CNN Screws it Up Again
There’s really important disclosure information that CNN not only didn’t announce in the YouTube debate, it doesn’t appear they even did the checking to know in the first place.
First, the one that came out within minutes of the debate wrapping up is the fact that the gays in the military guy was a plant from the Hillary campaign.
Then, overnight, it is discovered that “undecided” mom from Pittsburgh is really a union activist who supports Edwards. How would punish abortion girl is a publicly declared Edwards supporter, and Log Cabins Republican support guy is really an Obama supporter.
Now, I’m not saying that Democrats shouldn’t be allowed to ask questions in the debate. However, given that there were 5,000 entries – more than the Democrats – you’d think they could at least find Democrats who weren’t publicly declared activists for other candidates. Find some who either hide it, or who honestly haven’t decided.
UPDATE: One more:
Ted Faturos, 20, a student at University of California, San Diego, asked a question about corn subsidies. It turns out the urban studies and planning major also worked as an intern for Democratic Rep. Jane Harman.
UPDATE II: At this point, is there a question that wasn’t asked by a Democratic activist other than Grover’s? The Social Security question was from a Dick Durbin employee. And the question for Paul to run as an independent was from a publicly declared Richardson supporter.
No obviously related posts.
[...] Update: CNN really screwed up. [...]
[...] update: It seems that some of the questions were plants. I’d say that I’m surprised, but I’m not. This entry was posted on Thursday, [...]
Three years ago, a student who interned in an MSM TV newsroom as a fact-checker (I think NBC) wrote that she was told not to use Google to research. Probably still policy, and would these people show up on, say, Lexis-Nexis?
One plant is not all that objectionable to me. But multiples are.
are you people crazy, why does it matter who asked the question or why. are only republicans allowed to ask repulicans questions. The questions were’nt even on issues of importance like health care, social security, get over your talking point attacks and answer some questions. dems and repulicans.
Apparently, your reading comprehension is a little off today, Irivertown.
You missed:
Now, I’m not saying that Democrats shouldn’t be allowed to ask questions in the debate. However, given that there were 5,000 entries – more than the Democrats – you’d think they could at least find Democrats who weren’t publicly declared activists for other candidates. Find some who either hide it, or who honestly haven’t decided.
I think most people would have been fine with the questions IF CNN had bothered disclosing the affiliations. They knew the candidates would for Grover, and if they didn’t, they would have explained, I’m sure. The same level of disclosure should exist for the Democrats as well.
And you expected credibility in a You Tube debate? Go figure! lol
I expect credibility in a CNN debate, yes.