has kowtowed. Republican Senators are mewling — but you know they will fold. The media is showing little resistance. Universities are not profiles in courage. However, there are still some people and institutions fighting. Harvard stands proud. And 60 Minutes' Scott Pelley took a different path from his corporate overlords at CBS.
Last week, he delivered the commencement speech at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. It has gone viral. Largely because MAGA heard about it and broadcast their fury. Strategically, they would have better served themselves by ignoring it. But they are obviously unaware of the Streisand effect.

Pelley started his address with the usual acknowledgments. (Note: The link includes two videos. The first is Scott’s entire speech. The second is a section relevant to this diary.) He congratulated the new graduates on their accomplishments. He offered stories to motivate the newly minted alums to pursue their dreams. Then he delivered a message of inclusion and comity. In essence, he said we should be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

"As a reporter, I've learned to respect opinions. Reasonable people differ about the life of our country. And America works well when we listen to those that we disagree with, where we listen to those we disagree with and have common ground and compromise.

One thing we can all agree on, one thing at least: America is at her best when everyone is included. To move forward, we debate, not demonize. I like this crowd.

To move forward, we debate, not demonize. We discuss, not destroy."

No doubt the MAGA antennae were quivering. An 'enemy of the people' (as they have been instructed to view the like of Pelley) was speaking of inclusion. The easy-to-be-outraged soon had fuel to stoke their anger.

Scott continued:

"But in this moment, this moment this morning, our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under a attack. Universities are under attack, freedom of speech is under attack.

And insidious fear is reaching through our schools, our businesses, our homes, and into our private thoughts. The fear to speak– in America!

If our government is, in Lincoln's phrase, of the people, by the people for the people, then why are we afraid to speak?

The Wake Forest class of 1861, they did not choose their time of calling. The class of 1941 did not choose. The class 1968 did not choose. History chose them. And now history is calling you, the class of 2025."

Pelley enumerated the targets of Trump's assault. And the reason for his assault.

"Why attack universities? Why attack journalism? Because ignorance works for power.

First, make the truth seekers live in fear. Sue the journalists and their companies for nothing!

Then, send masked agents to abduct a college student who wrote an editorial in her college paper defending Palestinian rights. And send her to a prison in Louisiana charged with nothing!

Then move to destroy the law firms that stand up for the rights of others.

With that done, power can rewrite history with grotesque false narratives! They can make criminals heroes and heroes criminals.

Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality!

Diversity is now described as illegal. Equity is to be shunned. Inclusion is a dirty word.

This is an old playbook, my friends. There's nothing new in this. George Orwell, who we met on the street in London 1949, he warned us about what he called "Newspeak."

He understood that ignorance works for power. But then it is ignorance, isn't it? That you have repudiated every single day here at Wake Forest University. Who are you? I think we know."

MAGA took umbrage. One response summed up the wailing and gnashing of teeth.

"Scott Pelley raged at Trump in angry, unhinged commencement address at Wake Forest…as he speaks openly and freely in America. This self-important, sermonizing propagandist is what passes for a legacy media' journalist.'"

Pelley might have been angry — but his tone was never deranged. And if the MAGA commentator saw Scott as "unhinged," it was a classic case of projection.

Trump and the MAGAs will become increasingly desperate — and therefore more dangerous — as the full effect of Trumpism visits its injuries on America. But we must all fight, even if that fight is to keep speaking — as Pelley did.

 

[Yakuda]

Scott Pelley's anti-MAGA commencement speech drives Trump fans to new levels of bile

In 1861, the American Republic tottered. It was a house divided. It took four years of civil war, the death of thousands of soldiers, and the suffering of their families to save the noble experiment. In 2025, the state again faces an existential...

www.dailykos.com

Scott Pelley speaks at Wake Forest's 2025 Commencement
In 1861, the American Republic tottered. It was a house divided. It took four years of civil war, the death of thousands of soldiers, and the suffering of their families to save the noble experiment. In 2025, the state again faces an existential crisis. And once again, the people will have to choose which side of the fight they want to be on.

Many have caved. Major law firms have bent the knee. The GOP House has kowtowed. Republican Senators are mewling — but you know they will fold. The media is showing little resistance. Universities are not profiles in courage. However, there are still some people and institutions fighting. Harvard stands proud. And 60 Minutes' Scott Pelley took a different path from his corporate overlords at CBS.
Last week, he delivered the commencement speech at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. It has gone viral. Largely because MAGA heard about it and broadcast their fury. Strategically, they would have better served themselves by ignoring it. But they are obviously unaware of the Streisand effect.

Pelley started his address with the usual acknowledgments. (Note: The link includes two videos. The first is Scott’s entire speech. The second is a section relevant to this diary.) He congratulated the new graduates on their accomplishments. He offered stories to motivate the newly minted alums to pursue their dreams. Then he delivered a message of inclusion and comity. In essence, he said we should be able to disagree without being disagreeable.


No doubt the MAGA antennae were quivering. An 'enemy of the people' (as they have been instructed to view the like of Pelley) was speaking of inclusion. The easy-to-be-outraged soon had fuel to stoke their anger.

Scott continued:


Pelley enumerated the targets of Trump's assault. And the reason for his assault.


MAGA took umbrage. One response summed up the wailing and gnashing of teeth.


Pelley might have been angry — but his tone was never deranged. And if the MAGA commentator saw Scott as "unhinged," it was a classic case of projection.

Trump and the MAGAs will become increasingly desperate — and therefore more dangerous — as the full effect of Trumpism visits its injuries on America. But we must all fight, even if that fight is to keep speaking — as Pelley did.

it didnt white get the reaction he was expecting. Hilarious fail.

 

[Ross Dolan]

it didnt white get the reaction he was expecting. Hilarious fail.

So you and libhater think it was a fail, huh?

Trump must thank the gods that he has idiots like you for support.

 

[Walt]

It is pathetic what is being done to the USA.