CNN/YouTube Debate

CNN has come in for quite a bit of criticism for allowing Democratic operatives and supporters to pose questions at the Republican debate. The most egregious plant was the Keith Kerr (BG, USA Ret.), an “openly gay man” (now that he has retired from service) who serves (or has served) on one of Hillary Clinton’s campaign task forces. He asked about the US Military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. He was flown to the debate by CNN and allowed to ask a follow-up question.

When a “Red-faced Anderson Cooper” was told about this oversight, he sputtered that he didn’t know and if he had known, Kerr’s affiliation would have been disclosed or the question wouldn’t have been allowed. This begs the question, “If bloggers can determine affiliation within minutes using Goggle (who owns YouTube), why can’t a large professional news organization like CNN and co-host YouTube?”

CNN and YouTube characterized their questioners as ordinary and undecided Americans. It appears that perhaps a third of the questioners actively supported different Dems. Again, why can bloggers find this out, but CNN can’t?

CNN latest spin is that they focused on the questions and not the questioners, then something derogatory about anybody who questions the questioners and not the substance of the questions. Yeah, I know. This doesn’t make sense to me either. I have two problems with this line of illogic. The first is that the questions came from “undecided voters” or “ordinary Americans”. With so many democratic supporters asking the questions, this statement may be seen as a lie.

The second, and arguably the more important point of contention, was the point made by Mara Liasson on Fox News Special Report (the Panel discussion) on Wednesday. She said that she covered both CNN/YouTube debates and questions presented to Democrats were different in tone and nature from those presented to Republicans. Democratic questions were friendly and sympathetic to the Democrats, while the Republican questions were confrontational and accusatory to the Republicans.

Additional Links:

• Michelle Malkin: CNN’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy
• Mara Liasson's bio

Submitted by normally non-blogging Advised by Wolves

Blog post #6846 in category Media Spin
posted 30 November 07