As if to insist that the broadcast networks shouldn't corner the market on "Name That Party" fun, CNN this morning joined in the fun when reporting on yesterday's conviction of former Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) on 11 corruption charges.
Yet when reporting the story shortly after 9:30 a.m. EDT today, "CNN Newsroom" anchor Heidi Collins neglected to mention Jefferson's Democratic Party affiliation.
What's more, ten minutes earlier, neither Collins nor CNN producer Mike Ahlers mentioned the party affiliation of another ethically compromised Democrat, admitted adulterer John Edwards. The former one-term senator is under investigation for payments made by his political action committee to a former mistress.
Ahlers appeared by telephone from Raleigh, N.C., breaking news regarding the arrival of Rielle Hunter -- Edwards's former mistress -- at a federal courthouse to deliver testimony to a grand jury.
Later on in the program, when noting the Hunter development at the top of the 10 a.m. hour, Collins worked in a reference to Edwards's party affiliation at the end of a news blurb:
We are also following this developing story now out of North Carolina. The former mistress of ex-North Carolina senator John Edwards is in federal court in Raleigh this hour. No immediate word on why Rielle Hunter is there. Edwards has acknowledged he is under federal investigation over payments to Hunter's production company, but he denies any wrongdoing. Edwards has admitted having an affair with Hunter when he was running for the Democratic nomination for president.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Ironically, nowadays they ID them by not ID-ing them.
August 6, 2009 - 13:10 ET by jazboNet result? MSM Fail.
"Democrats; Breeding voters like farm animals since 1962"
A QUESTION TO PONDER...
August 6, 2009 - 13:31 ET by danybhoyHow would CNN or other MSM outlet react if alternate media outlets started reporting on their reports WITHOUT giving proper credit to the source? They would be pissed, we know they would, & would be right to be pissed. Now the MSM is maybe starting to understand why people have left them & ain't coming back...like me.
"...How blind can you be, don't you see...
...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."
Nightwish
Shepard Smith omitted it too.
August 6, 2009 - 13:39 ET by JTPLast nights report left it out also. He kind of stuttered when reporting the story like it wasin the teleprompter but did not want to say it. Just my take on it because I was looking for it.
"Live for yourself...there's no one else more worth living for.
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more"- Rush--Anthem
"D"
August 6, 2009 - 13:49 ET by flyingmonkeyYep, Guilt By Omission. I take it for granted any more.
shep is known
August 6, 2009 - 14:36 ET by larry on LIto "alter the presentation" ever so often.
CNN posted about Jefferson
August 6, 2009 - 13:58 ET by Insane ChipmunkCNN posted about Jefferson on their "political ticker" yesterday and didn't mention the D until an update later (although unlike other updates, they didn't put an "UPDATE:" tag in)
in any case you can see how the effect of not mentioning party affilation (for one party at least) is affecting the general populace:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/05/former-rep-jefferson-found-guilty-on-corruption-charges/
by my count yesterday there were 9 comments saying that this REPUBLICAN should go to jail/be thrown out etc....they've scrubbed most of those away but there's still a few posts talking about Jefferson the Republican.
another thing to note: it is one of the few recent ticker items with no photo...which is rare when the subject matter is an individual. could it be because of his minority status would lead one to think "Democrat"?
the other non-photos right now
- Bill Clinton (looks like a full oped and not really a ticker blurb)
- about liberal groups (group, not individual)
- Edward's mistress (scandal!)
- RNC radio vs Blue Dog dems (group)
- GOP vs Dem (group)
- Ron Paul's son (no photo available?)
- 2 Obama (ran out of photos on him?)
& 2 Michael Steele-centric ones (can't let them see a minority Republican opposed to Obama)
William Jefferson convicted...
August 6, 2009 - 14:30 ET by Gary HallGoodness, just add one more word, and it sings to me... William Jefferson Clinton.
Teasing there, I yam.
Amazing - of all the news I watched and read theses past two days or so, I missed the story - and it had been on my mind, wondering if the conviction would make the news.
The LA Times, which had decided to skip the entire trial, actually put Richard Simon on it. Or, perhaps, he simply managed to convince an editor or bureau chief that the paper had an obligation to print this news. In, Lawmaker who had cash in freezer is convicted, I was surprised to find out that Jefferson is identified as a "D," right at the top.
The label of "Democrat" does actually show up a few more times, but only in speaking of:
With about 3 times as many Democrats, as Republicans, currently under investigation in the Congress, when will the media begin to include in it's occasional coverage of corruption, a discussion of the Culture of corruption in the Democrat controlled congress?"
Just curious.
(;~. gary